Name: 4th of July Cake-Mix Cookie Bars
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: PT-487262H58M27S
Total time: 40 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 15.25 oz box white cake mix; 1 large egg; ½ cup milk; ⅓ cup vegetable oil; 1 cup white chocolate chips; 1¼ cup red, white & blue M&M candies; ⅓ cup red, white & blue jimmies (sprinkles)

I make these festive cookie bars using a boxed white cake mix, candy, and simple pantry staples—perfect for a red-white-and-blue treat in baking time under 30 minutes. 4th of July Cake-Mix Cookie Bars

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

I love how these bars are endlessly customizable, ridiculously easy, and crowd-pleasing. The white cake mix gives me a clean canvas to mix in red, white, and blue M&Ms and sprinkles. Plus, my kids love helping—mixing, pressing, sprinkling—it’s a fun and festive Fourth of July activity without the fuss.

ingredients

(Here’s a tip: Check out the full list of ingredients and measurements in the recipe card below.)

15.25 oz box white cake mix
1 large egg
½ cup milk
⅓ cup vegetable oil
1 cup white chocolate chips
1¼ cup red, white & blue M&M candies
⅓ cup red, white & blue jimmies (sprinkles)

directions

Preheat the oven to 350°F and grease a 9×13‑inch pan.
In a large bowl, combine cake mix, egg, milk, and oil; stir into a stiff dough.
Fold in white chocolate chips and 1 cup of M&M candies.
Add all but 1 tablespoon of the jimmies, reserving that for topping.
Press dough evenly into the pan, then sprinkle remaining M&Ms and jimmies on top.
Bake for 25–28 minutes, until golden brown and center is set.
Cool completely before slicing into about 32 bars.

Servings and timing

Makes about 32 small bars. Prep takes around 5 minutes, bake time is about 25–28 minutes, and cooling adds about 10 minutes—so total time is approximately 40 minutes.

Variations

Swap the white cake mix for funfetti, yellow, chocolate, or strawberry cake mix for different colors and flavors.
Use seasonal M&Ms or chopped candy as mix-ins—peanut, pretzel, or butterscotch chips all work.
Stir mix-ins into the batter or press some on top for a more colorful presentation.
Add red and blue food coloring to batter layers for a marbled or flag-inspired effect.

storage/reheating

Store cooled bars in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days; they stay moist for the first 3 days. Freeze in a sealed bag or container for up to 2 months. Thaw at room temperature before serving. I don’t recommend reheating as they’re best enjoyed cool.

FAQs

1. Can I use yellow cake mix instead of white?

Yes! White cake mix gives the brightest backdrop for red-white-blue candy, but yellow, funfetti, or even chocolate cake mix all taste great—the color just changes the look.

2. Why is the center still a bit jiggly when I take it out?

These bars are meant to be soft in the middle. They’ll firm up as they cool. I bake until the edges are golden and the center is almost set—it continues cooking a bit in the warm pan.

3. How much candy or mix-ins should I use?

Between 1 and 2 cups of mix-ins works well. The base recipe uses about 1¼ cups total; I adjust that up to 2 cups for extra sweetness.

4. Can I freeze these bars?

Absolutely. I freeze fully cooled bars in a freezer-safe bag or container for up to 2–3 months. Thaw at room temperature—the texture holds well.

5. What if my bars are too dry or dense?

They may be overbaked. For moister bars, I reduce bake time slightly or add a bit more fat—like swapping oil for melted butter. If they’re dry after baking, storing them with a slice of bread in the container helps retain moisture overnight.

Conclusion

I find these 4th of July Cake-Mix Cookie Bars to be my go-to “no-brainer” treat: colorful, customizable, and super easy. Whether I’m pressed for time or looking for a fun baking project with the kids, this recipe delivers big flavor and festive flair. Enjoy the celebration!