Home DessertBrownies and Bars Cake Mix Cookie Bars

Cake Mix Cookie Bars

by Jamie


I was thrilled when Kettle Brand Chips and BlogHer asked me to participate in the “Perfect Picnic Pairing” campaign. I love packing up a picnic tote  and carting my kids off to the park to enjoy it in the company of friends. Today, as part of this campaign I have a wonderful cookie bar recipe perfect for picnicking. It goes well with Kettle Brand Chips, it goes well with a good PBandJ, it goes well with a friend or two to visit. My kids and I also put together a video for your viewing pleasure. If you decide to give away 2 1/2 short minutes of your life to watch this crazy video…I can promise you will come away either chuckling to yourself, or scratching your head wondering how I got MyTeenSonMark to participate. Maybe both. 🙂

Do you feel like rushing out to buy some Kettle Brand Chips after watching that little show? I hope so, they really are fantastic. Here are a few things I have learned about Kettle Brand Chips. 30 years ago, Kettle Brand Chips pioneered the kettle cooking style. They developed the method and continue on today cooking real, unpeeled potatoes in small batches in an effort to gain superior taste and a heavenly crunch. Which they really do have! I love the crunchiness of the Krinkle Cut  Chips especially. I’m a girl who likes a bit of crunch in her life and Kettle Brand Chips are just the ticket.  Kettle Brand also cooks their chips with all-natural, non-GMO ingredients, using no trans fats, MSG or artificial colors and flavors. I like that in a chip! Kettle Brand Chips would make a wonderful addition to any summer time gathering you have planned. Picnic in the Park, Pot Luck of Wonder, Sit At The Beach and Tan…whatever you have planned. Grab some of these great chips, won’t you?

And some cookies… IMG_3982_edited-1

These Cookie Bars are super soft, moist and slightly fluffy. The prep time is very minimal (thanks to the cake mix!) and they are wonderful eaten warm from the oven. Let me show you how easy they are to put together!

CAKE MIX COOKIE BARS
PRINT RECIPE

Time: 5 minutes prep + 35 minutes baking
Yield: 25 bars
Recipe adapted from Epicurious

1 yellow cake mix
1 (3.4 ounce) box instant vanilla pudding
1/4 C oil
3/4 C water
2 eggs
1 1/2 C milk (or semi sweet) chocolate chips

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1. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees.
2. Grab a yellow cake mix and one small box of instant vanilla pudding. Toss them both into your stand mixer, or medium-sized mixing bowl.

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3. Add 1/4 C oil… IMG_3921_edited-1

and 3/4 cup water.

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4. Add 2 eggs…

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and mix it all up until well combined and beautiful.

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5. Add 1 1/2 cups milk chocolate chips and mix just until combined.

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6. Spray a 9×13 pan with cooking spray and pour the dough into it. It will be kind of thick.

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Just spread it out with a knife.

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7. Pop it in the oven and bake the beauty for 25-35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.

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8. Allow the bars to cool for about 10 minutes, then slice them into bars, and enjoy!

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I like to make them in a pan that has a handy lid. That way, I can cart them off easily to a picnic at the park.

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When my kids and I are planning to romp around at the park with friends, I generally just throw a few things into a tote for lunch. Usually some sliced fruit and veggies that I store in little plastic bags.

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I like to make a good PBandJ on homemade Whole Wheat Bread with homemade jam. Love it. I truly do.

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I slice each sandwich into quarters

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and then pack them in a plastic container…

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with a lid. That way no one starts to cry and whine  about smashed sandwiches. PBandJ’s are not as good if they’ve been smashed, would you agree? I bet you would.

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Then I toss it all in a tote,

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grab some Kettle Brand chips and we are ready to go. I like the Krinkle Cut best. Classic Barbeque Kettle Brand Chips are my all time favorite, and would have been shown in this picture, if they hadn’t been consumed previously!

IMG_3951_edited-1 Don’t forget the cookie bars!

 To enter to win $100 Visa Gift Card, just leave me a comment below telling me what you like to pack in your picnic basket.

Official Rules:
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You may receive (2) total entries by selecting from the following entry methods:
a) Leave a comment in response to the sweepstakes prompt on this post
b) Tweet (public message) about this promotion; including exactly the
following unique term in your tweet message: “”#SweepstakesEntry””; and leave the URL to that tweet in a comment on this post”
c) Blog about this promotion, including a disclosure that you are receiving a sweepstakes entry in exchange for writing the blog post, and leave the URL to that post in a comment on this post
d) For those with no Twitter or blog, read the official rules to learn about an alternate form of entry.
This giveaway is open to US Residents age 18 or older. Winners will be selected via random draw, and will be notified by e-mail. You have 72 hours to get back to me, otherwise a new winner will be selected.
The Official Rules are available here.
This sweepstakes runs from 5/20 – 7/3.
Be sure to visit the Kettle Brand Chips brand page on BlogHer.com where you can read other bloggers’ reviews and find more chances to win!

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405 comments

s riches July 2, 2013 - 4:26 pm

I like to take shrimp salad, broccoli and dip on a picnic.

Reply
tina reynolds July 2, 2013 - 6:15 pm

I would have sandwiches, hummus, fresh fruit especially pinapple its my familys favorite and sweet tea./water

Reply
Holly Wert July 2, 2013 - 6:46 pm

i include cookies and fresh fruit in my picnics [email protected]

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Lorena Keech July 2, 2013 - 6:59 pm

Fried chicken and my mom’s potato salad.

Reply
Erica C. July 2, 2013 - 8:17 pm

Gotta have fresh fruit!

Reply
Augustine February 7, 2014 - 8:16 pm

I am confused beetwen standard gibbs free energy change and gibbs free energy change. Aren’t both the change in gibbs free energy of the system when reactants are converted completely, or 100 %, to products? Why does the change in gibbs free energy of the reaction change as the reactioin progresses, but the standard gibbs free energy change is the same no matter what. I need a qualitative explanation more than a quantitative one. Thanks!

Reply
Lisa Garner July 2, 2013 - 8:38 pm

We always have sandwiches, fresh fruit, corn on the cob and chips in our picnic basket.
lisalmg25 at gmail dot com

Reply
Lisa Garner July 2, 2013 - 8:40 pm

I Tweeted: https://twitter.com/lisalmg/status/352255369738854402
lisalmg25 at gmail dot com

Reply
Lauren Harmon July 2, 2013 - 9:15 pm

I always pack hummus and chips, coconut water, and grapes in my picnic basket! Yummy & Healthy! 🙂

Reply
Kayla July 2, 2013 - 9:38 pm

I always have potato salad!

Reply
Debbie B July 3, 2013 - 5:45 am

chicken salad sandwiches & chips

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Debbie B July 3, 2013 - 5:47 am Reply
Jackee July 3, 2013 - 7:45 am

I always make hummus for our picnics. It tastes great and it good for you too. I make a basic recipe then add jalapenos and roasted pasilla and bell peppers. Yum!

Reply
Jackee July 3, 2013 - 7:47 am Reply
angie lilly July 3, 2013 - 8:40 am

a big sub on crusty french bread with tons of veggie cold cuts and cheese and pesto!

Reply
brenda robinson July 3, 2013 - 9:30 am

iced tea, a summer fave

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Stephanie G July 3, 2013 - 9:39 am

Sandwiches, fruit, a salad of some kind, dessert, drinks, a blanket and napkins.

Reply
Stephanie G July 3, 2013 - 9:40 am Reply
Shea Balentine July 3, 2013 - 9:41 am

We love kettle chips and hubby would make sure it was one of the first things put in the basket! Along with some bottled water and apples!

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Nick A. July 3, 2013 - 9:48 am

I always include kettle potato chips in my picnic basket, so delicious!

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Thomas Murphy July 3, 2013 - 10:53 am

I have sandwiches, chips, cookies, and drinks in my picnic basket.

Reply
Christian Alejandro July 3, 2013 - 10:57 am

Everything I need for sandwiches and chips, fresh fruit, cold drinks, and chicken salad!

Reply
Christian Alejandro July 3, 2013 - 10:58 am Reply
Betty C July 3, 2013 - 11:39 am

Hoagies, potato salad, chips and fruit or cookies, or maybe both.

Reply
Betty C July 3, 2013 - 11:41 am Reply
Tabathia B July 3, 2013 - 11:45 am

seedless grapes and danimals yogurt drink
tbarrettno1 at gmail dot com

Reply
Tabathia B July 3, 2013 - 11:48 am Reply
Amanda Sakovitz July 3, 2013 - 12:01 pm

Turkey sandwiches and chips!

Reply
Amanda Sakovitz July 3, 2013 - 12:02 pm Reply
Crystal F July 3, 2013 - 2:10 pm

That bag is also our basket for the weekends. We usually pack pb wraps, chips, muffins and drinks. Thank you!

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lisagee1234 July 3, 2013 - 2:31 pm

Peanut Butter sandwiches are packed in our picnic basket.

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Maggie M July 3, 2013 - 3:14 pm

My family is all about sandwiches so that’s usually what goes in our picnic basket. Fruit juice and plenty of water too. Those cake mix cookie bars look sooo good!

Reply
Norma July 3, 2013 - 3:59 pm

Fresh summer fruit salad!

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LAMusing July 3, 2013 - 4:00 pm

I like to add shrimp cocktail, crusty french bread, brie and grapes or watermelon

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cc april July 3, 2013 - 4:16 pm

One of my family’s favorite foods inside my picnic basket is Chicken and Slaw wraps! They are so easy to make epecially if you use rotisserie chickens. Mix the chicken with some coleslaw, ranch dressing and sweet pickle relish, place on a wrap and roll it. your family will love it!

Reply
susan smoaks July 3, 2013 - 4:57 pm

i like to have a bottle of wine and some fresh fruit in my picnic basket

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Margaret July 3, 2013 - 4:57 pm

I always include iced tea in my picnic basket.

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Whitney July 3, 2013 - 5:14 pm

turkey sandwich, chips/dip and some fresh fruit

Reply
Lee July 3, 2013 - 5:37 pm

My perfect picnic basket would include fried chicken, potato salad and fruit salad.

Reply
margo mckeon July 3, 2013 - 5:37 pm

cold cuts ,cheese,bread and chips and dip

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K Anne July 3, 2013 - 8:12 pm

Cheese, grapes, strawberries, crackers & champagne

Reply
Sara Floyd July 3, 2013 - 8:50 pm

I always have fruit and pasta salad

Reply
Sara Floyd July 3, 2013 - 8:51 pm Reply
pf August 28, 2013 - 8:25 pm

can the cookie bars be made in 11x 15 pan? thanks

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Jamie August 30, 2013 - 6:54 am

pf,
I haven’t ever tried making them in a 11×15 pan. My thoughts are they would the batter would be too thin and might burn easily. Good luck!
~Jamie

Reply
Jimoh February 7, 2014 - 9:33 pm

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