Cake Mix Turtle Cookie Bars made with a cake mix, chocolate chips, pecans and caramel topping. Gooey, delicious cookie bar recipe that is so easy to make!
What are Turtle Cookie Bars?
I really have no idea where the term “turtle” even comes from in the baking world, but I do know that it means chocolate, caramel and pecans. All together in some sort of yummy way. These little Turtle Candies are one of our favorite holiday treats and have been for years.
This new recipe for Turtle Cookie Bars is another favorite of mine, mostly because these cookie bars taste so good but are so simple to make. Desserts that start with a cake mix are amazing because you only need to add a few ingredients to make something delicious. Adding a little bit of butter and milk to the cake mix instead of eggs, oil and lots of water transforms the cake mix into something that is in between a cookie and a cake.
Ingredients in Cake Mix Turtle Cookie Bars
Chocolate cake mix – You can use whatever kind of chocolate cake mix you’d like. Fudgy Chocolate, German Chocolate, any kind of chocolate cake mix will work just fine! Just make sure to use the whole box.
Butter – The recipe calls for 1 stick of butter and melt the butter before adding to the cake mix. I usually melt the butter in the microwave (takes about 20-30 seconds), but you can melt it on the stove if you prefer.
Milk – Any kind of milk will work great! Dairy, non-dairy…use whatever you have on hand.
Chocolate chips – I like to use semi-sweet chocolate chips, but I think milk chocolate chips would be really good as well. Maybe even dark chocolate.
Pecans – You will need 1 cup of chopped pecans. You can chop them with a nut chopper or food processor or you can cheat like I often do and just buy them chopped to begin with. If you don’t like pecans, you could use walnuts or almonds.
Caramel ice cream topping – Use a 12 ounce jar of caramel ice cream topping. You could melt caramels down, but it still won’t be quite as thin as caramel topping, so the consistency will be quite a bit different.
How to make Cake Mix Turtle Cookie Bars
Preheat oven to 350°. Spray 9X13 with non-stick cooking spray.
Combine cake mix, butter and milk in large bowl and stir until well blended. Spread half of mixture in prepared pan.
Bake 7-8 minutes. Sprinkle chocolate chips and half of pecans on the baked crust. Drizzle with caramel topping. Drop spoonfuls of remaining batter over caramel, sprinkle with remaining pecans. Bake 18-20 minutes. Cool completely in pan before slicing and serving.
Cake Mix Turtle Cookie Bars
Ingredients
- 1 box chocolate cake mix
- ½ cup butter melted
- ¼ cup milk
- 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
- 1 cup chopped pecans divided
- 1 12 oz jar caramel ice cream topping
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°. Spray 9X13 with non-stick cooking spray.
- Combine cake mix, butter and milk in large bowl and stir until well blended. Spread half of mixture in prepared pan.
- Bake 7-8 minutes. Sprinkle chocolate chips and half of pecans on the baked crust. Drizzle with caramel topping. Drop spoonfuls of remaining batter over caramel, sprinkle with remaining pecans. Bake 18-20 minutes. Cool completely in pan before slicing and serving.
Nutrition
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CAN YOU FREEZE TURTLE COOKIE BARS?
Yes, you can freeze these cookie bars. I prefer to slice them up and freeze them that way because they thaw much easier that way. Make sure they are completely cooled before slicing and then wrap them individually in plastic wrap and store them in an airtight container or freezer Ziplock bag.
HOW DO YOU MAKE COOKIE BARS?
Cookies are an easy dessert, but cookie bars are even easier. Instead of scooping out each individual cookie separately. No need to bake tray after tray of cookies. All the ingredients are put in a 9X13 pan and baked at one time. Cookie bars are sliced and served after baking – so easy!
LOVE BAR COOKIES? HERE ARE OUR FAVORITE DESSERT BAR RECIPES!
- Easy Lemon Bars
- No Bake M&M Peanut Butter Bars
- Chocolate Caramel Peanut Butter Bars
- Orange Cheesecake Brownies
- Cheesecake Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars
- Strawberry Sugar Cookie Bars
- Chocolate Chip Banana Bars
- Apple Cinnamon Crumb Bars
- Salted Nut Roll Bars
- No Bake S’mores Bars
- Cookies and Cream Brownies
- Homemade Snickers Bars
- No Bake Peanut Butter Bars
- Samoa Cookie Bars
Cake Mix Turtle Cookie Bars made with a cake mix, chocolate chips, pecans and caramel topping. Gooey, delicious cookie bar recipe that is so easy to make!
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