Transform your classic yellow cake mix and chocolate chips into these delicious, melt-in-your-mouth Cake Mix Cookie Bars! They’re chewy, moist, decadent, and perfect for any and every occasion. Best of all, you don’t need any fancy ingredients to make them -- just a few pantry staples and under 30 minutes of time (including the cooking!).
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I have to admit, baking is therapeutic for me. I love spending my time in the kitchen, whipping up some sweet treats or a batch of fresh cookies on days when I’m really feeling down.
That said, on holidays and occasions when I’m entertaining, I do like shortcuts, and what could be a better shortcut than boxed cake mix?
I’ve used it to make my pumpkin cake mix cookies (fantastic for fall), a delicious blueberry cake mix cobbler, and even some cake mix cool whip cookies, and they all turned out fantastic.
This time, I used up my box of yellow cake mix to make these delicious cake mix bars, and oh boy, I’m so glad I did!
Why You’ll Love This Yellow Cake Mix Cookie Bars Recipe
- Customizable: These cookie bars with yellow cake mix can be customized too! Use a different flavor of cake mix base or try other mix-ins to enjoy different versions.
- Rich and delish: Think about enjoying your favorite chocolate chip cookie in a rich, chewy format, similar to a brownie. Yep, this is exactly that!
- Easy shortcut recipe: No sifting, measuring and complicated steps. This has to be the easiest way to enjoy your favorite chocolate chip cookies.
Ingredients
- Cake mix: I used a box of yellow cake mix here. It’s a classic you just can’t go wrong with, but if you really want to try out other flavors, you can do that too! Chocolate, lemon, funfetti, strawberry, and vanilla are all great options.
- Egg: The key to perfect rich, gooey, and chewy cookie bars.
- Vanilla: Just a dash to lend a beautiful aroma to the cookies.
- Vegetable oil: You’ll also need some fat to turn the cake mix into cookies. I used vegetable oil here, but you could also use canola oil or even melted butter if you want that rich, buttery taste.
- Chocolate chips: I used semi-sweet chocolate chips here. Feel free to experiment with peanut butter chips, caramel chips and butterscotch chips to create different variations.
See the recipe card below for exact ingredient amounts, nutritional information, and detailed instructions.
Variations
- Fall flavors: You can also make fall cookie bars from cake mix by using a spiced cake mix as the base, and mixing in some pumpkin pie spice, orange M&Ms, and chocolate chips as the mix-ins.
- Topping fun: Top these cake mix bars with your choice of toppings! I love using toasted coconut flakes, chopped nuts and M&Ms!
- Nutty: Add chopped pecans or walnuts along with the chocolate chips to mix into the cookie dough.
- Gluten-Free: This recipe has been tested with a basic box of gluten-free cake mix and turned out great!
How to Make Cookie Bars From Cake Mix
To make these cake mix chocolate chip cookie bars, you’ll first need to preheat your oven at 350 degrees. Also, prepare a 9x13 inch baking pan by greasing it with some cooking spray and then lining it with some parchment paper.
Step 1: Mix it. Combine the cake mix, egg, vegetable oil, water, vanilla extract and salt in a large bowl. Use an electric blender at low speed and to blend until you get a uniform texture.
Step 2: Add the chips. Add a cup of chocolate chips to the mixture and give it a quick mix. Don’t overmix.
Step 3: Assemble. Transfer the cookie dough to your prepared baking pan and smooth it out. Top it with the remaining chocolate chips.
Step 4: Bake, cool and serve. Pop this in the oven and bake for about 20 minutes. Get it out, allow it to cool down before you slice into bars and enjoy!
⭐️ Hint: Don't overbake!
The cookie bars are done baking when they turn golden brown around the edges and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean or with a few moist crumbs.
If you love this cookie bar recipe, you may also enjoy my Caramel Cookie Bars or our Magic Cookie Bars!
Storage Directions
- Storing: Got leftovers? Just transfer them to an airtight container and they should stay fresh for up to 3 days at room temperature.
- Reheating: I love these warmed up! If you do too, just pop them into your microwave on medium heat for 10-20 seconds. Heat again until it's the temperature you want!
- Freezing: To make the cookie bars last longer, freeze them on a baking sheet until they’re solid, and then transfer them to a freezer-safe container or bag before popping them in again. This makes it easy to grab just a few at a time. They thaw out quickly on the counter. Store them in the freezer for up to 3 months.
Serving Suggestions
I love making these chocolate chip cookie bars with cake mix whenever I’m entertaining. They make for such a delicious and fancy-looking sweet treat, and come together so quickly too.
Serve them with other party favorites like air fried jalapeno poppers, pizza pinwheels, and these cheesy bruschetta bites.
You can serve them as-is or top each warm cookie bar with a scoop of your favorite ice cream. I’m partial to my homemade dark chocolate ice cream and hot chocolate ice cream, since their flavors work wonderfully with these buttery cookie bars.
Recipe Tips
- Do the toothpick test: If you’re confused about whether or not the cookie bars are cooked, do the toothpick test. If a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean or with just a few moist crumbs, it is ready to be out!
- Be temp smart: As with almost all cookie recipes, remember to start with room temperature eggs, as they’re easier to incorporate into the cookie dough.
- Adjust baking time: If you’re using a smaller or different sized pan, remember to adjust the baking time accordingly.
- Lining your pan: Allow the parchment to extend over the sides so you can easily remove the cookie bars from the pan.
- Do not over bake: We want these bars to have a soft, tender cookie-like texture.
Recipe FAQs
If you’re using a 9x13 inch baking pan, the cookie bars should be ready at the 20 minute mark. Remember that they will continue to cook a bit in the residual heat as you get them out, so don’t be too worried if they look slightly undercooked.
Since this cookie dough is made using cake mix and is supposed to have a different texture, it is bound to be much more stiff than a traditional cookie dough. Don’t worry, just press it down into the pan with a spatula.
Video
More Delicious Cookie Bar Recipes
Do you like cookie bars? Here are some of my favorite dessert bar recipes you may also like to try.
Ready to get cooking? Remember that you can print this recipe if you would like.
Easy Cake Mix Cookie Bars
Equipment
- 9x13 dish
Ingredients
- 1 15.5-ounce box yellow cake mix
- ½ cup vegetable oil
- ⅓ cup water
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 ¼ cups semi-sweet chocolate chips
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and prepare a 9x13 inch baking pan with a light coating of cooking spray and parchment paper.
- In a large bowl, use an electric mixer on medium low speed to combine the cake mix, oil, water, egg vanilla extract and salt.
- Use a large spoon to stir in 1 cup of the chocolate chips.
- Transfer batter into the prepared baking sheet and top with remaining ¼ up chocolate chips.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 20 minutes or until golden brown.
- Remove from oven and cool before slicing into bars and finish on rack.
Video
Notes
- Do the toothpick test: If you’re confused about whether or not the cookie bars are cooked, do the toothpick test. If a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean or with just a few moist crumbs, it is ready to be out!
- Be temp smart: As with almost all cookie recipes, remember to start with room temperature eggs, as they’re easier to incorporate into the cookie dough.
- Adjust baking time: If you’re using a smaller or different sized pan, remember to adjust the baking time accordingly.
- Lining your pan: Allow the parchment to extend over the sides so you can easily remove the cookie bars from the pan.
- Do not over bake: We want these bars to have a soft, tender cookie-like texture.
Nutrition
This post was originally posted May 2020. It has been updated with new content and images.
Barry says
how many cookies does this recipe make please?
Karin and Ken says
I apologize for my late response. It all depends on the size of your cookies. We usually end up with about 24. My friend Julie makes smaller cookies and ends up with 32. Watch for the cookies to start to set around the edges and dull in the middle. These cookies are delicious. Please let me know what you think after you make them! Take care and all the best. Karin