These can’t leave alone bars are fudge filled cake mix cookie bars that are hard to beat. The recipe features a peanut butter chocolate fudge filling that is hard to beat.
If you like chocolate, peanut butter, and soft cakey cookie bars, you are in the right place. This can’t leave alone bars recipe combines all of those things with some sweetened condensed milk to make a tasty fudgy treat.
These yummy fudge filled cookie bars only take 7 ingredients. If you have a well stocked kitchen, you may already have them on hand.
I don’t know about you, but I tend to stock up on things like cake mixes, chocolate chips, and condensed milk when they are on sale at the grocery store. They all have a nice long shelf life, and I find it very convenient to have them on hand.
That way, when you want to make something delicious, you are likely to have the ingredients to make something fun. These fudge bars are a perfect example of a quick and economical treat you can have ready to go in the oven in just a few minutes.
Having a cake mix or two in the pantry means you are just a few minutes away from baking up something delicious. There are so many fun ways you can turn a box of cake mix into something other than a cake.
Of course, they are great for making easy cakes as well. Then, all you have to do is make a delicious homemade frosting to turn it into a special treat.
This is one of those treats that you will want to bake again and again. The dough comes together in just a couple of minutes.
Then you make a quick fudge layer. You can use all chocolate chips if you would like, but we think the mix of peanut butter chips and chocolate makes these bars extra tasty.
The bars are ready for the oven in just about 10 minutes. Not too shabby!
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Once they are baked, the chocolate swirls show through the top, showing you a bit of the goodness inside.
Nobody has to know how simple they were to make. That can be between you and me.
I know it’s tempting, but let them cool!
These bars are really gooey when hot, so I would recommend cooling them completely or even chilling them a bit before cutting them. That will make getting nice-looking pieces easier.
Substitutions and Adaptations
Of course, you can play with the chips you use in the fudge layer. Use all chocolate chips if you don’t want the peanut butter.
We used milk chocolate because they are Little Dude’s favorite. However, using semi-sweet chocolate chips would help to cut the sweetness of the condensed milk.
If you really like peanut butter, you can stir some in with the cake mix mixture. I have seen people use as much as a cup of peanut butter in the crust.
For big chocolate fans, you could use a chocolate cake mix instead of yellow. Or experiment with different flavor combinations of chips and cake mixes to match your preferences.
Storage
Keep your can’t leave alone bars at room temperature for up to 5 days. Freeze for longer storage.
More Great Cake Mix Recipes:
If you love a good shortcut, you are in the right place. Our favorite white cupcakes start with a cake mix but add lots of extras to make them perfect.
Of course cake mix cookies are a fun option as well. Chocolate peanut butter cake mix cookies are a huge hit with our family as are funfetti cake mix cookies.
If bars are more your style, caramel pecan dream bars are a good option. Or make chocolate turtle bars with caramel and pecans.
There are so many great ways to turn a cake mix into something special. Check out my full collection of cake mix recipes for more inspiration!
Can’t Leave Alone Bars
Ingredients
- 1 yellow cake mix
- ½ cup vegetable oil
- 2 large eggs
- ¼ cup butter
- ½ cup semi sweet chocolate chips
- ½ cup peanut butter chips
- 14 oz. sweetened condensed milk
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F and grease a 9×13-inch pan.
- In a mixing bowl, combine cake mix, oil, and eggs. Stir until uniform.1 yellow cake mix, ½ cup vegetable oil, 2 large eggs
- Place about 2/3 of the cake mix dough into the prepared pan and press to form a thin crust on the bottom of the pan.
- Melt the butter in a medium glass mixing bowl in the microwave. Add the chocolate chips, peanut butter chips, and condensed milk.¼ cup butter, ½ cup semi sweet chocolate chips, ½ cup peanut butter chips, 14 oz. sweetened condensed milk
- Microwave on high in 20-30 second spurts, until you can stir the mixture smooth.
- Pour the fudge mixture over the crust in the pan. Spread to form an even layer.
- Drop small spoonsful of the remaining cake mix dough over the fudge layer. It won't be enough to cover all of the fudge, so just try to get it somewhat evenly distributed.
- Bake for 25-30 minutes or until the cake parts of the bars look golden brown and cooked through.
- Cool completely before cutting into bars and serving.
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I made the bars using a rainbow white cake, substituted white chips for the peanut butter ones and put a bit of peppermint oils in the cake. They are yummy and chewy.
I want to share them but I think I will freeze them for a special occasion.
Great recipe! Thank you.
That sounds lovely! I am glad you like them.
Fudgy goodness that I can’t wait to try!
They’ll be perfect when the kids come to visit!