Chocolate Chip Cake Mix Cookie Bars

These Chocolate Chip Cake Mix Cookie Bars are made with only 4 ingredients. They are soft and chewy and absolutely delicious! Not to mention, so easy!

This recipe is a delightful treat that combines the gooey goodness of chocolate chip cookies with the fluffy texture of a cake.

I love cake mix recipes! They make whipping up fun and interesting treats so easy. Like our strawberry cake mix cookie.

For me though, nothing beats the comfort of a chocolate chip cookie, and these chocolate chip cookie bars hit the same comfort spot for me.

What You'll Love About This Recipe

• Easy to Make: Perfect for beginners, this recipe requires basic ingredients and simple steps.
• Deliciously Soft and Chewy: The bars are soft like cake but have the chewy texture of cookies.
• Versatile: Easily adaptable with different types of cake mix and add-ins.
• Perfect for Sharing: Great for potlucks, parties, or as a family treat.
• Kid-Friendly: Loved by children and a fun recipe to bake together.

Ingredients

Yellow Cake Mix: The backbone of this recipe, it provides a sweet and fluffy base. Opt for your favorite brand or try something new for a different twist. White cake mix would work well too or even funfetti cake mix.

Eggs: They bring everything together, adding structure and richness to your bars.

Vegetable Oil: This is the secret to moist and tender bars. You can also experiment with different oils for a slight variation in flavor.

Water: Just a bit to get the perfect batter consistency.

Chocolate Chips: The highlight of this treat. Choose from a variety of types - semi-sweet, milk, or dark - to customize your bars to your liking.

Check your cake mix size! This recipe should work for 13.25 ounce cake mix and 15.25 ounce cake mixes as well.

Equipment

• Baking Pan (9x13): The ideal size for evenly cooked bars.
• Mixing Bowl: A larger one to comfortably mix all ingredients.
• Measuring Cups: Essential for accurate ingredient proportions.
• Rubber Spatula: To fold ingredients gently and scrape the bowl.
• Nonstick Cooking Spray: For easy removal of bars.
• Mixer: Hand or stand mixer for a smooth batter.

Instructions

Starting Your Bake: Begin by heating your oven to 350°F. This ensures the oven is ready and at the right temperature when your batter is prepared. Meanwhile, take your 9x13 baking pan and spray it evenly with nonstick cooking spray.

Mixing the Ingredients: In a large bowl, pour in the yellow cake mix, crack open two large eggs, add in the vegetable oil and water. Mix these together until you have a smooth batter. It’s important to mix until there are no lumps, as this affects the texture of your bars. However, be careful not to overmix, as this can make the bars too dense.

Adding Chocolate Chips: Now, gently fold in ¾ cup of chocolate chips into your batter using a rubber spatula. Folding is a technique where you cut through the batter, gently turn it, and repeat. This method ensures even distribution of chocolate chips without deflating the batter.

Preparing the Pan: Next, pour the batter into your prepared pan. Use the spatula to spread it out evenly. This helps the bars cook uniformly, ensuring that every piece is just as delicious as the last.

Final Touches Before Baking: Sprinkle some extra chocolate chips on top of the batter. This not only adds more chocolatey goodness but also makes your bars look more appealing.

Baking Time: Place the pan in the oven and bake for 24 minutes. To check if they're done, insert a toothpick in the center. If it comes out with a few crumbs or a bit gooey, it’s perfect. Remember, they will continue to cook slightly from the residual heat after being removed from the oven.

Cooling Down: After taking the pan out of the oven, let it sit for about 20-30 minutes. This resting time is essential as it allows the bars to set. Cutting them too early can result in them falling apart.

By following these steps, you’ll have a delicious batch of Cake Mix Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars that are as fun to make as they are to eat. These taste just like chocolate chip cookies, just a little chewier. It's a delicious dessert.

Top Tips

Gentle Mixing: When adding chocolate chips, mix gently to avoid crushing them. This keeps the texture of your bars delightful.

Choosing the Right Pan: The size of your pan can affect the thickness and baking time of your bars. Stick to the recommended size for best results.

Baking Temperature: If you bake these in a smaller pan, they will come out thicker, but you’ll need to lower the oven to 325 and bake them a little while longer.

Checking Doneness: Look for a barely gooey center with a toothpick test for perfectly baked bars.

Cooling is Crucial: Let your bars cool completely in the pan. This patience ensures they set properly and don't fall apart when sliced.

Balancing the Chocolate: As tempting as it sounds, too many chocolate chips can make the bars too gooey, so stick to the recommended amount.

Experiment with Fun: Baking is all about enjoying the process, so have fun with it!

Substitutions

• Cake Mix: Try different flavors like chocolate or spice for variety.
• Oil: Canola or melted butter can be used as alternatives.
• Add-Ins: Nuts, raisins, or white chocolate chips for a twist.

Variations

• Nutty Delight: Add chopped walnuts or pecans for a crunchy texture.
• Double Chocolate: Use a chocolate cake mix with white chocolate chips.
• Fruity Twist: Add dried cranberries or chopped dried apricots for a fruity flavor.

Storage Instructions

At Room Temperature: Keep your bars in an airtight container for up to 5 days. They'll stay moist and delicious.

Freezing for Later: Wrap the bars individually and freeze them. They'll last for about 3 months and are perfect for a quick treat.

Thawing and Reheating: Let frozen bars thaw at room temperature or gently warm them in the microwave for a fresh-baked feel.