Italian Cream Cake Cookie Bars

Name: Italian Cream Cake Cookie Bars
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 45 min
Ingredients: 1 box Yellow cake mix; 1 stick Butter, softened (1 stick = 1/2 cup); 5 oz Evaporated milk (or whole milk); 1 cup Unsalted chopped pecans (plus more for garnish); 1 cup Shredded sweetened coconut; 2 cups Powdered sugar; 4 oz Cream cheese, softened; 2 tablespoons Whole milk

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Italian Cream Cake Cookie Bars begin with cake mix and taste just like classic Italian Cream Cake but in cookie form!

With a homemade cream cheese frosting, topped with pecans, you can't go wrong with these little delights.

Are you a fan of dessert bars? You may also want to try my Easy Blonde Brownies! Now let's get back to these tasty cookie bars 🙂

baked and frosted squares on square white serving platter

These cookie bars are made from cake mix! The ingredients form a chewy, cookie-like crust. After cooling, spread the rich homemade cream cheese frosting on top.

These bars are rich and decadent just like the original layered cake.

This Easy Strawberry Brownie Recipe also uses boxed cake mix!

What Makes Them Special

These Italian Cream Cake Bars have all the flavor of the familiar Italian cream cake recipe without all the steps. Just make, bake, frost, and cut into squares or bars! Cake mix cookie bars are simple to make yet special enough for holidays and parties.

The batter consists of yellow cake mix, pecans, coconut, butter, and milk. These ingredients form a chewy, cookie-like crust.

After cooling, spread the homemade cream cheese frosting on top. These bars remind me of the day we were married because we had an Italian Wedding Cake at our reception. Awww!

Ingredient Photo and Notes

photo collage of ingredients measured out in individual containers on counter top

Yellow Cake Mix - cake mix is an easy shortcut! No measuring required and the ingredients are perfectly blended for baking.
Butter - use the real stuff for best flavor and texture.
Unsalted Chopped Pecans - located in the baking section of a store. If your store is out, order from the link I've provided.
Shredded Sweetened Coconut - comes in a bag in the baking section of a store.
Evaporated Milk - substitute whole milk for the evaporated milk if you prefer to use it instead.
Powdered Sugar - also known as confectioners sugar, this is for the frosting.
Cream Cheese - allow time for the cream cheese to come to room temperature (soften) for the frosting.
Milk - for the cream cheese frosting.
More Pecans (for sprinkling on top of frosting).

(Photo 1) Mix the cake mix, butter, and milk until well blended. Stir in the pecans and coconut.

(Photo 2) Spread into a greased and floured 9" x 13" pan.

(Photo 3) Bake at 350 degrees F for about 30 minutes or until lightly browned. Let cool completely.

(Photo 4) Make the cream cheese frosting and spread on top of cookie bars. Garnish with additional chopped pecans. Cut into bars or squares.

Use yellow cake mix to make this Old Fashioned Cotton Pickin Cake! It's perfect for a summer gathering.

Anne's Expert Tips

When using nuts for baking, always buy unsalted nuts. These are found in the baking section of the grocery store. Don't use salted nuts found in the snack section of the store.

If you don't have time to wait for the butter to soften on the countertop, you can speed up the process by using your microwave. To quickly soften butter in the microwave, use the defrost setting (30%) and microwave in 5-second intervals until it's soft. Be careful not to melt the butter or the cookie consistency just won't be the same.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I freeze these cookie bars?

These bars freeze very well! Store the frosted cookie squares in an airtight container or ziptop freezer bag in the freezer for up to 3 months. I like to wrap them in plastic wrap first then place them inside a zipper-top bag. This keeps the cookie bars fresh and prevents ice crystals from forming. When ready to eat, thaw desired amount of cookie bars on the counter.

Do they need to be refrigerated?

Any leftovers should be refrigerated due to the cream cheese frosting. These bars can be frozen as well.

Can you microwave the cookie dough?

Not for this recipe. Baking the cookie bars is simply the best option as it yields a crisp and chewy consistency.

Easy One Pot Dinner Recipes

If you try these delicious cookie bars, please rate this recipe and leave me a comment below. Thank you!

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Recipe

This recipe was previously published and was updated in 2022.

Nutritional information is provided as a courtesy to my readers. I'm not a nutritionist and I don't guarantee the accuracy of this data. The data may differ according to the brands I used versus the brands you use. To calculate the data yourself using your brands, try using an online nutrition calculator or app.