Cake Mix Bars

When you need to bake for a big group, whip up a batch of these cake mix bars. Since they’re studded with multicolored sprinkles and white chocolate chips, they’re festive enough for a birthday party but simple enough for a casual potluck. The recipe starts with a box of cake mix, so it’s super quick to mix and guaranteed to yield perfect results.

Making bar cookies from cake mix is a great way to make a boxed cake mix taste homemade. Even the small additions of egg and milk enrich the mix, making it extra-flavorful and moist. Since the basic recipe is so simple, it’s easy to play around with too: Add your favorite candies to the batter or serve the bars with fruit or ice cream.

Ingredients for Cake Mix Bars

• Yellow cake mix: Our favorite brand of yellow cake mix actually tastes great—you’d never think that it is not homemade cake.
• Egg: For best results, bring the eggs to room temperature before baking. If you’re in a hurry, pop the eggs in a bowl of warm water for a few minutes after taking them out of the fridge to speed up the process.
• Milk: We like to use 2% in this recipe, but whole or skim will work too.
• Canola oil: When baking, using oil rather than butter allows the flavor of the yellow cake to shine.
• White baking chips: White chocolate chips add pockets of concentrated sweetness.
• Jimmies: Crunchy, colorful sprinkles add flair, making these cake bars from cake mix a fitting (yet less traditional) birthday party cake or dessert for any occasion.

Directions

Step 1: Start with the cake mix

Preheat the oven to 350°F. In a large bowl, stir together the yellow cake mix, egg, milk and oil. The mixture will be thick.

Step 2: Add the mix-ins

Stir in the white baking chips and jimmies.

Step 3: Spread into the pan

Spread the batter into a greased 15x10x1-inch baking pan.

Editor’s Tip: If the batter is tricky to spread, use a greased offset spatula. Greasing the spatula will help prevent it from sticking to the cake.

Step 4: Bake the bars

Bake for 18 to 20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

Step 5: Cool and slice

Cool completely in the pan set on a wire rack. Once cooled, cut into bars.

ALLISON CEBULLA FOR TASTE OF HOME

Cake Mix Bar Variations

• Swap the sprinkles: Rainbow sprinkles are the classic combo for a Funfetti look, but go ahead and change them to any color that feels festive: red and green for Christmas, red and blue for the Fourth of July, or a favorite color for a birthday.
• Change up the cake mix: Use a Funfetti box mix instead of yellow cake mix and you won’t even need the sprinkles! You can also use vanilla, lemon, strawberry, pistachio or butter-flavored cake mix.
• Go gluten-free: Using a gluten-free boxed cake mix transforms this into a speedy gluten-free dessert. Just check that the baking chips and jimmies are also labeled gluten-free.
• Use a different fat: You can replace the canola oil with another type of cooking oil, such as peanut, safflower or avocado. Just make sure the oil is flavorless. You can also use melted butter.
• Play with mix-ins: Trade the white baking chips for chocolate chips, butterscotch chips, chopped nuts or candies like M&M’s.

How to Store Cake Mix Bars

Store the bars made with cake mix right in the pan, covered tightly with storage wrap or foil. Once they’re sliced, store them in an airtight container or zip-top bag. They are best kept on the countertop, but you can also store them in the refrigerator.

How long do cake mix bars last?

At room temperature, cake mix bars will keep for three or four days. In the refrigerator, they’ll last for a week, but they may get a bit dry toward the end. Revive them by popping them in the microwave for a few seconds before serving.

Can you freeze cake mix bars?

Yes, many cakes freeze well including these cake bars from cake mix. To freeze, allow the bars to cool completely. You can freeze the entire pan, covered tightly with two layers, such as storage wrap and foil. Or, slice them into bars and freeze them in zip-top freezer bags. You can freeze the bars for three months. Defrost them in the refrigerator the night before serving.

Cake Mix Bar Tips

ALLISON CEBULLA FOR TASTE OF HOME

How do you keep cake mix bars from sticking to the pan?

Be sure to grease the cake pan properly. If your pan isn’t nonstick, consider lining it with parchment as well. Grease the pan under the paper, lay a long sheet of parchment over the bottom and grease the paper too. As a bonus, if the paper is long enough to stick up above the sides of the cake, you can use it to easily remove the cake from the pan!

Can you use a 13×9-inch baking dish for these bars made with cake mix?

Yes, these bar cookies from cake mix can be turned into a 13×9 cake recipe. However, since the bars will be a bit thicker, you may need to bake them for a few extra moments to cook through.