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
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I am Jen the Beantown Baker. Engineer by day and baking maven by night. Hubby serves as my #1 fan and official taste tester. We got hitched back in 2006. Barefoot. In the sand. With the waves crashing behind us. It was one of the best decisions we’ve ever made. 
I just love blueberries and your bars look simply incredible!!
These bars are so awesome!! Gorgeous!
holy cow these look fabulous! i need more blueberries in my life, and quick- i’m already onto peaches so hoping i didn’t miss out 🙂
These pie bars look amazing! I`m wishing I had blueberries right now!
I love pie bars!! They look so delicious 🙂 I am loving this recipe!
Yum these are gorgeous. Love the changes you made.
Tried it, tasted awesome! Thanks for the recipe!!
beantownbaker — September 26th, 2013 @ 8:47 am
So glad you enjoyed the recipe!
Made these and my family ate them in one day! Thanks for the great recipe!!
beantownbaker — October 6th, 2013 @ 8:11 pm
So glad you enjoyed these. I have made them a couple times with different fruits and they’re always a hit.
Made these this past weekend using blueberries and blackberries in equal parts. I love the ease of the crumb crust and top. The only thing I will change when I make them again will be to add lemon juice and zest to the filling. I like the tartness of lemon with blueberries. Will make these with peaches when they are in season. Easy and tasty…thanks!
beantownbaker — April 27th, 2014 @ 2:47 pm
I’ve made these with peaches and they’re delicious – definitely do that this summer.
Tried these today because I needed to clear out some frozen blueberries. Used a small rectangle Pyrex dish instead, which worked fine. Added a bit of fresh grated nutmeg. Cut into 12 squares and served with ice cream. This is a keeper!
beantownbaker — September 2nd, 2014 @ 7:25 pm
Love fresh nutmeg! Sounds great.