Description
Delight in these Peppermint Chocolate Cake Mix Bars, combining rich chocolate cake mix with a luscious chocolate fudge layer and festive crushed candy canes. Perfectly moist and chewy, these bars offer an effortless yet indulgent treat ideal for the holiday season or any chocolate and peppermint lover’s craving.
Ingredients
Scale
Base and Topping
- 1 box chocolate cake mix
- â…“ cup vegetable oil
- 2 large eggs
- 4 candy canes, crushed
Fudge Layer
- 2 cups chocolate chips
- ¼ cup butter
- 1 (14-oz) can sweetened condensed milk
Instructions
- Preheat and Prepare Pan: Preheat your oven to 350ºF (175ºC). Lightly spray a 9×13-inch baking dish with cooking spray to ensure the bars won’t stick.
- Make Cake Mix Dough: In a mixing bowl, combine the chocolate cake mix, vegetable oil, and eggs until fully integrated. Press about two-thirds of this cake mix dough evenly into the bottom of the prepared baking dish to create the base layer.
- Prepare Fudge Layer: In a microwave-safe bowl, combine chocolate chips, butter, and sweetened condensed milk. Microwave the mixture in 1-minute increments, stirring between each, until the mixture is smooth and glossy. Pour this rich fudge evenly over the cake mix base layer.
- Add Remaining Cake Mix: Drop spoonfuls of the remaining one-third of cake mix dough over the fudge layer. Spread gently to cover as much of the fudge as possible but it will not be perfectly smooth and that’s expected.
- Bake the Bars: Place the baking dish in the oven and bake for 20 to 25 minutes, until the top is set and slightly firm to the touch but still moist inside.
- Finish and Cool: Once baked, remove the bars from the oven and immediately sprinkle the crushed candy canes evenly over the top for a festive crunch. Allow the bars to cool completely in the pan to set before cutting into squares.
Notes
- For best results, make sure the fudge layer is smooth before pouring over the cake dough to ensure even coverage.
- Allowing the bars to cool completely before cutting helps them hold together better.
- You can substitute peppermint extract for candy canes if preferred for a mintier flavor.
- Store bars in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 4 days or refrigerate for up to a week.
