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. 
Wow, that sounds interesting and wacky enough to be delicious! I will give them a try for sure.
This looks gorgeous and I bet it tastes wonderful. I love baking with zucchini and carrots, so this isn’t far-fetched at all. And the ginger on top is the perfect finish.
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These cupcakes are wonderful…ciao Flavia
Okay. I thought the lasagna roll-ups were cool, but you’ve out-done yourself here. I’m so intrigued! These are going on my “must bake soon” list!
You are constantly outdoing yourself with new and interesting ingredients. These look AWESOME!
Wow, what a great idea. Looks delicious!
Awesome cupcakes! I love adding fruit and veggie purees to baked goods, and must try butternut squash :).
most favorites of all time! wow!
What a great idea to use the signature ingredient in a cupcake. these look perfect.
Yum! I love that you topped it with crystallized ginger…one of my favorites!
I love everything about this recipe. What a great post!
These look amazing!!!!
It doesn’t surprise me that you made them into cupcakes! I’m willing to bet I would like these….they look amazing!
These look absolutely wonderful! I love cupcakes and I have never thought of trying this. These are bombbb!