Make Easy Ooey Gooey Bars From Taste Of Recipe
Introduction
These Easy Ooey Gooey Bars are the ultimate answer to your dessert cravings—each bite offers rich, buttery flavor topped with a melt-in-your-mouth cream cheese layer that’s perfectly sweet and decadent. Whether you’re planning a bake sale, weekend treat, or an impressive finish to a family dinner, these bars are always a favorite due to their irresistible texture and classic “ooey-gooey” center.
Irresistible Texture & Sweetness
What makes ooey gooey bars a perennial crowd pleaser is their delightful combination of a chewy cake base topped with a creamy, slightly tangy filling. The top develops a delicate crust, while the interior stays soft and indulgently gooey. Simple pantry staples transform into a showstopper that will have friends and family reaching for seconds.
The Secret to a Perfect Gooey Layer
The signature “gooey” texture depends on using softened cream cheese and mixing it thoroughly with powdered sugar, then gently folding in eggs and vanilla. This keeps the topping silky and pourable before baking, so it sets up with just the right amount of jiggle. Don’t overbake—take out the bars when the edges are golden but the middle still looks slightly underdone; it will set as it cools!
Assembling Your Ooey Gooey Bars
Start by pressing the simple cake mix base into your prepared pan and bake briefly. Meanwhile, whip up the cream cheese mixture so it’s ready to pour over the warm base. This two-layer approach makes the bars both easy to assemble and hard to resist. A dusting of powdered sugar after baking adds a final touch of sweetness and visual appeal.
Serving Suggestions for Ooey Gooey Bars
Serve these bars chilled for a firmer bite, or at room temperature for extra gooey perfection. Cut them into small squares for snack trays, or larger pieces for an indulgent dessert. Ooey gooey bars pair beautifully with fresh berries, whipped cream, or a drizzle of caramel sauce—perfect for a potluck or festive table.
Nutritional Information and Serving Size
This recipe yields about 16 bars, depending on how you cut them. Each serving typically contains approximately 220–250 calories. They’re rich and satisfying, so a little goes a long way!
Ooey Gooey Bars Recap
Easy ooey gooey bars deliver on their promise: a crowd-pleasing, sweet treat with the perfect ratio of soft cake to creamy topping. Their simplicity and universally loved flavor make them a must-have in your recipe rotation.
Ingredients
💡Meal Planning Tip: Save this recipe to automatically generate an organized shopping list with all ingredients sorted by store section—perfect for efficient grocery trips and meal planning.
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9×13-inch baking pan or line with parchment paper for easy removal.
- In a large bowl, combine cake mix, melted butter, and 1 egg until well mixed. The dough will be thick. Press firmly into an even layer on the bottom of the prepared pan.
- In a separate bowl, beat cream cheese until smooth. Add powdered sugar and beat until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes.
- Beat in the remaining 2 eggs, vanilla extract, and a pinch of salt (if using) until fully incorporated.
- Pour the cream cheese mixture over the cake base and spread evenly with a spatula.
- Bake for 35–40 minutes, or until the edges are golden and the center is just set but still slightly jiggly.
- Allow to cool completely before slicing. For a cleaner cut, chill in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour. Dust with powdered sugar before serving, if desired.
Weekly Meal Planning
These ooey gooey bars are perfect for make-ahead treats—bake them at the start of the week, and they’ll stay delicious for days! Save and schedule this recipe to plan which days you’ll enjoy these bars and generate smart shopping lists that consolidate all needed ingredients from your weekly meals.
Planning Benefits:
– Automatically calculates total ingredient quantities across multiple recipes
– Organizes shopping lists by grocery store sections
– Prevents duplicate purchases and forgotten ingredients
– Streamlines your weekly baking and meal prep routine
Pro tip: When scheduling several treats for the week, schedule your recipes to see overlapping ingredients, so you buy exactly what you need and minimize food waste.
Cook and Prep Times
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 35–40 minutes
Total Time: 55 minutes (plus cooling time)
