Chess Squares

Chess Squares, or also known as chess bars, chess pie squares, or gooey butter cake, is a simple and delicious classic Southern dessert made with cake mix. They are gooey, flaky, buttery with a golden brown crust, and are ridiculously addictive!

These delicious chess squares are made with only 6 simple ingredients. So not only are they yummy, chess bars make the perfect quick and easy dessert, perfect for potlucks, holidays or the gatherings.

These chess squares remind me so much of my beloved Mini Chocolate Chess Pie – another classic Southern dessert that I have a strong affinity towards. And if you are looking for a twist of the traditional chess bars, check out this Pumpkin Chess Square recipe – so perfect for the Fall!

Amazing Chess Bars

I was introduced to this fabulous chess square recipe by my even more fabulous friend and assistant, Kendall. Kendall’s family is from Tennessee and they have been making this comforting Southern dessert for many years – it is a tried and true recipe that everyone loves.

A few weeks ago, Kendall had some leftovers chess bars from a party and brought them to me when she came over. I took one bite and I couldn’t believe how gooey and buttery and perfect they were.

I loved these chess squares so much I knew all you lovely people need some chess squares in your life as well.

When I learned that these chess bars was made with yellow cake mix and requires only 6 pantry-friendly ingredients, it was totally the icing on the cake. Yummy AND easy?! Yes, please.

There’s a layer of buttery crust at the bottom, the top is flaky and caramelized, and the middle is a layer of ooey gooey buttery goodness.

These gooey chess squares reminds me of a chess pie, but instead of the pie crust, it has a buttery bar crust. And instead of a round pie shape it is in square shaped bar form.

Another dessert it reminds me of is a brownie. The consistency of a chess square is less dense, but it has the some ooey gooey goodness that melts in your mouth.

Ingredient

Here are the short-list of ingredients you will need for this chess squares (or chess bars, gooey butter cake…) recipe:

• yellow cake mix – a key ingredient for the crust (bottom) of the chess squares. There’s no need to make it completely from scratch – the cake mix is the perfect short cut.
• unsalted butter – use softened butter or melted butter so that it is easy to combine. Unsalted butter is preferred to salted butter to control the salt content.
• eggs – used for the crust and also the gooey chess square mixture in the middle.
• cream cheese – used for the gooey mixture in the middle; softened so that it is combined easily.
• vanilla extract – pure vanilla extract works best for this
• powdered sugar – this makes the gooey middle filling light, soft and fluffy

How to Make Chess Squares

Let’s make some chess squares!

You will need a 9′ x 13′ baking pan – either metal or glass. I used a metal dish for this and it took about 30 minutes. If you are using a glass dish, you will need to bake it for a few minutes longer.

Make the crust: to make the bottom (crust) for chess squares, combine yellow cake mix, softened unsalted butter and one egg in a large bowl using an electric mixer, whether it is a hand mixer or a stand mixer.

Mix everything to combine. Mixture should be crumbly and soft, but not super wet.

Make the filling/topping: Next make that soft gooey center by beating together softened cream cheese, vanilla extract and three eggs until smooth.

Then slowly add powdered sugar to the mixture until completely combined. Cream cheese mixture should be wet and thick.

Layer: Use cooking spray to grease a 9′ x 13′ rectangular baking dish or pan. Press the crust mixture (cake mix mixture) onto the bottom of the baking dish.

Then pour the cream cheese topping over it.

Use a spatula to smooth out the tops of the mixture and even out the cream cheese layer.

Bake: Bake chess squares in the oven at 350℉ for 30 minutes.

When chess bars are done, middle should be set and the top is crusty and slightly golden brown.

Cool: Let it cool in the pan for ~ 1 hour before slicing into smaller bars. Make sure it is completely cool before cutting into them!

At the end, a flaky caramelized top will form on top (thanks to all that sugar in the mixture!), underneath it is the ooey-gooey buttery filling, and on the bottom is that buttery crust to hold everything in place.

OH SO YUM!

Warning: prepare to be addicted to these chess squares!

Variations

• Adding pecans: Chopped pecans can be added to the crust to give it a crunchier texture.
• Different cake mix: Other cake mixes such as chocolate cake mix or lemon cake mix can be used to bring a different flavor to the crust.
• Pumpkin filling: This pumpkin flavor chess bars is a great twist to the original recipe.

Storage Instructions

Chess bars can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.

Since there is cream cheese in these chess squares, they should be stored in the refrigerator instead of in room temperature.

ENJOYED THIS RECIPE? Tell us what you think by leaving a rating and review below! 🤍

More Delicious Dessert Bars

• Blueberry Crumb Bars
• Snickerdoodle Bars
• S’mores Bars
• No Bake Cheesecake Bites
• Peppermint Rice Krispie Treats
• Brownie Brittle
• Mango Crumb Bars