How to Turn a Boxed Cake Mix into Dessert Bars

Learn how to turn a boxed cake mix into delicious dessert bars with a buttery shortbread-style crust and endless flavor possibilities.

If you've been following my "How to Turn a Boxed Cake Mix..." series, you already know I love finding creative ways to transform an ordinary boxed cake mix into something completely unexpected.

We've already turned cake mix into pound cakes, cookies, brownies, muffins, cupcakes, and quick breads. Today, we're tackling another one of my favorite transformations: dessert bars.

You might be wondering why anyone needs a whole tutorial on turning a cake mix into dessert bars. After all, dessert bars have been around forever.

Here's the difference.

Let's Talk Shortbread Crust

Most traditional dessert bars begin with a plain shortbread crust made from flour, butter, and sugar. It's delicious, but the only real flavor comes from the butter.

A boxed cake mix changes everything.

Instead of starting with a plain crust, you can start with strawberry, lemon, chocolate, butter pecan, carrot cake, spice cake, Funfetti, red velvet, or almost any flavor you can imagine.

Suddenly the crust isn't just the foundation of the dessert—it's part of the flavor experience.

That one little discovery completely changed the way I create dessert bars.

Today, whenever I walk down the cake mix aisle, I find myself dreaming up new flavor combinations. Once you understand this simple technique, I think you'll start doing the same thing.

What Are Dessert Bars?

Dessert bars are baked in a rectangular pan, cooled, and sliced into squares or rectangles instead of wedges. Think of them as somewhere between cookies and cake.

They're portable, easy to serve, simple to transport, and ideal for feeding a crowd. That's why they've always been popular at church potlucks, bake sales, family reunions, holiday gatherings, and neighborhood get-togethers.

Unlike cakes that require frosting or cookies that must be scooped one at a time, dessert bars are wonderfully low-maintenance. Everything bakes in one pan, then gets sliced into neat squares for serving.

They're one of my favorite desserts because they don't require fancy decorating. Just bake, cool, slice, and enjoy.

Why I Love Using Cake Mix for Dessert Bars

I've made countless dessert bars over the years, and I almost always reach for a cake mix.

Here's why.

The crust comes together in just a few minutes.
Every cake mix creates a completely different flavor.
They're inexpensive enough to experiment with.
The crust bakes consistently every single time.
They're perfect for transporting.
They're easy to cut into small or large servings.
Once you learn the basic formula, the flavor possibilities become almost endless.

That's exactly what Out of the Box Baking is all about.

The Cake Mix Dessert Bar Formula

Nearly every dessert bar you'll find on my site begins with the same simple foundation.

Basic Cake Mix Crust

1 boxed cake mix
1 large egg
½ cup (1 stick) butter, melted or softened

Mix until crumbly, then press evenly into a prepared 9 x 13-inch baking dish.

From there, you simply add your favorite filling or topping.

It's one of the easiest dessert formulas you'll ever learn.

Choose Your Dessert Bar Style

Although every recipe has its own personality, most of my cake mix dessert bars fall into one of these categories.

Style	Typical Filling or Topping	Great Cake Mix Flavors
Cheesecake Bars	Cream cheese filling	Strawberry, Lemon, Red Velvet, Carrot Cake
Fruity Bars	Fresh fruit, pie filling, preserves	Lemon, White, Yellow, Strawberry
Chocolate Bars	Chocolate, coconut, candy	Devil's Food, German Chocolate
Tropical Bars	Coconut, pineapple, citrus	Lemon, White, Yellow
Seasonal Bars	Pumpkin, spices, caramel	Spice, Butter Pecan, Carrot Cake

Cheesecake Dessert Bars

If I had to choose a favorite category, it would probably be cheesecake bars.

There's something magical about pairing a rich, creamy cheesecake filling with a buttery cake mix crust. Because the crust already carries flavor from the cake mix, every variation tastes completely different even though the basic technique stays almost the same.

Some of my favorites include:

Fruity Dessert Bars

Fruit and cake mix are a natural match.

Bright citrus flavors, berries, pineapple, and other fruits create colorful desserts that are especially popular during spring and summer.

These bars are light, refreshing, and always disappear quickly.

Chocolate Dessert Bars

Chocolate lovers, you don't have to feel left out. Rich cake mixes pair beautifully with coconut, pecans, caramel, chocolate chips, and creamy fillings to create decadent desserts that feel bakery-worthy without requiring a complicated recipe.

Tropical Favorites

Sometimes I want dessert to taste like vacation.

These recipes combine citrus, coconut, pineapple, and other sunny flavors that instantly brighten the dessert table.

Fall Favorites

Warm spices make wonderful dessert bars.

Pumpkin, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, and butter pecan cake mixes create cozy desserts that feel right at home throughout the fall and holiday season.

Pumpkin Spice Bars

Dream Up Your Own Flavor Combinations

One of the things I love most about this technique is how quickly it sparks creativity.

Once you've made a couple of cake mix dessert bars, you'll probably find yourself standing in the baking aisle dreaming up new combinations.

That's exactly what happened to me.

A few ideas still on my wish list include:

Cherry Cheesecake Bars
Peach Cobbler Bars
Raspberry White Chocolate Bars
Cookies & Cream Bars
Banana Pudding Bars
Key Lime Cheesecake Bars
Turtle Bars
Butterfinger Bars
S'mores Bars

Once you know the formula, the possibilities are almost endless.

If you come up with a combination I haven't tried yet, I'd love to hear about it in the comments.

Let's Explore the "How to Turn a Boxed Cake Mix..." Series

Click any guide below to discover a new way to transform an ordinary boxed cake mix into something extraordinary.

Cake Mix Transformation Cheat Sheet

One of the reasons I love baking with cake mixes is their versatility. With just a few ingredient changes, that same box can become cookies, brownies, muffins, quick breads, pound cakes, cupcakes, and more. Here's the basic roadmap.

Once you understand these basic formulas, you'll be able to predict how a cake mix will behave before you ever turn on the oven.

Every transformation on this site begins with the same simple idea: change the ingredients, change the result. Here's a quick reference showing the basic formula behind each type of cake mix creation.

Want to Make...	Basic Formula	The Result
🍰 Cake	Follow the box directions (then doctor as desired)	Light, fluffy traditional cake.
🧈 Pound Cake	4 eggs + butter/oil + milk + pudding	Rich, dense, buttery crumb.
🧁 Cupcakes	Doctored cake batter	Bakery-style cupcakes with tender crumb.
🍪 Cookies & Whoopie Pies	2 eggs + ½ cup butter	Thick dough for soft, chewy cookies.
🍫 Brownies	2 eggs + ½ cup butter	Dense, fudgy brownies.
🍋 Dessert Bars	1 egg + ½ cup butter	Press-in dough with a shortbread-style crust.
🥐 Pastries	Enriched dough (see guide)	Flaky pastries, scones, pinwheels, kolaches, and more.
🍞 Quick Breads	3 eggs + butter + mashed fruit or sour cream	Moist loaf cakes with bakery texture.
🧁 Muffins	2 eggs + butter + about ¾ cup liquid	Tender, bakery-style muffins.
🍥 Cinnamon Rolls	Yeast + cake mix dough	Soft, fluffy cinnamon rolls.
🎂 Cake Bites	2 eggs + ½ cup butter (+ splash of liquid if needed)	Soft, bite-sized treats perfect for parties.
💝 Petit Fours	Thin sheet cake + coating	Elegant bite-sized desserts for celebrations.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use any brand of cake mix?

Absolutely. Most standard cake mixes work beautifully with this technique.

Why does cake mix make such a good crust?

Because it already contains flour, sugar, flavoring, and leavening. Combined with butter and an egg, it bakes into a tender, buttery crust that's similar to shortbread but with much more flavor.

Can I freeze dessert bars?

Yes. Most freeze beautifully once completely cooled.

Do cheesecake bars need refrigeration?

Yes. Any bars containing cream cheese or cheesecake filling should be refrigerated after they've cooled.

Can I make these ahead of time?

Definitely! In fact, many dessert bars taste even better the next day after the flavors have had time to develop.

Can I use pie filling?

Absolutely. Pie fillings make wonderful toppings for cake mix dessert bars.

Can I double the recipe?

Most recipes can be doubled for larger gatherings by baking them in a larger pan and adjusting the baking time.

What cake mix flavors work best?

That's the beauty of this technique—almost all of them! White, yellow, chocolate, lemon, strawberry, spice, butter pecan, red velvet, carrot cake, and Funfetti all create completely different desserts.

Final Thoughts

One of the things I love most about baking is discovering that a single box of cake mix can become so much more than cake.

Dessert bars are one of the best examples of that philosophy.

With just a cake mix, a stick of butter, and an egg, you can create a buttery, flavorful shortbread-style crust that serves as the foundation for countless desserts. Add cheesecake, fruit, chocolate, coconut, spices, or your favorite fillings, and you've got something that tastes completely homemade.

I hope these recipes inspire you to try a few—or even create a brand-new flavor combination of your own.

Because that's really what Out of the Box Baking is all about: starting with one simple box and discovering just how many wonderful desserts it can become.

Thanks for Stopping By!

If you make any of these delicious cake mix bars and enjoy them, please leave a comment or review. And before you go, why not pin some photos to your Pinterest boards?