Description
A quick and easy recipe for chewy cookie bars made from yellow cake mix and chocolate chips, perfect for a comforting homemade treat.
Ingredients
Scale
- 15.25 oz (432 g) yellow cake mix
- 1/2 cup (115 g) unsalted butter, melted
- 2 large eggs, room temperature
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup (175 g) semi-sweet chocolate chips
- Optional: 1/2 cup (60 g) chopped nuts (walnuts or pecans)
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a 9×13-inch pan with parchment paper, leaving an overhang on the sides, or grease the pan well.
- Melt the butter gently in the microwave or on the stovetop. Let it cool slightly so it’s warm but not hot.
- In a medium bowl, combine the yellow cake mix, melted butter, eggs, and vanilla extract. Stir with a wooden spoon or whisk until just combined. If the batter feels too dry, add a teaspoon of milk or water.
- Fold in the chocolate chips and nuts if using, distributing them evenly throughout the batter without overmixing.
- Spread the batter evenly into the prepared pan using a spatula. Pat it down gently to smooth the top without pressing too hard.
- Bake for 22-26 minutes. Start checking at 22 minutes by inserting a toothpick in the center; it should come out with a few moist crumbs but not wet batter. The edges will look golden and set.
- Remove from the oven and let the bars cool completely in the pan on a wire rack.
- Lift out the bars using the parchment paper overhang and cut into squares or rectangles. Store leftovers in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days or refrigerate for longer freshness.
Notes
Use warm but not hot melted butter to avoid cooking the eggs. Do not overmix the batter to keep bars chewy. Let bars cool completely before cutting to prevent crumbling. For thicker bars, use an 8×8 pan and reduce baking time by 5 minutes. Parchment paper helps with easy removal and cleanup.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 22-26 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bar (1/12 of recip
- Calories: 220
- Sugar: 18
- Sodium: 150
- Fat: 11
- Saturated Fat: 6
- Carbohydrates: 29
- Fiber: 1
- Protein: 2
Keywords: cake mix cookie bars, chewy cookie bars, chocolate chip bars, easy dessert, quick cookie bars, homemade treats