Rich, fudgy bars made with devil’s food cake mix, layers of chocolate, hot fudge, and sweetened condensed milk. Thick, gooey, and unapologetically chocolatey.
Table of Contents
I don’t make Chocolate Chocolate Chip Gooey Bars when I’m feeling calm and organized. I make them when life feels a little loud. You know the days—emails piling up, everyone asking what’s for dessert after dinner’s already on the table, or that moment when you just need chocolate and you need it now.
The first time I made these, I was honestly just trying to use up a box of cake mix and a very questionable amount of chocolate I’d somehow collected. Giant chocolate bars? Check. Three kinds of chocolate chips? Also check. I remember thinking, This might be ridiculous. And then, as they baked, the kitchen smelled like a mall food court in the early 2000s—in the best way.
When I finally cut into them (too early, obviously), they were messy, gooey, and kind of chaotic. And I loved them immediately. These bars don’t try to be elegant. They’re comfort food. The “sit on the couch with a plate” kind. Sound familiar?
Why you’ll Love these Chocolate Chocolate Chip Gooey Bars?
There are desserts that whisper, and then there are desserts that announce themselves. Chocolate Chocolate Chip Gooey Bars are firmly in the second category. They’re thick, rich, and layered with so much chocolate that every bite feels slightly different. Some bites are extra gooey, some are chewy around the edges, and some hit you with a melted pocket of milk chocolate that makes you pause for a second.
I also love that they’re made with shortcuts—and they’re not ashamed of it. Cake mix, hot fudge, sweetened condensed milk… these are pantry MVPs. Are these bars subtle? No. Are they balanced? Maybe? Do they make people very happy? Absolutely.
Ingredient Notes
Let’s talk ingredients, because this Chocolate Chocolate Chip Gooey Bars recipe looks intense—and it is—but everything earns its spot.
- Devil’s Food Cake Mix: This gives you a rich, chocolatey base without extra measuring. It’s doing a lot of work, and I appreciate that.
- Egg & Oil: These turn the cake mix into a thick dough instead of a batter. It’ll feel odd. Trust it.
- Milk, Semi-Sweet & Dark Chocolate Chips: The trio matters. Sweet, balanced, and slightly bitter all at once so it’s not flat.
- Giant + King Size Milk Chocolate Bars: These melt into dramatic pools of chocolate. Dramatic is good here.
- Hot Fudge Sauce: Keeps the center gooey and almost lava-like.
- Sweetened Condensed Milk: This is what makes the bars chewy and fudgy instead of cakey once they cool.
How to Make Chocolate Chocolate Chip Gooey Bars?
- Preheat your oven to 350°F. Line a 13×9-inch pan with foil, letting it hang over the sides, and grease it generously. I’ve learned this the hard way—gooey bars cling like they mean it.
- In a large bowl, stir together the cake mix, egg, and oil until you get a soft dough. It’s thick. It’s not pretty. Spread it evenly into the pan and bake for about 12 minutes. This step just sets the base—don’t overbake it.
- Pull the pan out and immediately lay the chocolate bars over the warm crust. Sprinkle all three kinds of chocolate chips on top. In a small bowl, whisk together the hot fudge and sweetened condensed milk, then pour it slowly over everything. It will look like too much. It is not.
- Bake again for 20–22 minutes, until the center is just barely set and bubbling. If you’re unsure, take them out. Underbaked is the goal with Chocolate Chocolate Chip Gooey Bars. They firm up as they cool. Let them cool completely in the pan—overnight if you can manage it. They slice better and taste even richer the next day.
Storage Options
Store these bars in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days, or refrigerate them for up to a week if you like them extra fudgy. They freeze well too—wrap individual bars and thaw as needed. Not that I’m planning ahead or anything…
Variations & Substitutions
Once you make this Chocolate Chocolate Chip Gooey Bars recipe, you’ll probably start thinking of ways to tweak it. That’s normal.
- Dark Chocolate Only: Swap all the milk chocolate for dark if you like things less sweet.
- Peanut Butter Drizzle: Add warm peanut butter over the fudge layer before baking. It’s… a lot. In a good way.
- White Chocolate Contrast: Replace one cup of chips with white chocolate for a sweet pop.
- Nutty Add-In: Chopped pecans or walnuts if you like a little crunch.
Ever change one thing and then swear you’ll never go back? These bars invite that energy.
What to Serve With Chocolate Chocolate Chip Gooey Bars?
These bars are rich, so something simple works best. Cold milk is classic. Strong coffee cuts the sweetness nicely. And if you’re feeling bold, warm a bar slightly and add vanilla ice cream. It’s excessive. That’s kind of the point.
FAQ
Do they really need to cool completely?
They don’t have to, but they’ll be messy if you don’t. Sometimes messy is fine.
Are they supposed to look underbaked?
Yes. That’s the gooey part. If they look fully baked, they’re probably overdone.
Can I halve the recipe?
You can. But these Chocolate Chocolate Chip Gooey Bars tend to disappear fast, so plan accordingly.
If you’re craving something rich, messy, and deeply chocolatey, these Chocolate Chocolate Chip Gooey Bars might be exactly what you need. Make them once and see—do they become your go-to “bring dessert” recipe too? I’m curious.
Chocolate Chocolate Chip Gooey Bars
Ingredients
- 1 box devil’s food cake mix
- 1 large egg
- ½ cup vegetable oil
- 1 cup milk chocolate chips
- 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
- 1 cup dark chocolate chips
- 2 “Giant” Hershey’s milk chocolate bars 7 oz each, unwrapped
- 1 “King Size” Hershey’s milk chocolate bar 2.5–3 oz, unwrapped
- ½ cup hot fudge sundae sauce
- 1 14 oz can sweetened condensed milk
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a 13 × 9-inch baking pan with aluminum foil, allowing the foil to extend over the edges for easy removal. Liberally grease the foil with non-stick cooking spray and set aside.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the devil’s food cake mix, egg, and vegetable oil. Stir with a spoon until a soft, cohesive dough forms.
- Spread the dough evenly into the prepared pan, pressing it gently into an even layer. Bake for approximately 12 minutes, or until the base is just set. Remove from the oven, keeping the oven on.
- Arrange the milk chocolate bars evenly over the warm crust to cover the surface. Sprinkle the milk chocolate chips, semi-sweet chocolate chips, and dark chocolate chips evenly over the bars.
- In a small bowl, whisk together the hot fudge sauce and sweetened condensed milk until smooth. Pour the mixture evenly over the chocolate layers.
- Return the pan to the oven and bake for 20–22 minutes, or until the center is just set and the surface appears bubbly.
- Remove from the oven and allow the bars to cool completely in the pan, preferably overnight, to ensure proper setting.
- Once fully cooled, lift the bars out using the foil overhang. Cut into squares and serve.
Notes
