Description
Cream Cheese Gooey Bars are a decadent dessert with a buttery base, topped with a smooth and creamy cream cheese filling that is rich and indulgent. These bars are soft, sweet, and perfectly gooey—ideal for any occasion!
Ingredients
Scale
- For the Base:
- 1 box (15.25 oz) yellow cake mix
- 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, melted
- 1 large egg
- For the Cream Cheese Layer:
- 8 oz cream cheese, softened
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- For Dusting (Optional):
- Powdered sugar (optional, for dusting on top)
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and line a 9×13-inch baking dish with parchment paper or non-stick spray.
- In a medium bowl, combine the yellow cake mix, melted butter, and 1 egg. Stir until well combined. The mixture will be thick.
- Press the cake mixture evenly into the bottom of the prepared baking dish, forming the base layer. Bake for 10-12 minutes, or until the base is lightly golden and set.
- While the base is baking, prepare the cream cheese layer. In a large mixing bowl, beat the softened cream cheese and granulated sugar until smooth and creamy.
- Add the 2 eggs, vanilla extract, flour, and salt to the cream cheese mixture. Beat until fully combined and smooth.
- Once the base has finished baking, remove it from the oven. Pour the cream cheese mixture over the warm base and spread it evenly to cover the entire surface.
- Return the pan to the oven and bake for an additional 30-35 minutes, or until the cream cheese layer is set and slightly golden on top. A toothpick inserted into the center should come out mostly clean with a few moist crumbs.
- Remove the pan from the oven and allow the bars to cool completely in the pan on a wire rack. Once cooled, refrigerate for at least 2 hours before cutting into squares.
- If desired, dust the tops with powdered sugar before serving for a decorative touch.
- Enjoy your gooey, creamy bars!
Notes
- For extra flavor, you can add a teaspoon of lemon zest or almond extract to the cream cheese layer.
- Be careful not to overbake the cream cheese layer, as it should be soft and gooey in the middle.
- You can use a different cake mix flavor, such as chocolate or spice cake, to create variations of this recipe.
- If you’re looking for a richer flavor, consider adding a handful of mini chocolate chips or crushed nuts to the cream cheese mixture.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bar
- Calories: 250 kcal
- Sugar: 20g
- Sodium: 180mg
- Fat: 14g
- Saturated Fat: 8g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 27g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 3g
- Cholesterol: 70mg