Easy Three Ingredient Cake Mix Bars
Easy Three Ingredient Cake Mix Bars are the golden, crispy-edged dessert you’ve been craving. After making these many times, I’ve discovered the trick to perfect cake mix bars every time. The warm, comforting aroma of these fresh-baked bars will fill your home and make your family beg for more. If you love recipes like this, you’ll also enjoy Easy Banana Caramel Cream Dessert and No Bake Oreo Cheesecake Sushi.
Why This Easy Three Ingredient Cake Mix Bars Is Pure Comfort
- Golden, crispy edges with a soft center
- Perfect for a quick dessert or potluck
- Better than boxed cake mix
- Easy to customize with mix-ins or frosting
What You'll Need for Easy Three Ingredient Cake Mix Bars
Choosing the right ingredients makes a big difference, but this recipe is forgiving enough to work with what you have.
- 1 box yellow cake mix
- 3 large eggs
- 1/3 cup vegetable oil
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Optional: powdered sugar for dusting (optional)
- Optional: your choice of mix-ins or frosting (optional)
📝 Ingredient Notes
- cake mix: Any flavor will work, but yellow cake mix is classic.
🛒 Tools & Equipment I Recommend
- KitchenAid Stand Mixer — Ensures a smooth, lump-free batter every time. → See on Amazon
- Silicone Baking Mats — Prevents sticking and makes cleanup a breeze. → See on Amazon
How to Make Easy Three Ingredient Cake Mix Bars
- Preheat: Preheat your oven to 350°F (180°C) and grease a 9×13 inch baking dish.
- Mix: In a large bowl, combine the cake mix, eggs, oil, and vanilla extract. Mix until well combined and no lumps remain.
- Bake: Pour the batter into the prepared baking dish and smooth the top with a spatula. Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
- Cool: Allow the bars to cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then dust with powdered sugar (if using) and cut into squares. Serve warm or at room temperature.
Cook's Tips for Perfect Easy Three Ingredient Cake Mix Bars
- Common mistake and fix: Don't overmix the batter. Overmixing can result in tough, dry bars. Mix just until combined.
- Pro tip: For extra flavor, add 1 cup of mix-ins like chocolate chips, nuts, or dried fruit to the batter before baking.
- Pro tip: To make frosting, mix 2 cups of powdered sugar with 4 tablespoons of butter and 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract. Add milk one tablespoon at a time until the desired consistency is reached. Spread over cooled bars.
Storing & Reheating Easy Three Ingredient Cake Mix Bars
Short-Term Storage
Store in an airtight container in the fridge. Store leftover bars in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days. Make-ahead tip: Batter can be made ahead and stored in the fridge for up to 2 days. Bake as directed.
Freezing Easy Three Ingredient Cake Mix Bars
Freeze cooled bars in a single layer, then transfer to an airtight container. Thaw at room temperature before serving.
How to Reheat Without Drying It Out
Oven: Reheat in a 300°F (150°C) oven for 10-15 minutes. Microwave: Reheat in the microwave for 15-20 seconds.
Recipe Notes
- Chef tip: For a gluten-free version, use a gluten-free cake mix.
- Best substitution: Substitute the cake mix for a box of instant pudding mix and 1 1/2 cups of milk for a different texture.
- Make-ahead: Bars can be made ahead and frozen. Thaw at room temperature before serving.
- Scaling: This recipe can be halved or doubled to fit your needs.
- Troubleshooting: If the bars are browning too quickly, tent the pan with aluminum foil.
Want to level up this recipe?
Parchment Paper — Makes removing the bars from the pan a breeze. Pays for itself vs using foil or greasing the pan. → Check price on Amazon
Easy Three Ingredient Cake Mix Bars
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- 1 box yellow cake mix
- 3 large eggs
- 1/3 cup vegetable oil
Seasonings
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Optional Toppings
- powdered sugar for dusting (optional)
- your choice of mix-ins or frosting (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat: Preheat your oven to 350°F (180°C) and grease a 9×13 inch baking dish.
- Mix: In a large bowl, combine the cake mix, eggs, oil, and vanilla extract. Mix until well combined and no lumps remain.
- Bake: Pour the batter into the prepared baking dish and smooth the top with a spatula. Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
- Cool: Allow the bars to cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then dust with powdered sugar (if using) and cut into squares. Serve warm or at room temperature.
Notes
- Chef tip: For a gluten-free version, use a gluten-free cake mix.
- Best substitution: Substitute the cake mix for a box of instant pudding mix and 1 1/2 cups of milk for a different texture.
- Make-ahead: Bars can be made ahead and frozen. Thaw at room temperature before serving.
- Scaling: This recipe can be halved or doubled to fit your needs.
- Troubleshooting: If the bars are browning too quickly, tent the pan with aluminum foil.
Storage
- Fridge: Store leftover bars in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days.
- Freezer: Freeze cooled bars in a single layer, then transfer to an airtight container. Thaw at room temperature before serving.
- Oven reheat: Reheat in a 300°F (150°C) oven for 10-15 minutes.
- Microwave reheat: Reheat in the microwave for 15-20 seconds.
- Make ahead: Batter can be made ahead and stored in the fridge for up to 2 days. Bake as directed.
Nutrition Per Serving
- Calories: 220
- Protein: 3g
- Fat: 8g
- Carbs: 34g
- Fiber: 0g
- Sugar: 18g
- Sodium: 250mg
- Cholesterol: 45mg
- Sat. Fat: 1g
Nutritional values are estimates only. Actual values may vary by brand and portion size.
Easy Three Ingredient Cake Mix Bars FAQs
Yes, the bars can be made ahead and stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days.
Overbaking can cause the bars to be dry. Make sure to check the bars at the minimum baking time and add more time if needed.
Yes, cooled bars can be frozen in a single layer, then transferred to an airtight container. Thaw at room temperature before serving.
No, this recipe is not suitable for the air fryer.
A box of instant pudding mix and 1 1/2 cups of milk can be used as a substitute for the cake mix.
A Warm Final Note
I can’t wait for you to try Easy Three Ingredient Cake Mix Bars and see how effortlessly it comes together. When you make it, pop back here and leave a rating or share how it turned out — I love hearing from you!
