GOOEY CAKE MIX COOKIE BARS

 Friend and Cafe Treats Baker Judy almost didn't bring these awesome Gooey Cake Mix Cookie Bars to church for the Cafe Treats. Our Sunday school class was having a picnic the day she signed up to bring a treat to the Cafe at church. She also signed up to bring cookies for the picnic. Since she had two places she was making the cookies, she made three different ones for a variety. When I saw her at the picnic, I told her how popular her Gooey Cake Mix Cookie Bars were, her husband Tom laughed and said she almost decided to not bring them since she wasn't sure how they would work. 

When the cookies had cooled and she started to remove them from the pan, she said they were a little crumbly. Not liking that, she decided to put them in the refrigerator overnight and then they were fine when she removed them from the pan. So she recommended that step in the recipe which I included in the directions. 

All I could say was how much I liked them. They were perfect as far as I was concerned. So ooey, gooey! Judy said different combinations of chips could be used such as salted caramel and semi-sweet chocolate chips or peanut butter and semi-sweet chocolate chips.

PRINT RECIPE.

GOOEY CAKE MIX COOKIE BARS

1       (15.25 oz) box white cake mix

1/2     cup canola oil

2        eggs

1/2     cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, melted

1/2     cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

1/2     cup butterscotch

1        (14 oz) can sweetened condensed milk

1        teaspoon vanilla extract

1/4     teaspoon salt, optional

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. and lightly grease a 9 x 13 - inch baking dish with butter or non-stick cooking spray.

In a large bowl, beat together the dry cake mix, canola oil, eggs, and vanilla; mixing until the mixture just comes together.

Divide the batter in half and press one half into the prepared baking dish to form an even layer.

In a medium heat-proof bowl, add the butter, chocolate chips, and butterscotch chips. Microwave in 30-second intervals, stirring in between, until the mixture is fully melted and smooth.

Stir the condensed milk and salt, if using, into the chocolate chip mixture until completely mixed up. Pour over the base cake layer.

Drop spoonfuls of the remaining batter over the chocolate chip layer.

Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, or until golden brown.

Cool.

Once cool, cover and place in the refrigerator. (Judy left hers overnight in the fridge.)

Slice into bars when ready to serve.