Cake Mix Cookie Bars {With m&m} (2024)

The best, quick and easy cake mix cookie bars recipe, homemade with simple ingredients and ready in 30 minutes. They are soft and fudgy with many flavor and add-in options. Full of white, peanut butter and semisweet chocolate chips, m&m candies and Nutella.

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I have made these dessert bars so many times that I have lost count. My family and friends all love them, just like they love my Cake Mix Brownies. Basically, imagine all the flavors of your favorite monster cookies but in bar form.

Trust me, when these come out of the oven, it's impossible not to just grab a spoon and start eating from the pan itself. They are so warm and ooey gooey. If you are fond of using cake mix boxes to make all sorts of desserts, be sure to check out this collection of Easy Cake Mix Recipes (Desserts).

Key ingredients

• Cake mix- You need the Pillsbury brand for the right amount.
• Pudding mix box- Use vanilla for best results.
• Eggs- Make sure you use ones at room temperature.
• Oil- Creates a nice texture without the grease.
• Chocolate chips- You need semi sweet, white, and also peanut butter chips.
• M&m candies- Brings in a colorful, sweet addition.
• Nutella- Warmed and used to drizzle on top.

Variations

• Try other cake mix box flavors- These are also great dessert bars for parties. You can use the same recipe and various box mixes to make different flavors of bars. Consider using yellow, golden, white, chocolate, funfetti, strawberry, red velvet, lemon, Devil's food cake mix.
• For Christmas theme- Use seasonal red and green m&m candies and a holiday sprinkles blend. These Christmas Pinwheel Cookies are also a festive choice. You can also do any holiday theme using themed candies and sprinkles, including Valentines with all those Pink Desserts.
• Chocolate chip cookie bars- Use ½ cup semisweet chocolate chips and omit all other add-ins. If you enjoy this version, try my Cookie Bars Recipe (5 layers) or these Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Bars (Eggless).
• Peanut butter chocolate chip bars- Replace Nutella with peanut butter and swirl that on top of the batter before baking. If you are a true peanut butter fan, you will also like these No Bake Peanut Butter Bars (Oats).
• Oil vs. Butter- I think that's the biggest debate.I feel like oil creates the best texture and butter makes these bars too heavy and greasy but everyone has their own preference.

How to make easy cake mix cookie bars?

1. Mix together- Cake mix powder, pudding powder, eggs and oil until just combined (Images 1, 2 and 3).
2. Stir in- Chocolate chips and candies (Image 4).
3. Spread mixture- Into a square pan (Images 5 and 6).
4. Swirl Nutella on top- Then bake, cool, and enjoy (Images 7 and 8).

Cake mix bars add-ins

• Coconut
• Cream cheese
• Candy bars
• Dried fruits
• Nuts
• Chocolate chips
• Peanut butter
• Biscoff (Cookie butter)
• Nutella
• Different extracts
• Zests

Tips and techniques

• All ingredients should be at room temperature- Because they blend together easily.
• You can easily double the recipe- Then, just like with this Banana Chocolate Chip Cake, you can easily feed a bigger crowd.
• Use Pillsbury cake mix boxes- Because they are 15.25 oz. The other brands have gotten smaller and won't work in this recipe that I have provided.
• Adjust the amount of chocolate chips and m&m candies- Based on your preference. Those of you that really enjoy those little chocolate candies, check out the M&M cookies linked below under "More doctored cake mix recipes."
• Heat Nutella in the microwave- For a few seconds to make the consistency thinner and easier to create swirls. If you really love Nutella as much as I do, I suggest making these Easy Nutella Brownies (3 Ingredients) and Easy Nutella Cookies (Chocolate Chips) as well.
• Prepare the pan- With grease and flour to prevent sticking.

Recipe FAQs

Storage

• Refrigerate- Place in a sealed container for up to 5 days.
• Freeze- Place in a sealed container for up to 1 month.
• Room temperature- These can be left out for 2-3 days.
• Make ahead- And place in a sealed container in the fridge for up to 5 days or in the freezer for up to 1 month. Thaw in the fridge and serve.

More doctored cake mix recipes

• Chocolate Cake Mix Cookies (Many Add-Ins)
• Easy Gingerbread Cookies (With Cake Mix)
• How to Make Box Cake Better (Taste Homemade)
• Easy Christmas Cranberry Cake (With Cake Mix)
• Easy Baked Pumpkin Donuts (With Cake Mix)
• Easy Pumpkin Cake Recipe (With Cake Mix)
• Easy Apple Cake (With Cake Mix)
• Champagne Cupcakes (With Cake Mix)

Recipe

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