Cake Mix Cookie Bars
on May 07, 2021, Updated Feb 11, 2025
Need a quick and easy dessert? These Cake Mix Cookie Bars are made with just 4 ingredients. The flavor possibilities are endless!
These cake mix cookie bars have fast become top of my easy dessert list. With just 4 ingredients and a few minutes you can make homemade cookie bars in a fraction of the time.
Have a bake sale coming up and need an easy dessert recipe? Or need a last minute dessert for the holidays? This is the PERFECT recipe!
You can use any flavor of cake mix and add in different mix ins. There are so many flavor possibilities that you could make with this recipe as a base.
I have made them for birthday parties, Christmas, dinner gatherings, graduations, and more. Basically any time I am asked to bring a dessert!
You can find the full recipe and instructions at the bottom of this post, but here’s what you’ll need to make it.
Ingredients You’ll Need
- yellow cake mix: or any flavor cake mix
- eggs
- oil: any neutral oil like olive oil or vegetable oil
- chocolate chips
How to make cake mix cookie bars
Step 1: Preheat your oven to 350 degrees. Beat the eggs in a small bowl. Add the cake mix and oil to the beaten eggs and mix well to combine.
Step 2: Beat in the chocolate chips (the batter will be very thick).
Step 3: Grease a 9 X 13 baking dish with cooking spray. Spread the cookie bar batter evenly in the dish (this will take several minutes to spread evenly).
Recipe Tip
Use wet or greased hands or a rubber spatula to spread the batter into the dish. The batter is very thick and this will make it a little easier to spread!
Step 4: Bake the cookie bars at 350 degrees for 20 – 25 minutes, or until toothpick inserted comes out clean. Once cooled, cut the cookie bars into squares.
Serve warm with ice cream for an extra delicious treat!
If you’ve never made these before, you will be surprised at just how good they are!
The texture of these bars is the thickness of a brownie with the taste of a chocolate chip cookie. They’re just so fun to eat and really satisfying and thick and chocolatey.
Storing
Leftover cake mix bars can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for 3-4 days, if they last that long!
More Cake Mix Recipes You’ll Love
Cake Mix Cookie Bars
Ingredients
- 15 ounce box of yellow cake mix
- 2 eggs, beaten
- 1/3 cup olive oil, or vegetable oil
- 12 oz chocolate chips
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
- Beat the eggs in a small bowl.
- Add the cake mix and olive oil to the beaten eggs and mix well.
- Beat in the chocolate chips (the batter will be very thick).
- Grease a 9 X 13 baking dish. (see notes for the thickness)
- Spread the batter evenly in the dish. This will take several minutes to spread evenly as it is very thick and sticky.
- Bake the cookie bars at 350 degrees for 20 – 25 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean.
- Once cooled, store leftover cookie bars in an airtight container.
Video
Notes
- The batter will be thick and hard to spread (this is normal). I found that using a rubber spatula and a spoon made it easier to spread into the pan. It may take a couple minutes, but it’s so worth it!
- The thickness of the cookie bars will depend on how large of a baking dish you use.
Nutrition
have you tried freezing these? How did they turn out when thawed?
I’ve found that almost every cookie freezes well!
This turned out very good!! I didn’t have a yellow cake mix, only chocolate & it is a gluten-free one, so I used peanut butter chips. I put it in a square pan. Gave it a couple extra minutes because it was a little thicker. Used my fingers to press in the pan. Easier than my rubber spatula! My husband is not Celiac (I am) he loved it. It was crispy around the edges & soft & chewy in the center. Will make again. Thank you for sharing. Will try the applesauce next time!!
How long did you bake the gluten free cookie bars for??
Also gf and glad to see this recipe worked with gf mix. Did you follow the ingredients exactly as shown??
Any specific reason for Olive Oil rather than safflower or vegetable oil? I have rarely seen Olive oil specified for baking.
I often cook with olive oil as it is a healthier choice and you cannot taste the difference. It is interchangeable with vegetable oil if you prefer to use that.
I have been making these for years. Our family favorite is chocolate cake mix with peanut butter chips. Thanks so much for sharing!
I have never baked with olive oil. Does it have to be olive oil or can it be another kind? I usually use canola oil . Thanks!
You should be able to use canola oil.
Thank you! I think I’ll make them tomorrow!
IF using applesauce, how much?
Love these. I added a little vanilla and some butter for flavor Thank you for the easy recipe
How much butter and vanills?
Will ingredients like water need to be added for high altitude baking?
Easy peasy & delish!
II made this using a sugar free cake mix, white chocolate chips, coconut and applesauce. Absolutely delicious. There is minimal sugar in the chocolate chips.
Thanks for posting. I’m about to make these with sugar free cake mix and I was concerned it might not work.
I notice that most of the cake mixes are now less than 21 oz at 15 oz usually. Will that work or what do you suggest?
I have not tried it, but I think it may work, although the bars may change shape some. Let me know if you try it how it turns out!
Thanks…will look to see if I can find a 21 oz cake mix. What brand are you using?
I used immaculate brand cake mix. Honestly, I think you would be fine using a 15 oz box. The bars may just end up being fluffier than normal but still taste the same 🙂 You could also cut back a little on the applesauce if you are concerned.
Thanks!
Your recipe already calls for 15oz. Cake mix. Not sure why your saying 15oz. Should work????
The original called for 21 oz boxes. Once I realized that most cake mixes come in 15 oz, I changed the recipe to ensure this would work for everyone 🙂