Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Bars are full of chocolate chips and delicious creamy peanut butter. Using a cake mix to bake cookies is just another one of my favorite Cake Mix Hacks that I love to share with you! Let me show you how easy these are to make.
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Everybody needs easy cookie bar recipes with few ingredients in their recipe box and this recipe for Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Bars is just that...easy!
They're the perfect dessert to make for your family when you need something sweet.
Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Bars with Yellow Cake Mix
You never know when you need to make a dessert recipe at the last minute. When my son was in high school, I had to make a lot of desserts for football team dinners, not to mention the snack bar on game night.
Sometimes I didn't get much notice for when a dessert was needed, which is why I love using a cake mix to create this recipe for Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Bars. They're ready fast and everyone loves them.
What you're really doing is creating a cake mix hack by adding a few extra ingredients to a boxed cake mix. The end result is a totally different recipe than what’s featured on the front of the box.
Helpful Kitchen Tools
Reynolds Kitchens Cookie Baking Sheets,More Information6-Piece Nonstick Oven Bakeware BakingMore InformationFreezer-to-Oven Safe 3 Qt GlassMore InformationNon-Stick 9 x 13-Inch PanMore Information
Main Ingredients Needed
Here's a quick overview of the ingredients for this recipe. Find the exact amounts and click the Instacart button to easily add them to your cart – all in the printable recipe card below!
- Vanilla Cake Mix
- Eggs
- Peanut Butter
- Oil
- Chocolate Chips
Step-by-Step Directions
Step 1 | Combine the Ingredients
- I find it easier to use a hand-held mixer to combine all the ingredients together, but you can definitely do this by hand with just a wooden spoon.
- Once the ingredients are combined, add them to the bottom of a 9X13 baking dish that's been sprayed with non-stick cooking spray.
- Use your fingers or the back of a spoon to help smooth out the cookie dough into the greased pan.
Step 2 | Baking Instructions
Bake in a preheated 350 degree oven for 15 to 17 minutes or until the bars are golden brown.
Tip: After the cookies have cooled, place a cutting board on top of the baking dish and then invert to flip the baked bars out! I find them much easier to cut on top of a cutting board than in the baking dish.
Before You Begin!
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Ready for More Easy Cake Mix Dessert Recipes?
- Chocolate Sugar Cookies
- Red Velvet Sandwich Cookies
- Four Different Cake Mix Cookie Recipes - with a video to show you how easy it is to make cookies when they start out with a cake mix.
- Chocolate Chunk Muffins - who says you can't have chocolate for breakfast?
- Peach Crunch Cake - used a cake mix as crumb topping!
📖 Recipe Card
Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Bars
Ingredients
- 1 box yellow cake mix
- 2 eggs
- ⅓ cup creamy peanut butter
- 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
- ⅓ cup vegetable oil
Method
- Preheat the oven to 350°F and spray a 9x13-inch baking dish with nonstick cooking spray.
- In the bowl of a stand mixer, combine the yellow cake mix, eggs, peanut butter, chocolate chips, and vegetable oil until fully mixed. The dough will be thick and sticky.
- Press the dough evenly into the prepared baking dish. Lightly grease your fingers or the back of a spoon if needed to help spread the mixture.
- Bake for 15 to 17 minutes, or until the bars are lightly golden brown.
- Allow the bars to cool before slicing and serving.
Nutrition
Notes
Tips
- For easy slicing, allow the bars to cool completely before cutting into squares.
- Line the baking pan with parchment paper to help lift the bars out cleanly.
- Be careful not to overbake, as the bars will continue to set while cooling.
Storage & Make Ahead
- Store the bars in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 4 days.
- For longer storage, freeze the cooled bars individually wrapped in plastic wrap and placed in a freezer-safe container or bag for up to 2 months.
- Thaw at room temperature before serving.
Tried this recipe?
Let us know how it was!This recipe has been updated since it first appeared in 2012 with new photos and a new printable recipe card that includes nutritional information. I hope you enjoy the updates as much as I enjoyed working on them!
Susan Siedschlaw says
Could these be made in a 9x9 pan?
Lois says
Yes, you can make this recipe in a 9x9-inch pan. However, since the original recipe is designed for a 9x13-inch pan, using a smaller pan will result in thicker bars. To ensure they bake evenly, you'll need to adjust the baking time accordingly.
Typically, thicker bars may require a longer baking time. It's advisable to start checking for doneness around the original bake time of 15 to 17 minutes, but be prepared to extend the baking time by an additional 5 to 10 minutes. Keep an eye on the bars and use a toothpick to test the center; if it comes out clean or with a few moist crumbs, they're done.
Remember, baking times can vary based on oven differences and the exact thickness of the batter, so it's best to monitor closely to avoid overbaking.
Carol says
Wouldn’t these be delicious with peanut butter chips ? Going to try both recipes! Yummy!
Lois says
Yes, they would be! Let me know how they turn out! Thanks for visiting.