“I’ve been making these for years and people lose their mind over them every time. They seem like a special homemade treat, but…”
These Ooey Gooey Bars live up to their name with a wonderfully soft, chewy, and slightly gooey texture. The simple cake mix crust provides a sturdy base for the rich and sweet cream cheese topping, creating an irresistible dessert that’s surprisingly easy to make.
Ingredients:
For Crust:
Gooey Layer:
Instructions:
- Preheat oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Prepare baking pan: Grease a 9×13 inch baking pan thoroughly with butter or cooking spray.
- Make the crust: In a medium bowl, combine the dry yellow cake mix, melted butter, and egg. Mix with a fork or spoon until the mixture is smooth and well combined, forming a thick dough.
- Press crust into pan: Pat and press the cake mix dough evenly over the bottom of the prepared 9×13 inch baking pan. Ensure it forms a uniform layer. Set aside.
- Make the gooey layer: In a separate large bowl, beat the softened cream cheese until it is smooth and creamy. Add the beaten eggs and continue to beat for a minute or two until well incorporated and the mixture is smooth. Gradually add the powdered sugar to the cream cheese and egg mixture, beating until everything is thoroughly combined and the batter is smooth.
- Pour gooey layer over crust: Carefully pour the cream cheese mixture (the gooey layer) evenly over the cake mix crust in the baking pan.
- Bake: Bake in the preheated oven at 350°F (175°C) for about 25-30 minutes, or until the top of the gooey layer is set and lightly golden. Be careful not to overbake, as the bars should remain soft and gooey in the center.
- Cool completely: Once baked, remove the pan from the oven and let the Ooey Gooey Bars cool completely in the pan before attempting to cut them into bars. This is important for them to set properly and prevent them from falling apart.
- Cut and serve: Once fully cooled, cut the bars into squares or rectangles and serve. Enjoy these wonderfully soft and chewy treats!
