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 »

25 Responses to “Chocolate Fudge Cake”

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1

Eva @ Eva Bakes — June 17, 2013 at 8:10 am
Happy birthday! Today is my husband’s birthday, and he also requested a chocolate cake. I baked him Ina Garten’s Beatty’s chocolate cake. Your chocolate cake may be the one I bake for my birthday later this year. 🙂
- beantownbaker — June 17th, 2013 @ 8:48 am
  
  That’s a really good chocolate cake recipe too! Tell your husband happy birthday!
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2

Bianca @ Confessions of a Chocoholic — June 17, 2013 at 9:06 am

Happy birthday! A no frills chocolate fudge cake sounds perfect 🙂
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3

Rachel @ Baked by Rachel — June 17, 2013 at 9:16 am
This looks amazing!! And happy birthday!!!
- beantownbaker — June 17th, 2013 @ 9:34 am
  
  Thanks 🙂
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4

tracy {pale yellow} — June 17, 2013 at 3:07 pm

Happy Birthday! Noting like a perfectly simple chocolate cake to ring in a new year! This one looks scrumptious!
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5

Jocelyn (Grandbaby Cakes) — June 17, 2013 at 7:15 pm

That is seriously one gorgeous cake!!! I think I’m in love!
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6

carolg — June 17, 2013 at 9:13 pm
happy birthday and thanks so much for the chocolate cake- can’t have too many chocolate cake recipes
- beantownbaker — June 18th, 2013 @ 4:02 pm
  
  I couldn’t agree more!
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7

Jessamyn — June 17, 2013 at 10:08 pm

We’re birthday buddies! Hope you had a great day!
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Jennifer @ Peanut Butter and Peppers — June 18, 2013 at 7:05 am

Happy Birthday! Your cake looks amazing!!
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carolg — June 18, 2013 at 8:44 am
and if i want to make this 9 x 13?any caveats? i never know if i can just change pan size and oven time/temp?
- beantownbaker — June 18th, 2013 @ 4:05 pm
  
  Two 9″ round pans is the same amount of cake batter as a 9×13 pan. I’d probably use the same temp and start checking around the same time. But I would expect it to take longer to bake in the end.
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10

carolg — June 18, 2013 at 9:11 pm

tnx- 9 x 13 is easier to tote
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11

Nutmeg Nanny — June 18, 2013 at 10:33 pm

Oh goodness, this looks indulgent! I need to make this for my husband as soon as I can!
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Karen - Cinnamon Freud — June 18, 2013 at 11:48 pm
Happy birthday! This cake is to die for- looks so chocolatey and fudgey. Hope you had a great day!
- beantownbaker — June 19th, 2013 @ 7:13 am
  
  Thanks! I had a great birthday this year.
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krimpetgirl — June 23, 2013 at 1:35 pm
Tomorrow is my birthday and I am making your birthday cake for my big day!

Thanks!
- beantownbaker — June 23rd, 2013 @ 7:56 pm
  
  Happy birthday tomorrow!! Hope you enjoy the cake as much as I did.
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Shashi @ http://runninsrilankan.com — July 5, 2013 at 6:16 am
Wow – this cake looks so good! I am always looking for chocolatecake recipes to try – so glad to have stumbled on your blog!
- beantownbaker — July 5th, 2013 @ 9:55 am
  
  Glad you found me!
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15

Amber Berry — August 3, 2013 at 5:36 pm
I just made this for my mom and brothers Birthday tomorrow 🙂 I will come back and let you know how mine turned out 🙂 thanks for the recipe and happy late Birthday!
- beantownbaker — August 4th, 2013 @ 6:42 pm
  
  Definitely let me know how it goes!
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16

Amber Berry — August 4, 2013 at 10:51 pm
The cake turned out amazing and was a huge hit! Most of the kids weren’t a huge fan but i don’t think they have learned to appreciate dark chocolate 🙂
- beantownbaker — August 5th, 2013 @ 7:14 am
  
  Glad it was a success (for the adults!)

Gooey Bars (aka Cream Cheese Bars)