![Gimme the goo!](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE1FbG9mlO-OQj9c8QNBltn5Bqh2jR4zNP4wYwVpdc2N94uIolE3PamoYqH_Jf8DuPUg1HlYksUlfS1fDkjtDpg53zTQtM1Yzi5O-GSk_itJ6NPB7t5ZOt4ATqkjBUjZHh1FExkYf_dF8/s280/strata.jpg)
Really, I had no idea. Until my brothers requested some chess bars after having them at one of our holiday gatherings, I didn't have a clue what went into them. I was surprised (and thrilled) that, except for one notable exception, the ingredients are exactly the same as those of the decadent gooey butter cake, made most famous by Ms. Paula Deen. That exception? Paula puts another stick of butter into the cream cheese filling. Geez, Paula. Give your arteries a break--the bars are rich enough!
Nope, there's no way you can go wrong with something so simple, containing so few (high quality) components. This treat is quick work to make and even quicker work to consume. My family's attack on the bars was interesting--both of my brothers drifted toward the edge pieces...
![Don't get me wrong--I liked the edges too.](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijxj9BfRCfwh0LWRjdT4FmR95prB5kpCs73lhDIRiE-q6_NU9p4-Y1cDQeNQSWt6lpTmcV_34F6I881aVxtCPE4i5b0rmVCXA1SR3bHVlTvnopbdG8dz18G0XHtFTDNB4yoGc0Jee2cUY/s280/edge+right.jpg)
(I guess they liked the more cakey aspect of it. A gender thing, perhaps?)
...while my sister-in-law and I preferred the ooey-gooey-gunky center pieces. Yep, it all worked out quite nicely.
Chess Bars (not to be confused with Paula's over-the-top Gooey Butter Cake)
Cake:
1 18 1/4-ounce package yellow cake mix
1 egg
8 tablespoons butter, melted
Filling:
1 8-ounce package cream cheese, softened (I used low-fat, for what it's worth)
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
3 3/4 cups (1 16-ounce box) powdered sugar
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
Combine the cake mix, egg, and butter and mix well with an electric mixer. Spread the mixture into the bottom of a lightly greased 13x9-inch baking pan.
In a large bowl, beat the softened cream cheese until smooth. Add the eggs and vanilla and beat together. Carefully add the powdered sugar and mix well. Spread this evenly over the cake batter and bake for 40 to 50 minutes. Make sure not to over-bake--some of us want the the center to be
Count me in...yum!
ReplyDeleteBut wait..butter makes everything better!!!! lol
ReplyDeleteA super simple treat that does look tasty
ReplyDeleteThis recipe (and the pumpkin variation) is one of the only reasons I buy cake mixes the other is lemon jello cake.
ReplyDeleteMimi
I have to admit, I have never heard of either. But, that doesn't mean I'm not intrigued, because I most definitely am.
ReplyDeleteSO what your saying is.....that these are the healthier version of the ooey gooey butter cake? Thanks I'm wanting to eat healthier and these is a great start! :)
ReplyDelete~ingrid
I'd probably go for the edge pieces myself, but the ooey gooey center sounds awesome, too!
ReplyDeleteThese look amazingly good! They just might replace my usual weekly blondies once in a while--thanks for the recipe!!
ReplyDeleteThese look like a fun treat. Happy New Year! - mary the food librarian
ReplyDeleteI too would head to the gooey, lovely center. Looks delicious!
ReplyDeleteAbsolute decadence, pure and simple! These are sooo getting made this weekend.
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year!
That must taste terrific!
ReplyDeleteI love your cute kitties. What contorsionists!
Happy New Year!
Cheers,
Rosa
Very southern, no? I've had chess pie many a time in Kentucky. This looks decadent and delicious. Happy new year, Grace!
ReplyDeletelove the ooey-gooey centre...gorgeous!
ReplyDeletedamn. seriously. I've heard of that cake before but never made it. but now after seeing you make it, I want, now.
ReplyDeleteI have never heard of chess pie... bummer for me. Looks ooey gooey and yummy and chewy. I think I would take either the center or the sides- both sound rather tastey to me.
ReplyDeleteThese look delicious. Very similar to my Park Avenue Bars.
ReplyDeleteI am with you...bring on the ooey, gooey, chewy middle pieces!
ReplyDeleteLOVE Chess Pie. LOVE IT. Leave it to you to make it even better. Cream cheese....Mmmm....
ReplyDeleteI was first introduced to gooey butter cake by my college roomie (so many years pre-Paula Deen I'd really rather not think about it). And I'd HEARD of Chess Pie, but never knew what was in it. And now? Now I must make it. Soon. So much for that New Year's diet. ;)
ReplyDeleteI prefer the ooey gooey center as well...
ReplyDeleteI've never heard of chess pie, but I did have Paula's gooey butter cake for the first time about a year ago (I loved it!). I'll have to try your version, it looks phenomenal! I'm all about the gooey center pieces too! :)
ReplyDeleteThis sounds seductively sinfully delicious. My type of dessert for sure. I love gooiness also!:):)
ReplyDeleteYum! I do love Paula'a recipes but they're not exactly light :P But great to have once in a while. I'm convinced her advice to everyone is "just add another stick of butter".
ReplyDeleteI had printed off a gooey butter cake recipe to try, since it's been ages since I had one. Both gooey butter cake and I are from St. Louis, you know. Maybe that's why I'm so sweet. :)
ReplyDeleteNever heard of these before but they are similar to something I just baked so I know i will love 'em
ReplyDeleteI'm drooling on my keyboard, Grace!
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year to you!
Grace, you're a bad influence, you know that?
ReplyDeleteHow can I thank you?
Ha ha ha ha..great way to start the year Grace. Yes, bring on the butter and sugar, no fear that's what I like to see :) The bars look very more-ish, I'd like some edges please.
ReplyDeleteune excellente douceur pour entamer l'année
ReplyDeletebonne journée
Yum and so simple!
ReplyDeleteWow, that is some bad-for-you cake. Sounds just perfect! I love the shot of that gooey middle.
ReplyDeleteGrace, this is making my ' I will not eat so many cakes' plan ery difficult already! These look brilliant!
ReplyDeleteI made gooey butter cake once...YUM! I made a chess pie last week...way YUM! Now I will have to add this and make it a trifecta! :)
ReplyDeleteI've had gooey butter cake. Can just imagine I'd probably like this too. And I say probably because I think it'd be too dangerous if I actually made it! :P
ReplyDeleteSimple recipe, but delicious! I love that kind of desserts.
ReplyDeleteJust made them. Just ate about half the pan. Soooo easy and so good. Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteI love the gooey butter cakes, so I bet I would love these. But another stick of butter?? haha no wonder paula's recipes are always so good ;)
ReplyDeleteFunny how some like edges and some like centers. I'm usually a center piece gal.
ReplyDeleteI've never even heard of chess bars but I think I may need them in my life ASAP!
ReplyDeleteI've never heard of chess bars either, but it definitely sounds intriguing!
ReplyDeleteThese look fantastic Grace, yummy!! gloria
ReplyDeletei hate chess but i LOVE the look of these bars!
ReplyDelete-Mini Baker
That cake is calling my naaaame! Wow I'd love the ooey gooey center, too!
ReplyDeleteI am SO up for a game of chess (looks Amazing!) Happy New Year!
ReplyDeleteOkay the filling sounds like a yummy little pocket of scrumptiousness!!! Gimmie some.
ReplyDeleteEasy, buttery and delicious...I'm game!
ReplyDeleteAnother tasty treat from your oven. Mmmm!
ReplyDeleteI'd be fighting you for the ooey gooey pieces.
ReplyDeleteGooey bars are high on my list of favorite munchy snacks- these look perfect, especially since they contain cream cheese! I've gotta try these!
ReplyDeleteThese look like a great kick-off for my New Year's diet. ;-) Sign me up for ooey gooey, please.
ReplyDeleteI think I will start eating healthier after I have a large slice of this!
ReplyDeleteYum. What's not to like? :)
ReplyDeleteYum yum yum. I've always wanted to make chess pie. These look great, Grace!
ReplyDeletei've had paula's bars and MAN are they rich! they're a heart attack waiting to happen!
ReplyDeleteOooh, I love Paula's gooey butter cake. Too bad it takes 500 hours in the gym to work off all of that deliciousness.
ReplyDeleteStill, yours look fantastic and I'd have one (or five) if they were sitting here in front of me.
These look so rich and decadent! Sounds like you had great team work going on :)
ReplyDeleteThese are my husband's absolute favorite! His mother used to make them for every special occasion. They are really so easy and elegant and everyone seems to like them.
ReplyDeleteReally? Paula adds another stick of butter to the cream cheese filling? Wow...
this sounds like another must-make.
ReplyDeletemmm.
happy new year, grace :)
Oh my... I feel my arteries close up a little just thinking about this decadent deliciousness!
ReplyDeletebutter makes everything better!!
ReplyDeleteWork from home India
Funny I just printed out PD's GooeyButter Cake recipe last week to try. Now I have a better one to try with 1 less stick of calories. Perfect.Looks the same as hers - YUMMY!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Carla
those cats are delicious!
ReplyDeleteOh, dear Paula! I love her fetish with butter.
ReplyDeleteWe call them ooey gooey bars, and I think it is one of the best recipes ever concocted!!
ReplyDeleteThese bars look delightful. I love easy bar cookie recipes that begin with a cake mix.
ReplyDeleteWow. Look forward to trying these super easy chess bars real soon.
ReplyDeleteThese are wonderful, thanks for the share
ReplyDeleteCream cheese filling... mmmmmm! I've never heard of chess bars, but these look wonderful.
ReplyDeleteButter AND cream cheese??? But then again, Paula can never turn down any cube that's just laying around in the fridge with nothing to do. ;)
ReplyDeleteI was surprised that so many people had never heard of a "chess bar" it must be a southern only thing. (btw, I would consider KY a southern state regardless of its Civil War standing). Many of you have mentioned Chess pie. Chess pie is completely different from Chess bars. Chess pie to me is like the inside of a pecan pie without the nuts. There is no cake mix in chess pie.
ReplyDeleteTry this with Betty Crocker's Chocolate Fudge cake mix and....OMGosh!
ReplyDeletePaula Dean did not make gooey butter cake famous. It's been famous for years. It's an original creation from a St. Louis bakery.
ReplyDelete