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Gooey Butter Cake Bars

With only five ingredients, these Gooey Butter Bars will be your new family favorite go-to dessert! Creamy and ridiculously rich!

stack of three gooey butter bars on parchment paper

I’ll admit, I’m not a fan of sheet cakes… I almost don’t count them as “real” cakes. There’s just something about a beautiful, round cake stacked tall that equates to the definition of cake to me. My husband requests a boring, rectangular yellow cake with chocolate frosting for his birthday every year and it almost pains me to make it flat like that. 

I actually rarely make cake, usually only for birthdays or when I have a serious craving for a big, thick piece with a glass of milk. All of that said… these Ooey Gooey Butter Cake Bars might be my new go-to dessert.  

Even though they have a box of cake mix in them, I don’t really consider them to be “cake”, they’re definitely more of a brownie/ bar to me. The creamy topping reminds me of my Breakfast Cheesecake Bars.  Almost like Vanilla Pudding with a delicious cake crust!

three ooey gooey butter cake bars stacked on squares of parchment paper

What’s Needed for Gooey Butter Bars? 

To make these butter cake bars, you’ll need the following: 

  • Boxed yellow cake mix
  • Melted butter
  • Eggs
  • Cream cheese
  • Powdered sugar 

How to Make Gooey Bars

  1. Mix together the cake mix, 2 eggs, and melted butter.
  2. Spread this mixture into the bottom of the pan as your “crust” layer.
  3. Mix together the cream cheese, powdered sugar, and remaining two eggs, then spread this mixture over the crust layer.
  4. Bake until the top and edges are golden brown and the center is set. 
  5. Allow to cool before serving. 

How to Store Ooey Gooey Bars

These gooey butter bars should be stored in the refrigerator. They’ll last up to 4 days. 

Can I Freeze Gooey Butter Bars? 

I’m sure you can! Let them cool completely, then seal inside a freezer bag or freezer safe container for up to 3 months. Just be sure not to stack the bars, otherwise you’ll squish the ooey gooey filling! 

gooey butter bars being dusted with powdered sugar

Tips for Making Gooey Bars

  • I’ve only made this recipe as written, so I can’t speak to whether or not you can use a different flavor of cake mix. I imagine another vanilla-esque cake mix would work, but I can’t say for certain. 
  • Be sure to use full-fat cream cheese that comes in a block. 
  • I like to dust these ooey gooey bars with additional powdered sugar just before serving them. 

More Easy Cake Recipes: 

Gooey Butter Cake Bars

4.25 from 4 votes
Print Pin Rate
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 40 minutes
Total Time: 50 minutes
Servings: 24
Calories: 174kcal
Author: Emily Grace

Ingredients

  • 1 box of yellow cake mix
  • 1/2 cup butter , melted
  • 4 eggs
  • 8 oz cream cheese
  • 4 cups powdered sugar

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F and grease a 9×13-inch baking pan.
  • Mix together the cake mix, 2 eggs, and melted butter.
  • Spread this mixture into the bottom of the pan as your “crust” layer.
  • Mix together cream cheese, powdered sugar, and remaining two eggs.
  • Spread this mixture evenly over the crust layer.
  • Bake 35-40 minutes, until top and edges are golden brown and center is set. (It should be set, but not too firm.)
  • Allow to cool before serving. Store in the refrigerator.

Nutrition

Calories: 174kcal | Carbohydrates: 24g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 8g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Cholesterol: 47mg | Sodium: 107mg | Potassium: 23mg | Sugar: 22g | Vitamin A: 285IU | Calcium: 17mg | Iron: 0.3mg
Did you make this recipe? Mention @GraceGoodEats or tag #graceandgoodeats!

4.25 from 4 votes (2 ratings without comment)
Recipe Rating




Stacy

Sunday 20th of March 2022

This recipe is great. Simple and tasty. My husband really likes the cake. Especially in the evenings with tea. Thanks.

Lori

Sunday 28th of August 2016

Yum!! These look so quick and easy!! Would you consider sharing this at our weekly Dishing It & Digging It Link Party? We are live every Sunday @4pm.

http://www.thestonybrookhouse.com/2016/08/dishing-it-digging-it-link-party-111.html

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