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:
No duplicate comments.
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!

Leave a Comment

405 comments

Julia May 25, 2013 - 3:48 pm

I would pack sandwiches made with fresh french bread, summer fruits like peaches, apricots, and grapes, and of course, some homemade baked goods to finish off a perfect picnic meal.

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Cindy Brickley May 25, 2013 - 4:06 pm

I like to pack fresh veggies and dip in my picnic basket along with fresh berries and melons. And also I like to pack a meat and cheese platter with fresh bread and crackers.

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Cindy Brickley May 25, 2013 - 4:11 pm

I tweeted the following on Twitter:
“”#SweepstakesEntry”” Cake Mix Cookie Bars and $100 Visa Gift Card Giveaway from Kettle Chips and BlogHer @https://jamiecooksitup.net/2013/05/5785/

Reply
Jimmy May 25, 2013 - 7:01 pm

I would include turkey sandwiches, grapes, and potato chips

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Chihiro February 8, 2014 - 2:24 pm

I would suggest using dirnfeeft kinds of breads. It can make all the difference in the world on the taste too. I love the ciabatta rolls, Hawaiian rolls, sourdough, wraps, lettuce wraps, etc. Tuna, egg, shrimp, chicken salads of all kinds. You can make an asian salad, cesaur salad, or almost any kind with a vinaigrette and wrap it up in a tortilla, pita, or wrap. turkey, spinach, dried cranberries, vinaigrettechicken, cilantro, shredded lettuce, shredded cheese, salsa, avocadosprouts, spinach, shredded carrots, celery, your fave meatgrilled cheesethin steak with cheddar cheesepeanut butter and honeywrap with ham, cheese, and pineapple and cream cheeseThe combos are endless. I know certain fruits go well with fish, chicken, beef, turkey.Pastrami and heat it up with pepperonicinis and mustard

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David H May 25, 2013 - 8:17 pm

I usually bring gum, lemonade, and sunscreen.

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Cristine May 25, 2013 - 8:17 pm

I made this tonight for a church picnic tomorrow and it did not look anything like yours. My looked like a cake and tasted like a cake nothing like a cookie not even the texture was cookie. I followed your recipe to the T. The cake tasted good just not a cookie. Will try again sometime hope it works. I will be taking it as is to the picnic. I usually don’t have any problems with your recipes. I have made lots of them and they are always 7 thumps up even with my pickiest eater. Thanks for sharing! 🙂

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Tamar May 25, 2013 - 10:46 pm

I usually get BBQ wraps, chicken fingers, cole slaw, and water for my picnics 🙂

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Richard Hicks May 26, 2013 - 9:23 am

I would include fried chicken, chips, fruit, and more.

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Richard Hicks May 26, 2013 - 9:25 am Reply
Kathy S May 26, 2013 - 11:11 am

I would pack turkey sandwiches, salt and vinegar chips, cookies, and a bottle of Merlot wine.

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Meryl May 26, 2013 - 3:53 pm

I like packing several types of cheese, baguette, and wine.

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sharonjo May 26, 2013 - 8:16 pm

Turkey sandwich, chips (of course!), fresh fruit, and brownies. Sounds like a perfect picnic lunch. Thanks!

Reply
Jessie C. May 26, 2013 - 9:32 pm

We pack fruit salad, water and trail mix.
tcarolinep at gmail dot com

Reply
Jessie C. May 26, 2013 - 9:32 pm

-https://twitter.com/tcarolinep/status/338860045720748032

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Alvina May 26, 2013 - 9:35 pm

The funny thing is… my favorite thing would be chips! haha. 🙂 Simple sandwiches, dessert, and CHIPS!

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Stephanie Larison May 26, 2013 - 9:55 pm

Cheese, crackers, fruit and some sandwiches too! Oh, and some water bottles!

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Anastasia May 26, 2013 - 9:56 pm

On picnics with the kids, there are always PB&J’s, chips, fruit and soda 🙂 Then we add other stuff based on what we have or what’s on sale 🙂

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sharonjo May 27, 2013 - 1:21 pm

Turkey sandwiches, chips of course, fresh fruit, and brownies for dessert. Thanks!

The video was great–talented kids!!

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HilLesha May 27, 2013 - 4:31 pm

I’d pack carrot sticks, an Izzie beverage in Clementine, roasted red pepper hummus, and a Greek salad. 🙂

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Rosanne May 27, 2013 - 7:48 pm

I pack broasted chicken, pasta and potato salad and chocolate chip cookies and cherries

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Janna Johnson May 27, 2013 - 11:54 pm

pita chips, hummus, veggies, feta

Thanks! Janna JOhnson [email protected] Janna johnson on GFC

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Allison S. May 28, 2013 - 7:46 am

I love to pack pasta salads!

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Sarah Hirsch May 28, 2013 - 9:14 am

i’d pack a nice salad and some tasty bread

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Nadine L May 28, 2013 - 11:58 am

It varies depending on the occasion, but my go to is Cold Grilled Chicken, my homemade Macaroni Salad and a fruit salad

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Nadine L May 28, 2013 - 11:59 am Reply
MaryR May 28, 2013 - 7:23 pm

My picnic basket would include wine, cheese and crackers.

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Michelle D May 29, 2013 - 2:25 pm

One of my favorite memories of a picnic we had when I was dating a certain gentleman and we were going to hike in the mountains, we made bagel sandwiches spread with a mixture of plain cream cheese and orange zest. We added some ham and favorite white cheese slices, I think it was monterey jack and then packed it up with chips!, of course and fruit and cookies. To me a perfect meal is a tuna fish sandwich, chips, those crispy green grapes that are on the market right now and homemade chocolate chip cookies! It doesn’t get any better.

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steph May 29, 2013 - 2:59 pm

sandwiches, fresh fruit, and fresh veggies!

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Jacob LaFountaine May 30, 2013 - 12:01 am

Lunchmeat, bread, bbq chips and diet sodas

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Anita May 30, 2013 - 7:41 am

I’m kind of a romantic when it comes to picnics, since it’s just my hubby and me now. I’d pack a nice bottle of wine, some cheese and crackers or a French baguette and a roll of Trader Joe’s delicious white wine salami. Grapes would be easy to add, along with strawberries and some lemon cookies for dessert! I’d pack it all up in a vintage basket that I bought at a little herb festival on our anniversary, 30 years ago!

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Denise May 30, 2013 - 3:01 pm

It all depends on who’s going with me on the picnic, but generally it consists of chips, a sandwich, fruit/veggies of some sort, and chocolate milk!

p.s. loved the video 🙂

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rachel May 30, 2013 - 3:25 pm

Chicken salad sandwiches are always a hit!

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Zed Power June 1, 2013 - 11:58 am

Ham sandwiches and pulled pork sandwishes.

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Barbara Montag June 1, 2013 - 7:49 pm

Deviled eggs jalapeno roll ups watermelon and a couple of wine coolers.
Thank you.

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Barbara Montag June 1, 2013 - 7:50 pm Reply
Amy June 2, 2013 - 3:24 pm

My family loves to take fried chicken on a picnic.

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Ellie W June 2, 2013 - 4:28 pm

Potato salad and ham n cheese croissant sandwiches are included in my picnic basket.

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Ellie W June 2, 2013 - 4:29 pm Reply
Conor S. June 2, 2013 - 8:08 pm

I pack chicken salad sandwiches and watermelon.

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Christie Kammerer June 2, 2013 - 9:53 pm

we love cold fried chicken and potato salad.

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Natasha P. June 3, 2013 - 10:32 am

Just sandwiches, chips, fresh fruit, and a yummy dessert.

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Wild Orchid June 4, 2013 - 10:10 am

I would include fried chicken, coleslaw, potato salad, and kettle chips, of course!

Thanks for the chance to win!
wildorchid985 at gmail dot com

Reply
Wild Orchid June 4, 2013 - 10:11 am

tweet–https://twitter.com/WildOrchid985/status/341950309737828353

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Lisa June 4, 2013 - 11:32 pm

I always include fruit, iced tea, and some ham and cheese sandwiches!

motioncitycutie(at)aol(dot)com

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Wanda McHenry June 4, 2013 - 11:33 pm

I like to pack grapes, brie, prosciutto wrapped melon and triscuits! Oh, and wine!

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Wanda McHenry June 4, 2013 - 11:34 pm Reply
Tracy Robertson June 5, 2013 - 3:16 am

I like to pack sandwiches, chips, cookies, soda and watermelon.

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Tracy Robertson June 5, 2013 - 3:18 am Reply
Heather Hayes Panjon June 5, 2013 - 7:37 am

I Pack In My Picnic Basket Sandwiches, Fruit, Pie And Of Course Kettle Sweet Onion Chips!

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