Cake Mix Cookie Bars

Published: December 6, 2019Updated: March 1, 2021Author: Steph Loaiza
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You are going to LOVE these ooey-gooey super delicious cake mix cookie bars! They are everything you want in a dessert and more.
Cake Mix Cookie Bars

Most pantries have a box of cake mix, or at least mine does! We have found more tasty ways to use cake mix that is just sitting in your pantry. 

While cookies are great, this recipe is an easy bar cookie for a crowd! They take no time to make and you don’t even have to roll the individual balls for the cookies. 

Just place the layers and call it good to go! It can’t get much easier than that to make an amazing dessert. 

If you are loving the idea of delicious, easy, and quick cookies, you MUST check out these snickerdoodle cake mix cookies, grasshopper mint chocolate cake mix cookies, and our cake mix Christmas cookies. 

Tools you will need to make these cake mix cookie bars with peanut butter:

  1. 9 x 13 pan (like THIS one)
  2. Spatula 
  3. Large mixing bowl
  4. Microwaveable bowl (I like to use my Pyrex bowls)

Related article: love easy cake mix recipes? Try our Simple Banana Bread or our Cake Mix Blueberry Muffins.

What ingredients do you need to make white cake mix cookie bars?

  • White cake mix box
  • Canola oil
  • Eggs
  • Butter 
  • Milk chocolate chips
  • Peanut butter chips
  • Sweetened condensed milk

You can use olive oil instead of canola oil if you choose. However, if you are looking to replace the butter with margarine the bars will not set up as well. 

Start making these amazing cake mix cookie bars WITHOUT pudding mix

To begin, preheat the oven to 350 degrees. 

In a medium-sized mixing bowl, combine together the white cake mix, canola oil, and the eggs. You can use a hand mixer, stand mixer, or you can mix it by hand. 

Then, separate the batter in half. Take one half of the batter and press it evenly into the bottom of a greased 9X13 pan. 

Next, in a small microwaveable bowl, mix together the melted butter, chocolate chips, and peanut butter chips. Microwave everything for 30 seconds and then remove the bowl and stir it well. 

Repeat microwaving for 15 seconds and then stir the mixture until it is completely smooth.  

Then, pour in the sweetened condensed milk to the chocolate peanut butter mixture and stir it up until everything is well combined. Now you are going to pour this mixture over the cake mix crust in the 9×13 pan. 

Once you have the first to layers set, take the second half of the cake mix batter and drop it in spoonfuls over top of the chocolate peanut butter layer. 

Now, simply place it in the oven for 20-25 minutes or until the top turns a lovely golden brown. 

There is ONE trick to this recipe. You’ll want to make sure this cools completely before serving it to allow the chocolate to set back up. 

If you are however looking to make this from scratch completely or happen to not have a box of cake mix, check out this recipe for homemade white cake mix. 

LET US HELP!

We have an amazing channel on YouTube where we go over our recipes from beginning to end and share our tips to help you make our recipes.

If you are looking for more ways to use those boxes of cake mix in your pantry watch our video on how to make cake mix blueberry muffins!

They are so fluffy and moist, your friends will think you got them from a bakery. 

ALL THINGS CAKE MIX – mix it up with cake mix!

Serves: 15

Cake Mix Cookie Bars

These Cookie Bars are the perfect blend of soft and crunchy. The chocolatey peanut butter middle tastes great mixed with the white cake mix base!

10 minPrep Time

20 minCook Time

30 minTotal Time

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Ingredients

  • 1 15.25-oz white cake mix
  • 1/2 cup canola oil
  • 2 eggs
  • 1/2 cup butter, melted
  • 1/2 cup milk chocolate chips
  • 1/2 cup peanut butter chips
  • 1 14-oz can sweetened condensed milk

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
  2. Mix together the cake mix, canola oil and eggs - then separate batter into halves. Press one half of the batter into the bottom of a greased 9x13 pan.
  3. In a small, microwaveable bowl, mix together the butter, chocolate chips and peanut butter chips. Microwave for 30 seconds, then remove and stir. Keep microwaving and stirring in 15 second intervals until the mixture is completely smooth.
  4. Add the sweetened condensed milk to the chocolate chip mixture and stir until completely combined, then pour it over the crust in the 9x13 pan.
  5. Take the second half of the cake mix batter, and drop it in spoonfuls over top.
  6. Bake for 20-25 minutes (until the top starts to turn a golden brown).
  7. Allow to cool completely before serving.

Nutrition

Calories

3940 cal

Fat

248 g

Carbs

410 g

Protein

35 g
Click Here For Full Nutrition, Exchanges, and My Plate Info
7.8.1.2
423
https://www.sixsistersstuff.com/recipe/cake-mix-cookie-bars/

Recipe from: Taste of Home

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Cake Mix Cookie Bars Recipe

Ingredients

  • 1 15.25-oz white cake mix
  • 1/2 cup canola oil
  • 2 eggs
  • 1/2 cup butter, melted
  • 1/2 cup milk chocolate chips
  • 1/2 cup peanut butter chips
  • 1 14-oz can sweetened condensed milk

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
  2. Mix together the cake mix, canola oil and eggs – then separate batter into halves. Press one half of the batter into the bottom of a greased 9×13 pan.
  3. In a small, microwaveable bowl, mix together the butter, chocolate chips and peanut butter chips. Microwave for 30 seconds, then remove and stir. Keep microwaving and stirring in 15 second intervals until the mixture is completely smooth.
  4. Add the sweetened condensed milk to the chocolate chip mixture and stir until completely combined, then pour it over the crust in the 9×13 pan.
  5. Take the second half of the cake mix batter, and drop it in spoonfuls over top.
  6. Bake for 20-25 minutes (until the top starts to turn a golden brown).
  7. Allow to cool completely before serving.

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  1. Ashley says:
    October 23, 2014
    I can't wait to make these! They look amazing! FYI, the Nutter Butter Cookie Bar link isn't working (it's linked to the Gingerbread one). Going to search for that one since it looks amazing, too! :)
    Reply
  2. kate says:
    October 23, 2014
    Ah, sweet torture ! My mouth literally started watering at seeing that picture.
    Reply
  3. plasterer bristol says:
    November 20, 2014
    This sounds amazing, thank you for posting up this recipe. Simon
    Reply
  4. Susan says:
    December 5, 2014
    Great recipe! I have not yet made the original recipe, but have tried it with Spice cake mix and Hershey's Cinnamon Chips. Another variation that I've made is with Devil's Food cake mix and Reese's Peanut Butter Chips. Both were awesome!
    Reply
    • Sandy says:
      December 14, 2014
      The spice cake mix version sounds wonderful also! Did you use the 1/2 cup of milk chocolate chips or all cinnamon chips? Thanks!
      Reply
      • Susan says:
        December 25, 2014
        Ann cinnamon chips and saved some to sprinkle on top. Thanks for sharing the recipe!
        Reply
        • Susan says:
          December 25, 2014
          Sorry, that should have been ALL cinnamon chips... :)
          Reply
          • Patty Hinze says:
            July 30, 2020
            I’m going to try a blend cinnamon and white chocolate chips
  5. kathy says:
    December 25, 2014
    Happy Holidays made this today with strawberry cake mix an chocolate chips an was super yummy next will be another flavor for sure thanls
    Reply
  6. Sharon says:
    January 31, 2015
    This is a mouthwatering cake! Love it :)
    Reply
  7. Laura says:
    February 12, 2015
    I am making this to bring into work using white chocolate chips and red velvet cake. I just hope it turns out. The cake mix is just sitting in globs across the top and it's about halfway done baking. Wish me luck!
    Reply
    • Jess says:
      November 2, 2016
      Mine did the same thing ?
      Reply
  8. Heidi says:
    May 25, 2015
    Ok, I had issues with this. I mixed up the box of cake mix with the eggs & oil & had trouble getting it to cover the bottom of the 9x13 pan. I ended up having to use a 2nd box of cake mix to put on the top. It looks like a hot mess! It tastes ok & is ooey, gooey but it just does not look right. Any suggestions?
    Reply
    • Louise says:
      August 14, 2015
      Heidi I am having the same problem--hopefully someone has an answer for us!
      Reply
      • Meghan says:
        January 23, 2016
        I used a spatula to flatten the mix out along the bottom of the pan.
        Reply
        • Dottie says:
          March 2, 2017
          Could it be that the cake mix isn't the usual largest ounce? See that some boxes are about 11 ounces and formerly were 15+/-. Getting same money but smaller amount. Just like out Facial tissues today! Thanks for sharing this!!
          Reply
    • Renate says:
      June 17, 2018
      I thought that too at first. I sprayed some oil on my fingertips and it was easy to smooth out the smallish amount of batter to cover the bottom and it was plenty thick enough after cooking.
      Reply
  9. Ivonne says:
    June 8, 2016
    My family and I don't normally buy boxed cake mixes, but since my husband made a copy cat cake mix batter ice cream and only used 1/2 cup of the yellow cake mix that left us with 12.53 oz that I did not feel right throwing away. With this said I opted to go onto Pinterest and find something to make that my family could all enjoy. Thankfully I came across this recipe despite not having the exact ounce in cake mix nor a 9x13 pan. I was a little worried about the batter not working out, but I went ahead with the recipe so long as nothing else was tweaked i.e. oil and egg's. For those wondering I did used a 9x9 square baking pan that was perfect when it came to spreading my bottom layer of batter evenly. I used peanut butter and milk chocolate morsels that were already combined in one bag vs buying two separate bag's of each. After mixing, prepping, baking and cooling I decided I would then place my finished cookie bars in the fridge for later as a dessert and easier cutting. The cooked bars sat in the fridge for about 2 hours. And since the recipe said it serves 15, which I assume 1 cookie bar per person, I then cut each cookie square at exactly 2 & 1/8 inches - evenly. Having sat in the fridge and finally being able to dig into a bar my family and I can honestly say this recipe was AMAZING. We all loved the bars. So much gooeyness -even after being in the fridge. I opted to half the cooked bars and place some into the freezer for future as despite being a family of 5 we don't always eat sweets as dessert. This recipe is keeper!!! Notes: 9x9 square pan works best Cut each cookie bar 2 & 1/8 in for exact size You can get away with using, at minimum 12.53 ounces of boxed cake mix Still gooey if refrigerated & freezes well
    Reply
    • Mary says:
      August 31, 2016
      Thanks Ivonne! Your notes are a big help.
      Reply
  10. Krista says:
    November 19, 2016
    I made these bars just as the recipe is on this website for a funeral this morning. They turned out perfectly!!!!! I made another batch tonight for us.
    Reply
  11. Linda says:
    February 16, 2018
    Made these twice now and they are super easy and fantastic tasting. Probably one of my favorite bars!
    Reply
  12. Celeste says:
    May 14, 2018
    These cookie bars are DELICIOUS I put hafe on the bottom used my fingers to spread it and it worked great. Then for the top I took some dough and flattened it with my hands and layed it on top it works good that way. If you just put globs on top it won't spread out good. At least it didn't for me. This way worked for me!
    Reply
  13. Destiny says:
    May 23, 2019
    I made these and they were delicious but the bottom layer never crisp up to set up and was gooey. I did a very thin layer on the bottom. Any suggestions?
    Reply
    • court says:
      June 16, 2020
      Can you use semi sweet chocolate chips?
      Reply
  14. Taneshia says:
    May 26, 2019
    Can I make this with cookie butter instead
    Reply
    • Cyd says:
      June 1, 2019
      We have not made this with cookie butter. Cookie butter has a much thicker consistency than butter. It's more similar to the texture of peanut butter. I'm not sure where you were thinking to substitute it in. We are huge cookie butter fans. So we would love to hear how it all works out.
      Reply
  15. Coleen Brown says:
    July 2, 2019
    Just made these, and they are mostly still cooling. I love that this was all stuff I already had! I made a double batch with one pan being a 9x13 and then two 8x8 pans. One of the 8x8 pans I put in the freezer for about 20 minutes and they are still a little gooey, but soooooo yummy!! I’m hoping the rest will set up a little harder since they are for a freedom celerbration tomorrow night, but even if they don’t, I know they will be as big of a hit there as they were with my family!
    Reply
  17. Lyss says:
    October 14, 2019
    I followed the recipe exactly, and used Betty Crocker white cake mix. I did not get a dough like texture, it's just cake with a filling. Where did I go wrong?
    Reply
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