This time last year I was sipping hot chocolate, with my feet propped up in front of a space heater. I remember thinking that I should be wearing flip-flops and short sleeved shirts.
So I moved back to the desert and that is exactly what I am wearing now, flip-flops and short sleeved shirts!
Good bye defrost button in my car!
But, now I miss my hot chocolate. If I were to attempt to drink hot chocolate now, I would most likely break into a sweat.
That’s why I invented these outrageously delicious Gooey Hot Chocolate Cake Bars. Perfect for getting my hot chocolate fix without the sweat.
err…you know what I mean…
It’s so simple that you’re going to want to run to the store and get the ingredients if you don’t already have them.
Make this tonight.
I promise you that your family and friends will thank you endlessly.
You know those cute little packets of instant hot chocolate that you have in your pantry?
We just need two of those and a box of chocolate cake mix. I used Devil’s Food Cake, but I think Milk Chocolate would do wonders.
With any gooey cake, you’re going to press the crust into the bottom of your pan. I like to line my pan with foil so that way I can easily take it out and cut it afterwards.
In this case, the topping is the best part. It is magical!
It’s fluffy.
It’s ooey, and gooey.
It’s….
MARSHMALLOWS!
But not just any marshmallow, it’s the new Jet-Puffed Mallow-Bits! Those teeny-tiny little marshmallows that come in those instant hot chocolate packets. {those ones you usually buy for your kids, but secretly also buy them for yourself}
Well, they finally wised up and put a whole bunch of them in a shaker container!
Heaven…I know!They are really good inside a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, but that’s for another day.
Obviously we can’t have a hot chocolate cake bar without our marshmallow topping! These little bits of marshmallow are perfect because they don’t blow up the cake like regular marshmallows do, they wait till the very end to get nice and gooey, and get slightly browned.
If it weren’t already nearing 1000 degrees here I would serve it with a glass of hot chocolate,
but I went with a nice frosty mug of ice cold milk. YUM!
Oh, and please try to have some patience {more than me} when it comes to letting them cool… they were still a little warm and that bottom cake bar couldn’t take the pressure of two more of his buddies on top.
Hence the over spill-age of ooey-gooey-ness.
{ps- I love making up words}
You’re going to love these.
Promise!
Gooey Hot Chocolate Cake Bars
Ingredients
For the crust:
- 18.25 oz chocolate cake mix, devils food cake
- 2 packets instant hot chocolate mix
- 1 large egg
- ½ cup butter
For the topping:
- ½ cup butter, melted
- 8 oz cream cheese, room temp
- 2 large eggs
- 3 cups powdered sugar
- 1 cup Jet-Puffed Mallow Bits
Instructions
- Line a 9×13 inch pan with tin foil. Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees.
- In a large bowl combine cake mix, hot chocolate mix, ½ cup of melted butter and 1 egg. Mix with a wooden spoon until a thick dough (cookie dough texture) forms. I use my hands to get it mixed good. Press the dough into the bottom of the foil lined pan. That is your crust.
- For the topping, in another large bowl combine the cream cheese and butter and beat with a mixer until smooth. Add eggs one at a time until incorporated. Add the powdered sugar 1/2 cup at a time until it’s all smooth. Finally add the Mallow-Bits and fold them in. Pour on top of the crust and spread it out evenly.
- Bake in 350 degree pre-heated oven for 30-35 minutes. The center of the cake should still be giggly and not set completely. Let the bars cool completely before cutting into them.
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Sherry
This recipe was so delicious. The combination of the marshmallows with cream cheese was the perfect topping. Huge hit in my house!
Barbara
Could you use the small marshmallows cut into fourths instead of the marshmallow bits? Thanks 🙂
Shawn
I haven’t tried it with the regular marshmallows. My only concern is that they would puff up too much and possibly burn. The mallow bits are smaller and hard (almost dried out, if you will). You could certainly try it, but I’m not sure how it will turn out.
Barbara
I wanted to update this. What I did was to melt a little over a cup of the small marshmallows in the microwave and put them between the two layers. It was so good! I could definitely taste the marshmallows and got some in each bite this way:-)
Susie
These look so good. I have to admit I am not a huge chocolate fan but when I crave it I love it and these would certainly hit the spot. Love your blog. Everything looks delicious.
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Nicole R.
Found these on Pinterest! These look sooooo good! Can't wait to make them!
crazyforcrust
These look amazing. Oh, I can taste them. It's still hot chocolate weather here, probably would be a little too much if I had a glass of hot cocoa & this cake?
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KatrinasKitchen
Love those mallow bits! 😉
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iwashyoudry
Lol, yeah… just go for cake bars… 🙂
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iwashyoudry
Yes they will! I just made another batch for mine!
Amanda
Could you not use the cream cheese do you think or would it change it too much??
Shawn
The cream cheese is necessary in this recipe. Thanks for your question! 🙂
iwashyoudry
Aren't they fun?!
Pam
My whole family would love this recipe – YUM!
iwashyoudry
Thanks Erin!
iwashyoudry
Thanks Kelly- and yes…I pretty much put myself into food coma by consuming these!
iwashyoudry
Try looking for them at Walmart…they tend to carry pretty much EVERYTHING! 😉
Erin @ Dinners, Dish
Wow, these look amazing! I love those new mini marshmallows!! So glad I found your site, it looks wonderful!
Nancy
I need to make these right now! Where did you get those miniature marshmallow things? Looks so good! 🙂
Kelly P.
OMG!! These look to die for! Can't wait to make them!
rupert murdoch
love the new style! its fabulous!!