Gooey Bars (aka Cream Cheese Bars)

Wednesday, January 20, 2010

Gooey Bars (aka Cream Cheese Bars)

I have no idea what these bars should actually be called or where this recipe really came from… It’s likely to have come on the back of a cream cheese box for all I know. (Actually, Google helped me to find this recipe which is the same). This is another recipe that my family loves. My sisters practically know this recipe by heart. Similar to the “best dang thing ever bars”, my sisters also prefer to underbake these bars, hence the name gooey bars. I tend to like my bars fully cooked so they hold their shape better. If you prefer an even gooier texture, take these out of the oven a couple minutes early.

I know some of you will shudder at the thought of using a box cake mix. I agree that in general, I would much rather make a cake/cookie/brownie from scratch. For starters, it’s a lot more fun as a baker to measure everything out and follow a recipe that has more than two steps. Not to mention knowing exactly what is in your food (and being able to pronounce it all!) I do however believe that boxed cake mix has a time and a place. One of those places being in this bar.

These bars taste almost like a cheesecake with a great chewy shortbread crust. Everyone that tried one really enjoyed them and Hubby ate an embarassingly large number of these bars.

Gooey Bars

Yield: 30

Ingredients:

1 box yellow cake mix
1/2 cup butter, melted
3 eggs
1 pound powdered sugar
1 8-oz package cream cheese

Directions:

Mix cake mix, margarine & 1 egg with fork. Press into bottom of greased 9 x 13 pan, set aside.

Beat powdered sugar, cream cheese and 2 eggs for 4 or 5 minutes. Pour over cake mixture.

Bake at 350 for 40 minutes. Cool completely. Cut into bars.

Recipe from my step mom

Don’t forget – I’m offering a chance to win a cute tote if you donate $5 or more to my Avon Walk by the end of January. See details here.

Bars and Brownies, Dessert, Family Favorites

27 comments »

18 Responses to “Chocolate Peanut Butter Cupcakes”

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1

Colleen — July 16, 2009 at 4:22 pm

These look amazing! I love that you added even more peanut butter flavor too!
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2

Amy Kingman — July 16, 2009 at 4:54 pm

Mmmmmm! These look incredible!! AH! My weakness!!!!
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3

Memória — July 16, 2009 at 4:57 pm

Oh wow!! This looks soo good. I would make the cupcakes with the Hershey’s Perfectly Chocolate cake recipe and then use the other recipes you provided. Thanks!!!!
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4

Jen — July 16, 2009 at 5:04 pm

You could definitely use any chocolate cupcake recipe that you want!
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5

Stephanie Wagner — July 16, 2009 at 7:30 pm

These look awesome! I bet they’re really rich!
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6

oneordinaryday — July 16, 2009 at 8:05 pm

Holy. Cow.
These look sooo darn good!
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7

Jill — July 17, 2009 at 3:51 am

I saw your picture on Tastespotting and had to see more! Your cupcakes look delicious!
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8

Kerstin — July 17, 2009 at 3:54 am

Wow, these look beyond incredible! I’m completely impressed 🙂
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9

Jennifer — July 17, 2009 at 10:32 am

peanut butter cups…one of my favorites!! What an awesome cupcake!!!
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10

Laura — July 17, 2009 at 1:50 pm

Oh. My. God. I think my DH is packing his bags to leave me as we speak!

These look soooo good. I bet it’s all you can do to eat one they are so rich!
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11

Erin — July 18, 2009 at 11:28 pm

These look delicious! Chocolate and peanut butter is the most fabulous combination!
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12

Scott W. — July 23, 2009 at 12:35 am

Alright, so you’ve gotta make some cupcakes when we are in Pennsylvania. These would work. Yummy!!!
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13

Jen — July 23, 2009 at 12:38 am

haha no prob Scott. Just let me know what you’re in the mood for. These were delicious…
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14

Ingrid — July 26, 2009 at 1:13 am

The only time I like chocolate or PB is when they’re together so these are looking pretty good to me!
~ingrid

Btw, your salmon and the “sauce” looked really good too!
~ingrid
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15

Mermaid Sweets — July 27, 2009 at 5:09 am

Thanks so much for the link back, your cuppies look amazing.
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16

comfycook — February 24, 2010 at 2:12 pm

I just discovered these and can’t wait to make them. Love chocolate and peanut butter.
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17

LauraC — May 4, 2010 at 8:13 pm

I just made your vegan chocolate cupcakes over the weekend for some vegan friends and they were a huge hit. I had bookmarked this cupcake recipe for mother’s day because I LOVE peanut butter cups.

Anyway I wanted to let you know the woman from Confetti Cakes was on Rachel Ray and they posted the official recipe on the Rachel Ray website. Not sure if you want to link it?

http://www.rachaelrayshow.com/food/recipes/chocolate-cake/
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18

Jan — February 23, 2012 at 7:29 am

THank you for this post! I tried the cupcakes out here: http://www.themediamaid.com/2012/cupcake-celebrations/

and loved it!