ooey gooey bars

Mmm… Ooey Gooey Bars — the name says it all! 🍰✨ These are rich, buttery dessert bars with a soft, gooey cream cheese filling on top of a sweet cake base. They’re sometimes called Ooey Gooey Butter Bars or Gooey Butter Cake, and they’re a Southern favorite (especially in St. Louis).

Here’s the classic version:

---

🍰 Ooey Gooey Bars

Ingredients

(Makes one 9×13-inch pan)

Base Layer:

• 1 box yellow cake mix (15.25 oz)

• ½ cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, melted

• 1 large egg

Topping:

• 8 oz cream cheese, softened

• 2 large eggs

• 1 tsp vanilla extract

• 3¾ cups (about 1 lb) powdered sugar

---

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven

• Preheat to 350°F (175°C).

• Grease a 9×13-inch baking pan or line it with parchment paper.

---

2. Make the base

1. In a large bowl, combine cake mix, melted butter, and egg.

2. Mix until a thick dough forms.

3. Press evenly into the bottom of the pan.

---

3. Make the gooey topping

1. In another bowl, beat cream cheese until smooth.

2. Add eggs and vanilla; mix until combined.

3. Gradually beat in powdered sugar until smooth and creamy.

4. Pour over the cake base and spread evenly.

---

4. Bake

• Bake for 35–40 minutes, until the edges are golden brown but the center still jiggles slightly — that’s what makes it gooey!

• Cool completely before cutting into squares.

---

5. Serve

• Dust with a little extra powdered sugar if you like.

• Store in the fridge for up to 5 days (they taste amazing chilled).

---

💡 Variations

• Chocolate version: Use chocolate cake mix instead of yellow.

• Lemon version: Add lemon zest and juice to the topping.

• Pumpkin version: Mix ½ cup pumpkin purée and a dash of cinnamon into the topping for a fall twist.

---

Would you like me to share a from-scratch version (no cake mix) that’s a little richer and tastes like a bakery dessert?