Ingredients:

  • 1 box Yellow or White Cake Mix (Standard 15.25 oz / 432g)
  • 1 cup Unsalted Butter (Softened or melted)
  • 2 Large Eggs
  • 1 cup Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips
  • 1/2 cup Chopped Pecans or Walnuts (Optional)

Instructions:

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9x13 inch baking pan and line it thoroughly with parchment paper, leaving an overhang on two sides for easy lifting.
  2. In a large mixing bowl, combine the entire box of cake mix and the softened (or melted) butter. Stir until the mixture is crumbly.
  3. Add the two large eggs to the mixture and mix until just combined, forming a thick, soft dough. Be careful not to overmix.
  4. Take approximately two-thirds (2/3) of the dough mixture and firmly press it evenly into the bottom of the prepared pan to form the base layer.
  5. Sprinkle the chocolate chips and chopped nuts (if using) evenly over the pressed base layer.
  6. Crumble the remaining one-third (1/3) of the dough loosely over the top of the chocolate layer to create a streusel-like topping.
  7. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes. The edges should be lightly golden brown, and the top crumble should look set.
  8. Remove from the oven and allow the bars to cool completely in the pan on a wire rack. This cooling time is crucial for clean cutting.
  9. Once fully cooled, use the parchment handles to lift the slab out of the pan, then slice into 16 squares before serving.