Chess Cake Bars

📝 Ingredients

• Cake Layer:
• 1 box yellow cake mix
• 1 egg
• 1 stick butter, softened
• 1 cup chopped pecans, optional
• Cream Cheese Layer:
• 1 (8 oz) package cream cheese, softened
• 1 box confectioners' sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla

👩‍🍳 Directions

1. 1

   Preheat oven to 350°F and grease a 9x13-inch baking pan.

2. 2

   In a bowl, mix together the yellow cake mix, egg, and softened butter until well combined.

3. 3

   Pat the mixture evenly into the bottom of the prepared pan.

4. 4

   If using pecans, sprinkle the chopped pecans evenly over the cake mixture.

5. 5

   In a separate bowl, beat together the softened cream cheese, confectioners' sugar, eggs, and vanilla until smooth.

6. 6

   Pour the cream cheese mixture evenly over the cake layer.

7. 7

   Bake for 45 minutes, or until the top is lightly golden and set.

8. 8

   Remove from the oven and cool completely before cutting into squares. For the best results, let them cool for 4–5 hours or overnight.

💡 Tips for Success

• Let them cool completely: These need several hours to cool and set properly, so don't rush this part. Overnight is even better!
• Soften the cream cheese: Softened cream cheese will mix much more smoothly and give you a creamy topping without lumps.
• Don't skip the cooling time: They may look set when they first come out of the oven, but they need time to finish setting before you cut them.
• Add the pecans: The pecans are optional, but they add a really good crunch to the sweet, creamy bars.