Chess Bars

For those not familiar with chess bars, they are prevalent in the South and have a cakey yet custardy consistency.  Basically sugary buttery goodness!:) I always love to eat chess bars. Its one of those treats that I can never seem to get enough of and I can eat two or three and not even realize! I knew this was the thing I wanted to make for our Sunday School girls night last month because its such a crowd pleaser.  (We went and painted pottery and it was so fun)! I called my mom because I knew she had made chess bars before and she had a plethora of recipes to choose from.  We finally settled on one from a local church and it turned out great!! Sweet and soft and gooey….and amazing!! This is a great treat for a party or to give away in treat bags too!

Chess Bars
Source: Keith Memorial Cookbook

Ingredients:For the Crust:
1 Box Yellow Cake Mix
1 egg
1 stick butter, softened

For the Topping:
8 oz. Cream Cheese
2 eggs
1 16 oz. Box confectioner’s sugar
1 tsp. vanilla

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Spray a 9 x 13 baking pan with cooking spray, set aside.

For the Crust:
Beat together the cake mix, egg and stick butter until all ingredients are incorporated.  Press mixture into the prepared baking pan.

For the Topping:
Beat together the cream cheese, eggs, confectioner’s sugar and vanilla until smooth.  Pour over top of the crust and spread evenly.

Bake for approximately 40 to 45 minutes.  Remove from oven and allow to cool completely (as it cools the top becomes a bit crackly like the top of a brownie).  Cut into squares and store in an airtight container.

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Comments

  1. The is the third blog I’ve read that has featured the mysterious Chess Bars/Pie – mysterious because I’m a northerner who has never heard of this before this week. Although I am partial to chocolate, I may have to give this a try. Looks delish!

  2. This is basically the same recipe that my family uses for lemon bars. We use lemon cake mix instead of the yellow cake mix and we add 1 Tbsp of lemon juice to both layers. Omit the vanilla. These are the best lemon bars in the world. People who don’t like lemon bars love these!

  3. These look and sound so good!Can’t wait to try them!

  4. I just made these and they look DELICIOUS!!!! I love chess bars!

  5. These are amazing! I have only had chess bars one time and have searched high and low for a recipe and this is the one!