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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
Cake Bars
Ingredients
- 1 (15.25-ounce) box yellow cake mix, I used Betty Crocker
- 1 (3.4-ounce) small box Insant White chocolate or vanilla pudding mix
- ¼ cup water
- ¾ cup vegetable oil
- 2 eggs
- 1 cup mini M&Ms, divided
- ½ cup chocolate chips
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F.
- 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.
- Pour into a greased 9×13 pan.
- Sprinkle with remaining M&Ms.
- Bake for 24-28 minutes or until golden brown on the edges.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Recipe adapted from Parent Pretty.
Was thinking about using a bit larger pan, that way the bars would be thinner. Have you tried that?
I haven’t tried that, but I don’t see why they wouldn’t work? If you try it, let me know what size pan you used and how they turned out:) I’d love to know!
I got the Duncan Hines cake mix. Do I still use the recipe you provided or do I follow the directions on the box? Thx!
That shouldn’t change anything. Just follow the recipe, using that:) Let me know if you try that!
Can I use any flavor of cake mixes. I have so many cake mixes to use up.
I’m sure you could!! I haven’t tried that, but I’m sure they’d taste fine. If you do that, let me know what you tried!! Thanks!
I am so excited to hear the surprise did you have fun playing with your dad and Micheal I hope so
Made this today to.take to my husband’s work Easter Party. Although they taste delicious they look nothing like yours. 🙁 Mine rose like a cake would rather than stay compacted like a “bar” should. I used a 9×13 metal pan.
Hoping to make this tomorrow !!! Do u make the pudding or just put in the pudding mix/powder ????
Just the mix. 😉
Ok, I made these tonight and they were a hit! One thing tho…they did not look like yours. I baked them for 26 minutes and the edges were golden, but the middle was jiggly and it looked just like a baked cake!
I like my cookies gooey, so I took a chance. I let them cool for about an hour and they finally collapsed but very wet in the middle. Like I said, I really like that and so did the kids. I think you could put m&ms on mashed turnips and kids would at least try them!
Don’t know what I would change to get them to bake a little more evenly??
Worth a try (so easy people!)
Hi Chalene! So glad you liked the bars, but I’m sorry they collapsed in the middle. The only thing I would suggest is baking them 3-5 minutes longer. What size of pan did you use?
Maybe collapsed is the wrong word. Flattened out may be better? I used a 9×13 glass pan. When I checked on it it looked like a cake. Risen to the top of the pan. Yours looked very flat like abat cookie should. I used a store brand cake mix which could’ve been the culprit? Màybe I shouldn’t add any water next time. I’ll try again soon and let you know!
Looks so yummy! These would not last long at my house!
Lily, I love your post and plan on making these really soon!
Thank you Lily for the nice recipe. Have fun this afternoon.