Ooey Gooey Butter Bars

These Ooey, Gooey Butter Bars have a sweet, vanilla, buttery taste; gooey on the inside and a light sugary crunchy crust on the outside.

Ooey Gooey Butter Bars

Do you love butter? What about butter and sugar? Well then, I have a treat for you!

These Ooey, Gooey Butter Bars have a sweet, vanilla, buttery taste; gooey on the inside and a light sugary crunchy crust on the outside. They are going to rock your world. They  have the perfect combination of texture and taste. Ooey, Gooey Butter Bars are simple to make and a perfect dessert for any occasion!

Ooey Gooey Butter Bars

I was recently asked to prepare something for an outdoor bake sale.  I wanted to make something that would hold up in any weather because it was outdoors. I also wanted to make something that everyone would love…. And so Ooey Gooey Butter Bars it is!!

My husband’s Aunt Debbie made these sweet dessert bars for our family years ago.  I fell in love with them. They have been a favorite of mine since. She found the recipe through Paula Deen. Paula Deen calls them “Original Gooey Butter Cake,” but they  are cut and served like bars, so I will stick with calling them Ooey Gooey Butter Bars. I wish you could smell my kitchen right now as they are cooling down in the oven. Smells of butter and vanilla are filling the air. It smells like a bakery. YUMMMMMM!

Ooey Gooey Butter Bars

Ooey Gooey Butter Bars are very easy to make. Just grease a 13x9x2 inch baking pan and preheat oven for 350 degrees.  With an electric mixer, mix the cake mix, egg, and melted butter in a bowl until completely smooth. Then spread it evenly on your baking dish to make the crust layer.

In another bowl, with an electric mixer, beat cream cheese and butter until smooth. Add in the eggs and vanilla and mix well. Then add in your powdered sugar. Mix in the sugar slowly to prevent powdered sugar from flying everywhere. Then layer evenly on the crust.

Now bake it in the oven for 40 to 50 minutes and be prepared to drool. The smells of butter and vanilla will be intoxicating.  When it hits the 40 minute mark, check on your dish.  You want it to be golden, but not brown. The center should be raised. If it isn’t quite there, cook it for another 5 to 1o minutes. People panic at this stage because if you touch it, the top feels uncooked. It is supposed to feel this way. As it cools, it will firm more, and this creates the gooey texture. If  you overcook it, you will have a dry, crunchy mess…. No one wants that. So just be patient and if it is a pretty golden brown, turn off the oven and let it cool.  I usually cook it to about 45 minutes and turn off the oven and allow it to cool inside the oven as the oven cools for another 5 minutes.  This typically works nice for me. Allow the cake to cool completely before slicing so it has an opportunity to firm.

Ooey Gooey Butter Bars

The picture above is what the Ooey Gooey Butter Bars look like once cooled before slicing.

Ooey Gooey Butter Bars

Print Recipe

Ooey Gooey Butter Bars

These Ooey, Gooey Butter Bars have a sweet, vanilla, buttery taste; gooey on the inside and a light sugary crunchy crust on the outside.

Prep Time15 mins

Cook Time50 mins

Total Time1 hr 5 mins

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: American

Keyword: butter bars

Servings: 16

Calories: 232kcal

Ingredients

• 18 oz package yellow cake mix
• 3 eggs
• 8 tablespoons butter melted
• 8 tbs butter
• 8 oz package cream cheese softened
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 16 oz powdered sugar

Instructions

• Preheat oven to 350°.
• Lightly grease a 13x9x2 inch baking pan.
• In a bowl, with an electric mixer, combine the cake mix, 1 egg and 8 tbs of melted butter and mix till smooth.
• Spread mixture on the prepared baking pan to create crust.
• In another bowl, with an electric mixer, beat cream cheese and 8 tbs of butter.
• Add the 2 eggs and vanilla and mix well.
• Add the powdered sugar in and beat well. Start slow until blended then speed it up once it becomes mixed in.
• Pour on crust layer evenly.
• Bake in oven 40 to 50 minutes.
• You want a golden color and raised center. If you cook it too long it will not be gooey.
• Wait for it to completely cool before serving.

Nutrition

Calories: 232kcal | Carbohydrates: 26g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 13g | Saturated Fat: 8g | Cholesterol: 61mg | Sodium: 347mg | Potassium: 26mg | Sugar: 14g | Vitamin A: 7.9% | Calcium: 7.6% | Iron: 4.5%