I know I’ve already celebrated apple week, but I couldn’t resist sharing one more apple recipe that’s just too delicious to keep to myself: Apple Cake Mix Cookie Bars. These bars are everything I love about fall—warm spices, tender apples, gooey caramel—and they come together with almost no effort.

The magic starts with a box of spice cake mix, which gives you a head start on flavor. From there, you fold in chopped apples and swirls of caramel for a treat that’s soft, chewy, and bursting with cozy autumn goodness. It’s like a caramel apple in cookie bar form!

Apple Cake MIx Cookie Bars | realmomkitchen.com

This recipe is so simple, it practically begs to be made. If you’re short on time but craving something sweet and seasonal, these bars are the perfect answer. Trust me—once you try them, you’ll want to make this delicious fall dessert again and again.

SPICE CAKE MIX
BUTTER
APPLE CIDER
CARAMEL APPLE DIP (SOLD IN THE PRODUCE SECTION BY THE APPLES)
WALNUTS
APPLES
WHITE CHOCOLATE CHIPS
POWDERED SUGAR

Preheat your oven to 350°F and lightly grease a 9×13-inch baking pan or line it with parchment paper for easy cleanup.

In a large bowl, mix together a box of spice cake mix, melted butter, and apple cider until a soft dough forms. Divide the dough in half. Press one half evenly into the bottom of your prepared baking dish for the crust—spraying your hands with cooking spray makes this step much easier, as the dough can be sticky.

Next, spread a layer of caramel dip over the dough base. Sprinkle generously with chopped apples, walnuts, and white chocolate chips for a sweet and crunchy topping. Crumble the remaining dough over the top, covering the filling as evenly as possible.

Bake for 25 minutes, or until the top is golden and set. Let the bars cool completely before adding the finishing touch.

In a small bowl, whisk together the icing ingredients and drizzle over the cooled bars. Slice into 24 squares and serve—each bite is packed with cozy fall flavor!

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use a different flavor of cake mix?
Yes! Spice cake mix adds cozy fall flavor, but you can also use vanilla or yellow cake mix. Just note that the bars may be slightly less spiced, so consider adding a pinch of cinnamon or apple pie spice.

Do I need to peel the apples?
Peeling is recommended for a softer texture, but if you prefer a bit of chew and color, you can leave the skins on.

What kind of caramel should I use?
Use store-bought caramel dip (the kind found near apples in the produce section) for best results. It spreads easily and holds up well during baking.

Can I make these bars ahead of time?
Absolutely. You can bake them a day in advance and store them in an airtight container. Add the icing just before serving for the freshest look and taste.

Can I freeze these bars?
Yes! Let them cool completely, then wrap tightly and freeze for up to 2 months. Thaw at room temperature and drizzle with icing before serving.

Do I have to use walnuts and white chocolate chips?
Nope—feel free to customize! You can skip the nuts, swap white chocolate chips for butterscotch, or add dried cranberries for a festive twist.

FOR MORE RECIPES LIKE THIS, TRY:

Apple Cake Mix Cookie Bars

Real Mom Kitchen

These Apple Cake Mix Cookie Bars are a quick and cozy dessert packed with fall flavors like apple, caramel, and warm spices. Starting with a box of spice cake mix, the bars come together easily and bake into soft, chewy layers with gooey caramel and crunchy walnuts. Drizzled with icing and perfect for sharing, they’re a festive treat that’s as simple as it is satisfying.

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Course Dessert

Cuisine American

Servings

Calories 184 kcal

Equipment

baking sheet

Knife Set

Ingredients

▢ 1 spice cake mix
▢ ⅓ cup butter melted
▢ ⅓ cup apple cider
▢ 1 cup caramel apple dip sold in the produce section by the apples
▢ 1 cup chopped walnuts
▢ 1 ½ cups diced apples
▢ ½ cup white chocolate chips

Icing:

▢ ½ cup powdered sugar
▢ 2 tsp apple cider

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees
In a bowl, mix together the cake mix, butter, and apple cider until combined into a soft dough. Divide the dough in have and press 1/2 into the bottom of a 9 x 13 inch baking dish. You can spray your hands with cooking spray so that the stick dough won’t stick to you hands.
Spread the caramel dip evenly over the pressed layer of dough. Then even top with walnuts, apples, and chocolate chips.
Crumble the remaining 1/2 of the dough over the top to evenly coat.
Bake at 350 for 25 minutes. Allow bars to cool completely.
In a bowl, combine the icing ingredients together and drizzle over the cooled bars. Cut into 24 bars and serve.

Nutrition

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Keyword apple, bars, caramel, cookie bars, fall

Recipe adapted from BruCrew Life.

Ingredients for Apple Cake Mix Cookie Bars

Instructions for Apple Cake Mix Cookie Bars