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 »

9 Responses to “Square Cake Balls”

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1

brannyboilsover — July 9, 2009 at 12:12 pm

What a great cake sacrifice! Looks yummy.
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2

thecookingnurse — July 9, 2009 at 1:17 pm

This looks great, and alot less intimidating then cake balls
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3

Molly Jean — July 9, 2009 at 1:47 pm

Well those looks cute and easy!

And I love the “i-poo”!!! My friends and I have something similar but with “a-roo”… Jake-a-roo, Mol-a-roo, etc 🙂
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4

smellslikehome — July 9, 2009 at 2:25 pm

great idea to use them for cake balls! i saw this pan at Michael’s a few weeks ago and thought the same things as you (about cutting the brownies) but now i might have to use my next coupon on one of these bad boys. thanks for the review!
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5

Ingrid — July 9, 2009 at 3:27 pm

I’ve seen that brownie pan….Wilton is trying to start a brownie trend as they now have lots of “brownie equipment”.

Happy Birthday!
~ingrid
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6

Megan — July 11, 2009 at 12:02 am

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!! Hope it was terrific. I checked the button and was able to Stumble your post. These cake balls look terrific. Love that they are square!
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7

Danielle Hawes — August 5, 2009 at 6:11 pm

I was at Michaels and saw the pan and thought the same exact thing!!!
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8

sneha — January 8, 2010 at 9:59 am

this is such a great idea. I have the Wilton pan and I often make cake or oreo balls. Thanks
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9

sarah — June 17, 2020 at 11:34 am

I cannot find the passion fruit anywhere unfortunately. What can I sub in for the passion fruit nectar? Can I use vanilla instead?

Thank you!

Gooey Bars (aka Cream Cheese Bars)