Easy Cake Mix Caramel Bars were called Caramel Licks back in the day. These caramel bars with caramel frosting are made using cake mix and are the perfect bar cookie to make for a quick dessert for the family or a pitch-in at work.
Easy Cake Mix Caramel Bar Recipe
Love caramel? Then you’re in luck. These cake mix bars are caramel flavored, plus they’re topped with caramel icing.
Where’s the caramel flavor come from? You’ll need a jar of caramel ice cream topping for these caramel cake mix bars. We’ve even used sea salt caramel sauce for some added decadence.
The second shortcut ingredient is a box of yellow cake mix. Cake mix bars are one of our favorite recipes, and this caramel version is a favorite with everyone who tried them. PS. If you have not tried our Original Gooey Bars with Yellow Cake Mix, be sure to do that soon.
For example, Barbara made a huge pan (every batch is a huge jelly roll pan) of these dessert bars and took them to share at her kids’ school when play practice let out. Let’s just say, she is now the coolest parent at St. Joe in the eyes of the 4th and 5th graders.
Caramel Bars with Cake Mix
These Easy Cake Mix Caramel Bars are fast and easy. You could change up the flavor by using a chocolate cake mix and hot fudge as the topping or maybe peanut butter. We love recipes that use cake mix because they are such time savers!
Barbara suggests a couple of essential tools for making these bar cookies.
First, a jelly roll pan. We use a 15.25 inch by 10.25 inch pan but there are several options that are about the same size. Both Barbara and I have a jelly pan roll with a lid which makes it super easy to store and transport your bar cookies!
Second, a flat icing spatula. A flat icing spatula works great to spread both the thick batter AND the caramel icing too.
Caramel Licks
This is a vintage recipe from Grandma. Now, it’s not our Grandma, but that’s ok. This recipe originated from the Mom of a good family friend. Jackie gave Barbara a recipe book of her favorite recipes as a wedding gift, and Barbara claims it is the Best Gift Ever!
This recipe is really what this blog is meant to be…an opportunity for Barbara and me to share some of our favorite recipes from family, friends and our favorite old cookbooks!
Jackie recently told us that her this was all the Grandkid’s favorite recipe from Grandma, and in her family they called them Caramel Licks.
Ingredient List for Caramel Cake Mix Bars
Yellow Cake Mix
Caramel Ice Cream Topping
Eggs
Hot Water
Shortening
Chopped Pecans (optional)
Ingredient List for Caramel Icing
Caramel Ice Cream Topping
Butter, softened
Powdered Sugar
Milk
Notes About Caramel Bars with Cake Mix:
- For easy transfer and cutting of the bars, line the jelly roll pan with parchment paper.
- These easy cookie bars use jarred caramel topping. The jar will be divided between the bars and the icing.
- Chopped pecans are optional.
- These make a huge pan; these are perfect for a pitch in.
- Let the easy caramel bars cool completely before icing.
- The original owner of these Caramel Licks say they taste even better as they sit – if they last that long!
How To Make Caramel Bars with Yellow Cake Mix:
- Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. Spray or grease a jelly roll pan.
- In a mixing bowl, combine yellow cake mix, eggs, shortening, pecans, hot water and caramel sauce.
- Spread evenly into jelly roll pan.
- Bake for 30 to 35 minutes.
- To prepare icing, combine powdered sugar, butter, milk and remaining caramel topping until smooth.
- Let the cake cool, and ice the cake with the icing.
For the full recipe for caramel bars, scroll to the recipe card at the bottom of this post.
Cake Mix Recipes
Easy Cake Mix Caramel Bars - Caramel Bars with Cake Mix Recipe
Ingredients
Caramel Bars
- 1 box yellow cake mix
- 1 cup pecans chopped (optional)
- 1/2 cup shortening
- 2 eggs
- 1 cup caramel topping
- 2 Tablespoons hot water
Caramel Frosting
- 1 cups sifted powdered sugar
- 1/3 cup butter softened
- 3 Tablespoons caramel topping
- 2 Tablespoons milk
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 325 degrees F.
- Spray or grease a jelly roll pan. To make cleanup easy, line with parchment paper.
- Combine cake mix, pecans, shortening, caramel topping (1 cup), and hot water with mixer.
- Spread evenly in the greased jelly roll pan.
- Bake for 30 to 35 minutes.
- Meanwhile, mix powdered sugar, butter, 3 Tablespoons caramel topping and milk in mixer until smooth.
- Once cake has cooled, spread caramel frosting evenly.
Notes
- For easy transfer and cutting of the bars, line the jelly roll pan with parchment paper.
- These easy caramel bars use jarred caramel topping. The jar will be divided between the bars and the icing.
- Chopped pecans are optional.
- Caramel bars with cake mix make a huge pan; these are perfect for a pitch in.
- Let the easy caramel bars cool completely before icing.
- The original owner of these Caramel Licks say they taste even better as they sit - if they last that long!
- Try our famous Gooey Bars with Yellow Cake mix.
My Grandma Nancy always made these….but she called them Caramel Lick Bars. They are a family staple. As a friend of mine always says, if you want to leave a legacy, cook, and then teach your loved ones how to make the things you cook. Then they can almost feel your presence when they recreate your recipes over and over after you’re gone.
We are blessed that your mom passed these incredible recipes on to our family!