Strawberry Chocolate Bars

This strawberry chocolate bars recipe makes tender, chewy bars that are oh-so moist and delicious. You’ll love these bars, made with only six ingredients and featuring layers of chocolate and strawberry goodness. It’s so easy to make because it comes from a cake mix, and it’s perfect to serve up a sweet treat all year long.

A stack of three strawberry chocolate bars sits in front of more of the bas in the background.

I love having easy dessert recipes that I can throw together quickly. Because you never know when an impromptu party opportunity is going to happen. Those impromptu parties are the best! But I hate to show up empty-handed. That’s one reason I usually keep some vegan chocolate chip cookies in the freezer. But there are times that call for something even better than cookies!

That’s where these strawberry chocolate cake bars come in handy!

Key Ingredients

You can find the full printable recipe, including ingredient quantities, below. But first, here are some explanations of ingredients and steps to help you make this recipe perfect every time.

  • Vegan sour cream — You’ll need some plain vegan sour cream for this recipe. I use either Tofutti’s or Forager.
  • Vegetable oil — We’ll use a neutral oil, like canola oil or even olive oil.
  • Plant-based milk — Use your favorite plant-based milk, whether it be soy milk, oat milk, almond milk, cashew milk, or even pecan milk.
  • Chocolate Cake Mix — There are plenty of chocolate cake mixes to choose from these days, including some that I refer to as accidentally vegan. For example, Duncan Hines makes many varieties of chocolate cake mixes without eggs or dairy. You can also choose organic vegan brands, such as Annie’s or Simple Mills.
  • Strawberry Cake Mix — The same is true for strawberry cake mixes as well.
  • Chocolate chips — Use this dairy-free chocolate chips guide to find the best vegan chocolate chips for you!

How to Make Strawberry Chocolate Bars

  1. Create the creamy base by stirring together vegan sour cream, vegetable oil, and plant-based milk.
  2. Make the chocolate layer by combining the cake mix with the creamy base. Press this into the prepared pan.
  3. Make the strawberry layer by combining the cake mix with the creamy base. Press this into the prepared pan.
  4. Bake for 45 to 50 minutes until done.

Here are more detailed step-by-step instructions.

Step One: Make the Creamy Base

Stir together vegan sour cream, vegetable oil, and plant-based milk.

A bowl has soy milk inside being curdled with vinegar.

Step Two: Prepare the Chocolate Layer

  1. Pour the chocolate cake mix into a mixing bowl.
  2. Pour in half the creamy mixture and stir to combine. You will have a thick batter, more similar to cookie dough.
  3. Press this into the bottom of your prepared 9×13 pan.
  4. Sprinkle half the chocolate chips over the top of this layer.

Step Three: Prepare the Strawberry Layer

A creamy sauce is being poured into a bowl with strawberry cake mix.
  1. Rinse out your mixing bowl and dry.
  2. Pour the strawberry cake mix into the bowl.
  3. Add the remaining creamy mixture and stir to combine.
  4. Gently press this layer over the top of the chocolate layer. It helps to get your fingers wet and press the strawberry batter evenly across the top.
  5. Sprinkle the top with the remaining chocolate chips.

Step Four: Bake

Bake the bars for 45 to 50 minutes. When there done, remove them from the oven and set aside to cool. These bars will thicken as they cool, so allowing them this time will help them cut into better, firmer slices.

Cake Mix Bars Toppings

You can serve these chocolate strawberry bars as-is, or you can add some tasty toppings, like any of the following:

Frequently-Asked Questions

Can you make cake mix bars without eggs?

It’s easy to make cake mix bars without egg, whether using a mix or making your own homemade brownies. A simple substitute is to use 1/4 cup of vegan sour cream for each egg in your recipe to keep your bars moist and delicious!

What is the difference between cake mix and brownie mix?

Most chocolate cake and brownie mixes will have a lot of the same ingredients, including flour, cocoa powder, sugar, and so on. However, the main difference is that cake mixes will have some kind of chemical leavening, like baking powder and baking soda.

Marly’s Tips

  • You can try different cake mix flavors based on your preference, such as cherry, or even a yellow cake mix.
  • Be sure to look at the cake mix ingredients to make sure they’re made without eggs or dairy.
  • You can substitute gluten-free cake mixes to make gluten-free bars.
  • This makes a very thick batter, more like cookie dough, but the results are delicious, fudgy cake mix brownie bars!

Storage Tips

To keep theses bars nice and soft, be sure to store them in an airtight container. They will keep at room temperature for up to 3 days, in the fridge for up to 10 days, and they can be frozen for up to 2 months.

Looking down on several squares of strawberry chocolate bars, each with lots of melted chocolate chips on top.

New to Vegan Baking?

The idea of making cookies, cakes, or muffins without eggs or dairy can seem like a hill too tall to climb. But with the simple tips in my Guide to Vegan Baking, you’ll be baking like a vegan pro in no time!

A strawberry chocolate bar sits on a plate.  It has lots of melted chocolate chips on top. There is another plate with several more bars in the background.

More Dessert Bar Favorites

If you love these strawberry chocolate bars, be sure to try these tasty vegan dessert bars:

A strawberry chocolate dessert bar sits on a plate. There are more dessert bars on a plate in the background.

Strawberry Chocolate Bars

These easy strawberry chocolate bars are so easy to make, and they create yummy, fudgy bars. Layered desserts look so dramatic, and the combination of these two favorite flavors is great, too.
5 from 3 votes
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 50 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour
Servings: 24
Calories: 253kcal

Ingredients

  • ½ cup vegan sour cream
  • cup vegetable oil
  • cup plant-based milk
  • 1 box Chocolate Cake Mix (see notes)
  • 1 box Strawberry Cake Mix (see notes)
  • 1 cup chocolate chips, divided

Instructions

  • Heat your oven to 350°F/180°C and spray a 9×13 cake pan with vegetable spray.
  • Stir together vegan sour cream, vegetable oil, and plant-based milk.
  • Pour the chocolate cake mix into a mixing bowl. Pour in half the creamy mixture and stir to combine. You will have a thick batter, more similar to cookie dough. Press this into the bottom of your prepared 9×13 pan. Sprinkle half the chocolate chips over the top of this layer.
  • Rinse out your mixing bowl and dry. Then pour the strawberry cake mix and the remaining creamy mixture. Stir to combine. Again, you will have a thick batter. Gently press this layer over the top of the chocolate layer. I find it helps to get your fingers wet and press the strawberry batter evenly across the top. Sprinkle the top with the remaining chocolate chips.
  • Bake for 45 to 50 minutes. Remove from the oven and set aside to cool.

Recommended Equipment

(The products above contain sponsored links to products we use and recommend)

Notes

Many popular cake mixes are made without eggs or dairy, such as Duncan Hines and some Pillsbury. Be sure to read the labels or use brands that are designated vegan, such as Annies or Simple Mills.
Calories: 253kcal | Carbohydrates: 35g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 12g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Cholesterol: 1mg | Sodium: 339mg | Potassium: 97mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 20g | Vitamin A: 11IU | Calcium: 86mg | Iron: 1mg

The nutrition information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator and should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.

21 Responses to Strawberry Chocolate Bars

  1. Avatar thumbnail image for MarlyNancy @ gottagetbaked Reply

    It’s so nice to meet you, Marly, and discover your wonderful blog! It’s awesome that you’re on the board of directors for your park ‘n rec dept. What a perfect connection to today’s post. These strawberry chocolate dessert bars are divine. Fabulous flavour combination, perfect layers and gorgeous photos. I’m dying over the amazing lighting you’re getting (despite the frozen tundra outside!). Happy Galentine’s Day!

  2. Avatar thumbnail image for MarlyAbby @ The Frosted Vegan Reply

    Yay! Happy Galentines day ! Love these : )

  3. Avatar thumbnail image for MarlyLauren @ Climbing Grier Mountain Reply

    Like whoa. I’ll take 47 of these bad boys!

  4. Avatar thumbnail image for MarlySusan Reply

    5 stars
    Admit it, you’re actually Leslie Knope. Right? Right? Okay, kidding aside these bars are great, I love the color and I bet they taste delish!

    • Avatar thumbnail image for MarlyMarly

      Well, we are both fond of vegetable puns. She says “porn on the cob” and I say, “corn in its natural state that tastes really good.” Oh wait. I guess I need to work on my puns.

  5. Avatar thumbnail image for MarlyKaren @ The Food Charlatan Reply

    This looks awesome Marly! And perfect for Galentine’s Day OR Valentine’s Day. I love that there are 2 cake mixes, you’re doin it right 🙂 Also, I can’t believe you live in Real Life Parks and Rec. Awesome!! Although probably not quite as awesome since Aziz Ansari is not there to call you his boo.

    • Avatar thumbnail image for MarlyMarly

      I cannot trust any man who talks like this: “Zerts’ are what I call desserts. ‘Trée-trées’ are entrées. I call sandwiches ‘sammies,’ ‘sandoozles,’ or ‘Adam Sandlers.’ Air conditioners are ‘cool blasterz’ with a ‘z’ — I don’t know where that came from. I call cakes ‘big ol’ cookies.’ I call noodles ‘long-ass rice.’ Fried chicken is ‘fry-fry chicky-chick.’ Chicken parm is ‘chicky-chicky-parm-parm.’ Chicken cacciatore? ‘Chicky-cacc.’ I call eggs ‘pre-birds,’ or ‘future birds.’ Root beer is ‘super water.’ Tortillas are ‘bean blankets.’ And I call forks ‘food rakes.”

      Although, it does kind of grow on you. Tortillas as bean blankets? It kind of works!

    • Avatar thumbnail image for MarlyKaren @ The Food Charlatan

      BEST QUOTE EVER MARLY!!! oh my gosh I’m still laughing. How could you not trust him?? 🙂 I call forks ‘food rakes.” bahaha.

    • Avatar thumbnail image for MarlyMarly

      I know! What about Chicka-chicka Parm Parm? That’s just fun to say! I may have to come up with a vegan version of that recipe and that’s what I’ll call it!

    • Avatar thumbnail image for MarlyMorgan @ Peaches, Please

      Marly’s comment reminds me of this comic:
      https://imgs.xkcd.com/comics/winter.png

    • Avatar thumbnail image for MarlyMarly

      Love it!

  6. Avatar thumbnail image for Marlycynthia Reply

    Marly, that is too funny that you actually do work in Parks & Rec — what a fitting holiday! And I love these vibrant dessert bars. Definitely fit for a girls’ get-together. Glad to be celebrating with you 🙂

    • Avatar thumbnail image for MarlyMarly

      I always like to clarify, I’m on the board. The incredibly talented and hard-working staff do all the work…I just like to take the credit.

  7. Avatar thumbnail image for MarlyLindsay @ The Live-In Kitchen Reply

    Wow! You really pulled out all the stops here. This looks so rich and delicious. That is so funny that you work in Parks and Recreation!

  8. Avatar thumbnail image for MarlyLiz Reply

    What gorgeous, festive bars, Marly! They look amazing!!!

  9. Avatar thumbnail image for MarlyHeather || Heather's Dish Reply

    SQUEAL! What a perfect Galetine’s Day treat! I love it!

  10. Avatar thumbnail image for MarlyCourtney @ Neighborfood Reply

    I’m so glad you could join us Marly! And how cool that you’re on the board for your Parks and Rec department! These look stunning. So perfect for girl’s night. I’m so glad we were able to meet this year. Can’t wait to learn more from each other in the year to come!

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