Gluten-Free Thin Mint Cookie Cake Bars
Decadent bar cookies inspired by beloved Girl Scout Thin Mints, featuring a soft yellow cake base layered with chocolate chips, Andes mint pieces, and sweetened condensed milk, topped with crushed Thin Mint cookies. These rich, gooey bars combine the nostalgic flavors of mint and chocolate in an easy-to-make dessert that's perfect for bake sales, potlucks, or satisfying cookie cravings year-round. The cake mix base makes preparation simple while delivering bakery-quality results.
Ingredients
- 1 box yellow cake mixchocolate cake mix1:1dietary
creates double chocolate version
- 1 stick butter, softened
- 1 large egg
- 1 cup chocolate chips
- 1 cup Andes mint pieces
- 1 small can sweetened condensed milk
- 20 Thin Mint Girl Scout Cookies
Instructions
- 1
Preheat oven and line baking dish with cooking spray
- 2
Mix cake mix, butter and egg until dough forms using hands
- 3
Press dough into bottom of prepared baking dish
- 4
Top evenly with chocolate chips and Andes mints
- 5
Drizzle sweetened condensed milk over top
- 6
Top with broken pieces of Thin Mint cookies
- 7
Bake until baked through
- 8
Immediately loosen edges with plastic knife after removing from oven
- 9
Cool completely before cutting into squares
Tips
Use hands to mix the dough as it will be quite thick and difficult to combine with a spoon
Break Thin Mint cookies into irregular pieces rather than crushing completely for better texture and visual appeal
Run a plastic knife around edges immediately after baking to prevent sticking as bars cool
Good to Know
Store covered at room temperature for up to 5 days or refrigerate for up to 1 week
Can be made 1-2 days ahead and stored covered
Serve at room temperature cut into squares
Common Mistakes
Don't skip cooling completely or bars will fall apart when cut
Use plastic knife to loosen edges to avoid scratching non-stick coating
Substitutions
Dairy-Free Swaps
General Alternatives
creates double chocolate version
similar texture and chocolate flavor
homemade mint flavor
FAQ
Can I use a different cake mix flavor?
Yes, chocolate or white cake mix work well. Chocolate creates a richer flavor while white lets the mint shine through more.
What if I can't find Andes mints?
Substitute with chopped peppermint patties, mint chocolate chips, or add peppermint extract to regular chocolate chips for similar flavor.
How long do these bars keep?
Store covered at room temperature for up to 5 days or refrigerate for up to 1 week for best texture and freshness.