Description
These Ooey Gooey Bars combine a rich yellow cake base with a creamy, sweetened cream cheese filling, baked to perfection for a gooey, decadent dessert that’s perfect for sharing or anytime indulgence.
Ingredients
Scale
Base
- 1 box yellow cake mix (or any vanilla cake mix)
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted
- 1 egg
Filling
- 8 oz cream cheese, softened
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Preheat the Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease or line a 9×13-inch baking pan with parchment paper to prevent sticking and allow easy removal of the bars after baking.
- Prepare the Base: In a medium mixing bowl, combine the yellow cake mix, melted butter, and egg. Stir thoroughly until a thick, even dough forms. Press this dough evenly into the bottom of the prepared baking pan to create a firm base layer.
- Make the Filling: In a large mixing bowl, beat together the softened cream cheese, powdered sugar, eggs, vanilla extract, melted butter, and salt. Continue beating until the mixture is smooth and creamy, ensuring no lumps remain for a silky filling.
- Assemble the Bars: Pour the creamy filling evenly over the cake base in the baking pan. Use a spatula to spread it smoothly across the surface, covering the base completely.
- Bake: Place the pan in the preheated oven and bake for 30-35 minutes. Bake until the top is lightly golden and a toothpick inserted near the center comes out mostly clean but still slightly gooey, which ensures the bars remain moist and soft inside.
- Cool and Slice: Remove the bars from the oven and let them cool completely in the pan. Allowing them to cool helps the filling to set properly, creating the signature ooey gooey texture. Once cool, slice the bars into squares for serving.
- Serve and Enjoy: Serve the bars at room temperature. Enjoy their rich, buttery, and creamy flavor with that irresistible gooey texture perfect for desserts or snacks.
Notes
- You can substitute vanilla cake mix for yellow cake mix if preferred.
- Make sure the cream cheese is softened to prevent lumps in the filling.
- For easier removal, line the baking pan with parchment paper, leaving some overhang for pulling out the bars.
- Do not overbake; the bars should remain slightly gooey in the center for best texture.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 30-35 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
