Are you sick of cake mixes yet?
Well, we are closing in on the end “Busy people need sweets that start with cake mix week”…
It’s been fun while it’s lasted, yes?
Next week I am sure I will be back to more complicated fare..like popcorn and brownies…
So, yeah, it never gets too complicated around here, but I do have to say that this week of cake mix treats has been kinda fun.
I have an entire section of cake mix recipes on this site…did you know that?
Under the category “Fun Sweets” on my navigation bar up top, cake mix recipes is there. You should check it out, there’s some fun stuff.
Speaking of fun stuff…last week I did a fun nail project. Not sure if you guys have ever heard of “water marbling”? Well hop over to my other site and check it out…I am a major dork when I talk to the camera, so please ignore my voice and my awkwardness and also ignore the fact that you can’t see my face.
So yeah…I don’t think Steven Speilberg will be calling anytime soon to ask me to assistant direct a film with him. Whatevs.
See, I am so busy doing nails and making crafts and stuff that I have had to use cake mixes all week.
Phew, the life of a blogger.
That leads me to my last cake mix treat of the week.
These are Rolo Cake Mix Bars.
They are caramely and yummy and easy ~ 3 things that I look for in a dessert.
Start with your Rolo candies. Cut them in half.
Next up mix up your cake mix, evaporated milk and melted butter…
**Make sure you use a 18.25 oz box of cake mix. That is 1 lb. I used Duncan Hines.
Divide the batter in half, like this picture…Please ignore the fact that the divided batter looks like brains or a butt. Completely unintentional.
The batter will be sticky, but carefully press half into the bottom of a greased baking pan…
Bake the crust up for a few minutes. Then place the Rolo candies face down on the crust…
Then drop the remaining batter on top…
Bake it for a few more minutes.
Then try and keep out of it before it cools….I dare you.
Ingredients
- 1 box (18.25 oz) yellow, vanilla or white cake mix ( I used Duncan Hines), dry
- 5 oz evaporated milk
- 1/4 cup butter, melted
- 40 Rolo Candies, unwrapped and cut in half
How to Make
- Preheat oven to 350°
- Spray a 9x13 pan with cooking spray.
- With your mixer, beat cake mix, evaporated milk and butter until combined. Mixture will be thick and sticky.
- Divide batter in half and press 1 half into the bottom of the pan.
- Bake until just set, approximately 8-9 minutes.
- Remove base from oven and place Rolo candies, caramel-side down on top.
- Drop remaining batter on top of Rolos in teaspoon sized amounts.
- Bake for 20-24 minutes longer until top begins to golden.
- Cool completely before cutting into squares.
Notes
Recipe adapted from Taste of Home
adapted from Taste of Home magazine
Hi! I’m Shelly and I’m an addict. Of the buttercream sort. I started this site a few years ago as a way to justify my sugary, buttery obsession with desserts. It has worked out well for me so far, because as it turns out you guys all love sugary, buttery desserts too! It feels good to know you are not alone, doesn’t it? 
I cannot get over how incredibly delicious these look. I could seriously enjoy them as a stand alone meal for breakfast, lunch or dinner!
This might be the highlight of cake mix week, though I would love if week turned into month:-)
Lauren at Keep It Sweet recently posted..Spiced Cookie Butter Truffles
WOW…these look amazing! Such a great idea and I am just going to have to pin this one…love it!
Jill @ KitchenFunWithMy3Sons.com recently posted..Superbowl Breakfast
These sound like a dream… the melted caramel and warm chocolate – - I can’t promise to share this when I make it
Living The Sweet Life recently posted..Happy 25th Birthday My Angel
as long as butter’s involved i could never get tired of cake mixes…sign me up for a pan of these!
Heather (Heather’s Dish) recently posted..Pecan Baklava Cups
Fabulous just about sums up this one…never thought to add candy….your so smart
Mighty Morgan recently posted..Valentine’s Day Inspired Cupcakes
Oh. . . YUM. . . . I want these, now!! And really, I say you just embrace that brain/butt photo and title it, “ButtBrain”.
I just “pinned” this recipe because I want to use up some leftover Halloween candy that is STILL in my cupboard. Thanks for a simple but yummy idea.
I think you are a genius.
Are you sick of cake mixes yet? <— NO! and this looks insanely good, easy, and PERFECT for anytime. I love Rolo's, too!
Averie @ Love Veggies and Yoga recently posted..Favorite Breakfast Recipes
Sick of cake mixes? Shut your mouth!
I am personally loving your posts this week. So many ways to use a mix,and I like that.
sue @ Cakeballs, cookies and mor recently posted..Pioneer Woman Cinnamon Scones
I see from the picture you were doing a fine job eating out of the pan in a straight line until you got back up to the top and took a big bite with that darn spoon. (: And what do you mean this is last cake mix recipe of the week. By my count it’s only Thursday. We should still be owed another cakemix recipe tomorrow, shouldn’t we, couldn’t we, please, pretty please, pretty please with like chocolate and mini reeses and all sorts of good stuff like that sprinkled on top?
That is way too easy. Can’t wait to try this!
Fallon recently posted..Dangerous Chocolate Bars
Never ever sick of cake mix treats. And Rolos?! Get outta town.
Tara @ Chip Chip Hooray recently posted..NYC Eats: The Meatball Shop
wow!!!! I pinned this and it’s already been repinned 88 times in just the last 30 minutes…. it’s the most popular thing I’ve ever pinned by far
Sara E recently posted..RECIPE: Rolo Cake Mix Bars… (insanity just happened when I pinned this on Pin…
Love these; they look so yummy! I love your nail art too. It looks so pretty. My daughter will love it. I am going to try it on her this weekend:)
Raina recently posted..Chicken Madeira
Oh my goodness! I do believe I would make really great friends with a pan of these!
Robyn Stone | Add a Pinch recently posted..Homemade Mocha Recipe {Dunkin Donuts Giveaway}
I could eat that entire pan. Don’t believe me, make them for me? ha!
Maria recently posted..Caleb {4 Months Old}
Oh my! I’ll take the whole pan! Thank you!
I am LOVING these!
I’m loving cake mix week!
Cookie Sleuth recently posted..S’mores Cookie Sandwiches
I love this recipe! I made these when we were moving, and almost all of our stuff was already packed, but I needed to feed “the help”. I used a a chocolate cake mix, but thought this would be great too!
Erin @ Dinners, Dishes, and Desserts recently posted..Comment on Spaghetti and Meatball Soup by Cassie
My mouth is watering! I must make these this weekend. Thank you for all your great recipes and yummy pictures
) Sarah @ Repeat Crafter Me
Hi…This is probably a dumb question, but when a recipe calls for butter is it usually unsalted or salted? Please help me…
Thank you!!
Not dumb at all! A lot of bakers only use unsalted, but I always use salted unless otherwise stated.. I just prefer the taste. If you use unsalted you can adjust the salt addition to your liking
Thank you!!!
this has all of my favorite food groups in it! Well, except for peanut butter. Don’t worry. I’ll just smear it on.
Joanne recently posted..Zucchini "Meatballs" and Curry-Tomato Sauce Over Polenta…Eat.Live.Be.
Looks all ooey and gooey and yummy… Can’t wait to try out this recipe!
Yum! I can’t think of any other word right now…
Emily ~SoDomesticated~ recently posted..Brown Butter Cake with Salted Caramel Buttercream… and A Giveaway!!!
These look really tasty! Your Rolos photo is beautiful!
Karen @ Sugartown Sweets recently posted..Hearts In Bloom Brownie Bites!
I can’t resist anything with Rolos. And I’m loving all of the cake mix recipes!
Deborah recently posted..Korean BBQ Chicken Tacos with Asian Pear and Jicama Slaw
Oh my! Well, the baking “snob” in me is humbled by this treat, and is going put today to buy a yellow cake mix so she can make these babies!
They look irresistible. (Your blog is just beautiful, by the way, and I love your photos.)
Thank you so much!
These are right up my ALLEY!!!
sweetsugarbelle recently posted..Piping Lace On Cookies
Rolos would have been good in the brownie mix recipe I did today too. I love cake mix stuff- so easy!! These look simply drooly!
Lori @ RecipeGirl recently posted..Caramel Brownies
Rich, caramelly bars are my favorite. THis one is printed and in my ‘to bake’ stack.
That happens too often when I’m here!
JenMarie recently posted..Bruschetta Chicken
These look delicious! Gotta love chocolate and caramel! =o)
Erin @ Making Memories recently posted.."You Da Bomb" Candy Valentine
Shopping list:
Rolos
Cake mix
Shopping done!!
Bronya recently posted..A Very British Cake – Tea Loaf
I LOVE Rolos! One of my favorites candies ever. These look soooo up my alley. Love!
Krissy @ Krissy’s Creations recently posted..Basic Biscuits
I think I may be in love with these bars
Angie @ Bigbearswife recently posted..Secret Recipe Club Twitter Party Chat {Recap}
I made these last night , and I messed them up somehow!!! My batter was creamy not crumbly! Is it 5 oz. of evaporated milk? Don’t know what happened!
Well that is really weird! With only a 5 oz can of evaporated milk and 1/4 cup of butter I don’t know how it could be runny… Mine was very stiff. So crazy!
I just made these today, I said the same thing, the batter was not crumbly at all. Waiting for them to cool down to see what they are like.
I’m a firm believer that Rolos make everything taste 10x more delicious. Just sayin’
Erika – The Teenage Taste recently posted..Carrot Cake Waffles
I just started making them and I had the same issue as Ellen – my batter is super runny like a cake mix would normally be. I used 5 ounces of evaporated milk and 1/4 cup melted butter – but I’m wondering if your cake mix was bigger than mine? I used a standard box that would make two round cakes or 24 cupcakes.
Would love to hear from anyone else who made them? They looks so good – my husband is on his way back to the house with Rolo’s as I type this…
How odd.. I’ll have to go back and make them again and see what happens! I guess the end result would be… How did they turn out? I would love to know!!
I had the same issues…..runny …had to use more than half to cover bottom on…they are in. the oven now and are still not done and it has been 35 minutes …..
Well they were worth the wait!!!!!! Crispy on the outside and chewy on the inside!!! Cooked a total of 40 minutes….absolutely delish!!! It didn’t matter that it wasrunny after mixing … A fantastic recipe !!!
i love these! keep the cake mix luv coming! these would be great in a pinch. mmm
tia the baker recently posted..Coconut Butter Bars
Another winning recipe, Shelly!
Sue recently posted..Trail Mix Monster Cookies
These are so yummy! I can’t stop eating them….now feeding them to my family so I don’t eat any more of them!!!
Quick question…was your batter thick or runny? I have had a few different responses and I was wondering if I used the wrong size cake mix unknowingly!
Oh, SHELLY!!! I think I just licked my computer screen.
bridget {bake at 350} recently posted..True Love
Rolos are one of my very, very favorite candies ever. (I mean, hello? Caramel and chocolate. It’s a given.) These are seriously mouthwatering! I can’t wait to try them!!
Darla | Bakingdom recently posted..Malted Milk Chocolate Pots de Crème with Malted Dark Chocolate Ganache
Just mixed mine up and I’ve got the creamy/runny batter as well but I’m foraging ahead. I actually have 2 different kinds of mixes at home and just realized that I used a Betty Crocker mix which is 15.25oz but the Duncan Hines mix is 18.25oz – I’m guessing those 3 extra ounces of mix is what’s making the difference! Thanks for a yummy recipe
PS – I added chopped salted mixed nuts I had left from the holidays along with the rolos for some extra crunch and salt! Can’t wait!
Very interesting! Please let me know how the runny batter turns out
The batter was *really* runny with the smaller mix, I could have poured it in to the pan but I had another one of the same mix at home so I opened it and added about an extra 1/2C until it looked like the texture in your photos. Managed to wait until they were cool but have since eaten two and I’m SURE they won’t be the only ones…YUM.
Darcy recently posted..Courage
brain or butt, hahaha!
Nisha recently posted..Rabdi: No-Condensed Milk No-Microwave Version – Rabri, Indian Sweet
Well you were right on trying not to dig into these before they cooled, I make it about 2 minutes though.
Unfortunately I had the same problem several others have had – I followed the recipe exactly and the batter was a little thicker than cake batter. It wouldn’t even hold the ‘brain’ shape if I tried, lol. I tried to make the bars anyway thinking maybe it would taste good but sadly it ended up in the trash can. I wish I knew what I did wrong because I’d love to give these another try one day!
I modified the recipe a bit…Apparently there are multiple sizes of cake mixes…I used an 18.25 oz cake mix (Duncan Hines) it’s 1 lb, so I included that specific in the recipe now. Apparently some other brands are a different size. That should fix the problem!
I am glad I am not the only one that had the runny batter. I had to throw the other batch out! The bottom was gooey and the top was crispy. I bought another bag of rolo’s, but I forgot to get the evaporated milk. Boo!
I am definitely trying this again, because we love Rolo’s!!!
I had the runny batter too and specificly grabbed Duncan Hines yellow cake mix when we went to the store. I just dropped the batter on drop by spoonfuls so I hope this turns out still!! We’re taking it to a party today.
I measured 5 oz. of evaporated milk out of a larger can as that’s what the hubby grabbed. That’s the only place I can think of the problem being, unless the butter maybe needs to be cut in.
Did you notice the measurements on the box? Was it a 18.25 oz box?
I am having the exact same problem. Right cake mix but poured 5 oz of evap milk out of larger can. My batter is not crumbly like pictured. It’s more of a thicker cake batter. Hoping these turn out alright. You might want to consider addin a disclaimer about the evaporated milk.
I just made these again, because of some of the different outcomes and mine came out exactly the same as pictured. This time I measured out 5 oz because I couldn’t find the 5 oz can and there was no change.
I am baffled!!
I followed your recipe exactly…even with the Duncan Hines cake mix, my batter is runny!
This is werid and frustrating.. Would really like to know how to fix this before I waste a bag of Rolos? Doesn’t make sense that yours turn out…. I think I will add more cake mix and see what happens..thanks
It is SO weird and frustrating! I have never seen so many mixed results with a recipe! I have had about 50/50 with the feedback that I have gotten, some having it turn out the way I did, the other with a runny batter. A few people have added more cake mix and that has helped. I plan on re-working the whole recipe in the next week or so. Thanks for your feedback!
Was so good and so easy. I used butter cake mix. I cut mine into hearts the kids loved them.
Great recipe. So easy to make. I used Pillsbury yellow cake mix that was 18.25 oz. size. Batter was thick and sticky and it is in the oven now. Smells so good can’t wait to eat!
Yes, my batter was think and sticky as well! Glad to hear that because I have had a lot of feedback that people have runny batter and I was getting confused!
These were amazing! I accidentally used a whole stick of butter…but they were still amazing
Thank you so much for sharing!
Chelle recently posted..Lately.
1/2 c melted butter is not the same as 1/2 c butter, melted.
Is it c melted butter?
yes, you are correct. that might be our problem. I will re-write the wording on that!
I had the same issue others had with more of a thinner batter. Plus there was no way half of the batter was going to cover the bottom of the pan, so I just did a single layer with the rolos on top. I was really disappointed in the turnout, they were just ok. They seemed drier and overall the flavor was just “eh”.I may attempt them again, but wondered if a super moist cake mix with the pudding in it could be the culprit (that is what I used)?
This is a silly question, I am sure, but I am just trying to figure out why the varied results…I tried them again yesterday and they were the same as how I posted. I just don’t get it..
SO, you just used the dry mix, right? You didn’t add eggs and oil like you were making cake, right?
Sorry to be asking such a silly question, but I am totally mind boggled at the different outcomes!
Not a silly question, I did not add eggs or oil. Just a 5oz. Can of evaporated milk and 1/4 cup of melted butter. I think next time I may try a classic yellow cake mix instead of the butter recipe golden mix. Just wondering too, when you use half of the dough to make your first layer in a 9×13 pan, how thin is your layer?
I had the runny batter problem too. I should have read the comments first!
So is it supposed to be 1/2 cup of melted butter, not 1/2 cup of butter that you then melt? Because I followed the posted recipe”1/2 cup of butter, melted” and I do believe there in was my issue. I made it work anyway-adjusted the baking times. But they don’t look quite as nice. Fingers crossed that they taste good! The batter, and yes it was a thick batter, was delicious!
1/4 not 1/2! Used 1/4 like it said. iPhone typing fail!
the recipe is 1/4 butter, melted…which is meant to mean 1/4 of butter and then melted…does that make sense? How did they taste?
I just took these out of the oven and they look LOVELY!! I had no problems with the batter, I used a Pillsbury 18.25 oz. yellow cake mix, had only a large can of evaporated milk, so I measured the 5 oz. out, think I got it pretty close (had to eyeball between the 4 and 6 oz mark on my liquid measuring cup) and took 1/4 cup (or half a stick) of butter and melted it. All came together, was sticky to touch. They SMELL really good… just out of the oven and I’m home alone, son won’t be home for another 1-1/2 hours.. oh… I could really do some damage to that pan by then!
Thanks for the recipe!
not joking, I want to make everything on your site like on Julie & Julia, but so much better (and fatter). You are my idol. Making these babies tonight!
Shannon Thomas recently posted..Triple Layer Cookies & Cream Nutella Crunch Bars
I am currently making these and can’t wait to taste them!! One little tip that I found to make this easier is to chill the Rolos before you go to cut them. I have had the caramel on mine stick to the knife, so chilling them helps.
Happy baking and thanks for the delightful (and super easy) recipe!
I had the same runny batter problem as others! I followed ingredient list to a T. Very weird that some people are getting these results while others are not. I cooked mine for a bit longer and they didn’t turn out terrible, but I’m sure they could be better. It still seems under cooked in the middle!
I plan to make these for a family reunion this weekend. I can’t wait to try them! I had a question….did the rolos stay soft and gooey after everything cooled? sometimes i find rolos harder than other caramel candy. I was thinking of using caramel kisses…but wondered if they would be too soft. Has anyone tried anything different?
thanks!
I have a gluten free version coming up on my blog that I linked back to you. I also took those same Rolo bars to my TV appearance, and they were a HUGE hit! They are as scrumptious as they look, and then some!
Ann @ Suburban Prairie Homemaker recently posted..Gluten Free Dairy Free Not Cheese Spread Recipe
Followed exactly and runny batter. I bake all the time and never had this issue. Sad bc they looked so good!!
And you only used 5 oz of evaporated milk?
I finally had an opportunity to make these, and I too had the runny batter. No way was it going to be pressed into a pan. I used a 18.25 oz. cake mix, 5 oz. evap milk, measured exactly, and 1/4 cup of butter, melted. I added at least another cup of cake mix, if not more, and was able to get it pressed into the pan. It’s for a dinner tomorrow night, so I don’t have any comments about the taste yet. It looks and smells divine, just a little sad about the runny batter. I’m not a great cook, so I was stressing. Thank you for the recipe, though!
coming late to this great recipe. I used to eat Rolos all the time when I was younger, but looks like I’ll have to buy some more to make this. Great photos!
I made these tonight and they were a huge hit!
I messed up and added the whole can of condensed milk.
Did not matter! They were still fabulous! I want to try Reese’s cups next time.
I honestly think that people that have had the runny results have used the whole can too! Glad to hear it didn’t matter
Making these now… I used a 18.25oz box but there wasn’t enough to fill a 9×13. Switched to a 7×13 which seems to be doing better.. Almost seemed like I needed to double the recipe. Hoping they turn out because they sound and look delicious!
They do make a thin cookie bar in the 9×13, so I bet baking in a smaller dish would work great!
These were great. I used a bag of the new mini rolos. Since they were smaller I didn’t cut them, which made this easy recipe even easier.
I also followed the recipe (correct measurements and all!) and had very runny batter. I was a little nervous about it, but it turned out fabulous! I used a small 8 inch square pan and cooked about 15 extra minutes. They were thick and delicious. Very yummy served with coffee. Every single person had 2nds…and maybe 3rds