These dinosaur dessert bars are so easy and packed with dino goodies! If your kiddo is a dino fan or just loves really fun desserts, they’ll love these bars.
How to Make Dinosaur Dessert Bars
- Make the batter: Add the egg, milk, and vegetable oil to a bowl and whisk to combine. Add the cake mix and beat well. Fold in the white chocolate chips. Transfer about one cup of batter to a small bowl. Tint with green food coloring. Add the light green coloring to the remaining batter.
- Bake: Transfer the light green batter to the prepared pan. Spoon the green batter over the light green batter. Use a sharp knife or skewer to create a swirl design. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes or until the center is set. Remove from the oven. Allow to cool.
- Decorate: Drizzle with melted dark chocolate and decorate with sprinkles.
Make-Ahead and Freezing Instructions
To Make-Ahead: Dessert bars can be made up to three days in advance. Make sure to store them in a closed container at room temperature or in the refrigerator to keep them fresh.
To Freeze: Dessert bars can also be frozen for up to three months. Wrap them in plastic and put them in a zip-lock bag, remove all the air, and freeze. To defrost, leave them in the refrigerator overnight.
Recipe Variations for Dinosaur Dessert Bars
Tropical twist: Swap white chocolate chips with diced pineapple and shredded coconut.
Lemon zest upgrade: Replace milk with lemon juice for a zesty twist, and add lemon zest to the batter for extra tanginess.
Oreo bars: Mix crushed Oreo cookies into the batter for a cookie and cream twist, and sprinkle more on top for crunch.
Peanut butter bars: Stir in creamy peanut butter to the batter and swirl in some peanut butter cups.
Caramel bars: Drizzle caramel sauce over the top before baking, and add a pinch of sea salt for a sweet and salty combo.
Raspberry bars: Mix fresh raspberries into the batter and swirl raspberry jam on top for added sweetness.
Almond bars: Substitute white chocolate chips with chopped almonds and shredded coconut.
Mint chocolate version: Add mint extract to the batter for a refreshing taste, and mix in dark chocolate chunks for richness.
Red velvet twist: Replace white cake mix with red velvet cake mix for a vibrant color and subtle cocoa flavor.
Confetti bars: Fold rainbow sprinkles into the batter for a colorful twist, and sprinkle more on top for a festive touch.
Dinosaur Dessert Bars
Ingredients
- 1 box white cake mix
- ¼ cup vegetable oil
- 1 large egg
- ¼-1/3 cup milk
- ½ cup white chocolate chips
- light green and green food gel coloring
- 2 oz melted dark chocolate
- Dynamite Sprinkles
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350ºF.
- Add the egg, milk and vegetable oil to a bowl and whisk to combine.
- Add the cake mix and beat well.
- Fold in the white chocolate chips.
- Transfer about 1 cup of batter to a small bowl.
- Tint with green food coloring.
- Add the light green coloring to remaining batter.
- Line an 8×8 inch baking pan with parchment paper.
- Transfer the light green batter to the prepared pan.
- Spoon the green batter over the light green batter.
- Use a knife to create a swirl design.
- Bake in preheated oven for 25-30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
- Remove from the oven.
- Allow to cool.
- Drizzle with melted dark chocolate and decorate with sprinkles.
Notes
- Mixing tip: Gently fold the white chocolate chips into the batter to ensure even distribution without overmixing.
- Color consistency: Use food gel coloring sparingly to achieve desired shades of green for the dinosaur theme.
- Swirling technique: Use a knife to create a marble effect by gently swirling the green and light green batters together.
- Doneness check: Check for doneness by inserting a toothpick into the center; it should come out clean to ensure the bars are fully baked.
- Cooling process: To prevent the dark chocolate from melting excessively, allow the bars to cool completely before adding it.
- Sprinkle decoration tip: Decorate with sprinkles immediately after drizzling with dark chocolate to ensure they stick well.
- Optional variations: Feel free to experiment with different add-ins like nuts, dried fruits, or candies for personalized twists.
- Storage advice: For optimal freshness, store leftovers in an airtight container at room temperature for up to three days or refrigerate them for up to five days.
