Cake Mix Cookie Bars

Cake Mix Cookie Bars are a simple, quick, and delicious treat everyone will love! They are a fab option for lovers of cake and cookies.

They are quick and easy to make and even easier to devour! Thick and delicious cookies make a perfect accompaniment to milk. For more cookie goodness try Cookie Bars, 3 Ingredient Sugar Cookies, and Almond Cookies.

The Easiest Cookie BArs

Hi. It’s me – Lily! Today’s recipe is for Cake Mix Cookie Bars. I think cookies are yummy, and I think cake is yummy and this recipe is those things put together.

It also has M&MS and chocolate chips which are so good. By the way, I LOVE M&Ms but not as much as Milky Ways. 😉 This recipe was really simple and delicious, and I think you’ll like it.

It’s especially easy because you use a box of cake mix instead of having to put together ingredients from scratch.

How to make them

PREP. Preheat oven to 350.

MIX. In a large bowl combine cake mix, pudding, water, oil and eggs using a mixer. Mix until well combined. Fold in chocolate chips and ½ cup mini M&Ms.

BAKE. Pour into a greased 9×13 pan. Sprinkle with remaining M&Ms. Bake for 24-28 minutes or until golden brown on the edges.

Recipe Notes:

• Use ONLY the cake mix and the pudding powder. DO NOT add the other ingredients from the box that you normally would.
• Use instant pudding mix. A small box is 3.4 oz. 
• Glass pan: Glass pans take longer to heat up and distribute the heat through your batter. They also hold onto heat for much longer than metal pans. If using a glass pan, lower the oven temperature by 25°F from what the recipe calls for, and bake 10 minutes longer or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
• Different brands of cake mixes may have slightly different baking instructions. Refer to the cake mix box for guidance in oven temperature and bake times.
• Allow cookies to cool completely before cutting. Using a plastic knife helps make clean slices.

Variations, storing + More

Variations: The Betty Crocker Yellow Cake Mix that I used is a 15.25 oz box. You can easily substitute the cake mix with another brand of the same size.

You can also use other flavors of instant pudding mix (3.4oz box) Substitute the chocolate chips and M&Ms for other flavors, candies, or nuts. There are so many delicious combinations. Here are a few suggestions to get the ideas flowing: 

• Strawberry cake mix with white chocolate pudding. Use white chocolate chips.
• Chocolate Cake Mix with chocolate pudding. Use peanut butter chips and top with reeses pieces. 
• Lemon cake with cream cheese pudding. Dust the top with powdered sugar.

The cookie bars also make a delicious base for adding a scoop of ice cream on top along with your favorite sundae toppings like chocolate, caramel and whipped cream.

Storage: Store cooled bars in an airtight container for up to 5 days. You can also freeze the cookie bars. Wrap each bar with plastic wrap then you can wrap again with aluminum foil, or place them all in a freezer ziploc bag. Store for up to 3 months.

For more recipes, check out:

• Frosted Cake Mix Lemon Cookies
• Pumpkin Cake Cookies
• Jello Poke Cake
• Ooey Gooey Butter Bars
• Funfetti Cookies
• Gooey Rolo Cookies
• Sugar Cookie Bars

Recipe adapted from Parent Pretty.