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 »

10 Responses to “Pumpkin Pecan Pie Candy”

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1

Cathy — October 28, 2009 at 2:14 pm

yours looks awesome too!
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2

The Novice Chef — October 28, 2009 at 2:49 pm

I have now seen these on a few different blogs…guess I have to break down and make them soon! They just look so dang tasty!
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3

oneordinaryday — October 28, 2009 at 2:55 pm

These sound great. Do they have to be served chilled? I’m bookmarking to make for the holidays. Thanks!
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4

Jen — October 28, 2009 at 2:59 pm

I served them at room temp. They are just a bit more firm directly out of the fridge.
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5

We Are Not Martha — October 28, 2009 at 4:18 pm

Mmm! I’m always looking for new ways to bake/cook with pumpkin and these look fabulous. Great to put in a little tin for a holiday gift 🙂

Sues
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6

ellysaysopa — October 28, 2009 at 5:04 pm

These look great! I bet they would be great rolled in crushed graham crackers too. Mmm.
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Jen — October 28, 2009 at 5:26 pm

I was thinking that too Elly! I had some crushed graham crackers in the pantry, but I wanted to try them true to the recipe for the first go at it.
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8

nutmegnanny — October 28, 2009 at 9:28 pm

They are so adorable:) You should submit them in a blog event another blogger and I started. They look so delicious!
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9

bridget {bake at 350} — October 31, 2009 at 12:43 pm

You were pumpkin-busy!!! YUM!
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10

Ingrid — November 2, 2009 at 6:59 pm

They look good but I’m not sure of the coconut, pecan, and pumpkin together.
~ingrid