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.
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. 
Mmmm sugar cookies bars! What an awesome combo!
http://www.brisbanebaker.blogspot.com
Top o’ the mornin’ to ya! These bars look fabulous!
http://www.simplysweeter.blogspot.com
Oh – YUM! I want to go home immediately and bake these!
I love baking that has simple recipes and turn out delicious! These look great for any occasion 🙂
LOVE THOSE!!! They are super cute. And you can’t go wrong with green sprinkles! 🙂
Oooooh! These sound delicious, I am definitely going to make these. Thanks for sharing, have a wonderful day! Denise@cottagesisters
I’m newer to the blogging scene so these bars are new to me! Thanks for posting it again.
They may have been all the rage last year but they are new to me! I wasn’t able to find any st. patricks day sprinkles … bummer. Yummy looking pictures
Happy St. Patty’s Day! What yummy sugar cookie bars – love the sprinkles!
mmmm…mmm…mmmm… making these right now for my nephew and niece! =)
Thank you for sharing! =)
I love this recipe – and I know what you mean about the supermarket sprinkles. I have a huge tub of heart shaped ones leftover from a purchase last year and I think there’s enough to last me for the next twenty years of Valentine’s day treats.
I made these the other evening for a picnic and they were all that you had promised! Oh my! One of my new favorites for sure. Thanks for sharing this and for the rec for a half batch!
Just made these. My kids are loving them.