Sweet treats like these 3 Ingredient Cake Mix Cookie Bars make the perfect quick dessert. These cinnamon crumb cake bars are a family favorite of mine and will soon be one of your favorite delicious dessert recipes to make.
I'm all about combining two of my favorite treats. These cake mix bars are a combo of delicious cookies, and chewy cookie bars, all in one simple recipe. Cake mix cookies were one of the first things I baked as a young teen and I've memorized the recipe my mom found in a magazine back in the 90s.
I wanted to take that simple dessert and dress it up by using a premium cake mix that came with a topping. Using a crumb cake mix was a perfect choice.
These cake bars bake to golden brown perfection and taste perfectly just like they are or topped with a scoop of ice cream.Â
These 3-Ingredient Banana Cookies prove how fun and unique using a cake mix can be.
Jump to:
Ingredients
- Crumb cake mix - You can use any brand of crumb cake mix for this recipe, so pick your favorite type. You want a mix that has a separate packet of cake mix and topping.
- Oil - I use vegetable oil for this dessert, but melted refined coconut oil works well, too.
- Eggs - Large eggs work best for baking.
See recipe card for quantities.
How to Make 3 Ingredient Cake Mix Cookie Bars
Follow the simple steps on the recipe card below!Â
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Add nonstick cooking spray to a 9X13 baking pan.
In a large mixing bowl, combine the eggs, cake mix, and oil.
Spread the mixture evenly in the pan.
Sprinkle the topping and swirl with a butter knife.
Put the pan in the oven and bake for 25 minutes. It should start to golden around the edges and be firm to the touch.
Top tip
The toothpick test is a great way to check and see if these cake mix treats are done baking. Insert a clean toothpick into the center at the end of the baking time. If the toothpick comes out clean, the cookie bars are done baking and ready to cool.
Variations
- Chocolate chips - White chocolate chips, peanut butter chips, butterscotch chips, and gooey chocolate chips that are milk chocolate or dark chocolate are all delicious options to add to these cake mix bar cookies. You can even make chocolate chip cookies from the same batter.
- Box of cake mix - You can use any boxed cake mix for this easy dessert recipe! The crumble topping comes from the crumb cake mix, but having options for this great recipe is always good. You can make chocolate chip cake mix cookie bars, strawberry cake mix bars, vanilla cake mix treats, red velvet bars, or any of your favorite cake mix to make these sweet treats. The best part is that you can change it every time.Â
- Toppings - Adding a scoop of vanilla ice cream or drizzling melted chocolate (we prefer white chocolate) on the cookie bars is a great twist to the original recipe.Â
These 4-Ingredient Almond Joy Cookies are another example of a simple dessert with minimal ingredients!
Equipment
A large bowl, rubber spatula, and a prepared square baking pan are all that is needed for this simple recipe. You can add parchment paper for easy cleanup, too.
Storage
The best way to store leftovers of this cake mix recipe is to let the bars cool completely and then store them in an airtight container. You can keep them at room temperature or place them in the fridge.
Common Questions
Yes, if you want to freeze a cake mix and then create these treats later, you can. The freezer helps to lengthen the lifespan of ingredients so that they're fresh for recipes to make later.Â
A prepared pan is needed because these are more like cookie bars than cookies. They're thicker and need the shape of the pan to hold the ingredients in shape. I think it would work to scoop this as cookies and roll in the topping instead of making bars. Let me know if you try that option.
Using a cake mix is a fun trick that many people do, even bakers. This is because many of the main ingredients needed to make cookies and cakes are already premeasured out and done for you.Â
This means that you only need a few other basic ingredients to complete the sweet treat. Talk about a sweet deal!Â
Related
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📖 Recipe
3 Ingredient Cake Mix Cookie Bars
Ingredients
- 21 oz crumb cake cake mix such as Krusteaz
- ½ cup oil
- 2 eggs
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350. Spray a 9x13 pan with nonstick cooking spray.
- Stir together the cake mix, eggs, and oil.
- Spread in the prepared pan.
- Sprinkle on the topping. Swirl in gently with a butter knife.
- Bake for 25 minutes, until firm to the touch and golden around the edges.
- Cool completely.
But Seriously
Did you literally tell us to buy a cake mix and make it and pass it off as a recipe? You coulda simplified and just said, buy cake mix and prepare it.
Taryn
No, "But Seriously", I literally did not. The ingredients I add to the mix are not what is listed on the box. The instructions are different too.
Lauri
How much oil? I don't see a measurement for the oil.
Taryn
Hi Lauri, you use 1/2 cup oil. It is listed in the recipe card.
Sue
I make a Sour Cream Coffee cake & make my own topping which includes nuts. I use a cake mix & sour cream & eggs instead of oil. It looks similar to these cookie bars.
Wanda Brock
People can be so snarky! Thank you for the recipe.