Paula Deen’s Ooey Gooey Butter Bars Recipe
Paula Deen’s Ooey Gooey Butter Bars are a rich, sweet dessert with a crisp buttery crust and a delectably gooey cream cheese topping. This indulgent treat is perfect for parties or whenever you crave a decadent bar with a luscious, creamy texture and a golden brown finish.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 50 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 5 minutes plus chilling time
- Yield: 12 to 16 bars 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
Crust Ingredients
- 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 ½ cups granulated sugar
- 1 tbsp baking powder
- ½ tsp salt
- 2 large eggs
- 12 tbsp melted butter
Top Layer Ingredients
- 8 oz cream cheese, softened
- 3 large eggs
- 4 cups powdered sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
Instructions
- Preheat Oven and Prepare Pan: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a 9×13-inch baking dish with foil and spray the foil generously with non-stick cooking spray to ensure easy removal of the bars.
- Make the Crust: In a large bowl, combine the flour, granulated sugar, baking powder, and salt. Transfer this dry mixture to a food processor, add the 2 eggs and melted butter, and pulse until the dough becomes crumbly and well-mixed. Pour the dough into your prepared pan and lightly pack it evenly across the bottom.
- Prepare the Top Layer: Rinse out the food processor and add the softened cream cheese. Pulse until smooth and creamy. Add the 3 eggs and vanilla extract and pulse again until fully combined. Finally, add the powdered sugar and mix on high speed until the mixture is smooth and free of clumps. Pour this creamy mixture evenly over the crust layer in the pan.
- Bake: Place the pan in the preheated oven and bake for about 50 minutes, or until the top layer is golden brown and has puffed up slightly. Do not use a toothpick test; the bars are done once they display a beautiful golden color and puffiness.
- Cool and Chill: Allow the bars to cool completely at room temperature. Since the top layer remains gooey, cutting before cooling will cause a messy result. After cooling, chill the bars in the fridge for a few hours or freeze for about 30 minutes to firm up.
- Serve: Once chilled, remove from the pan using the foil edges, dust with powdered sugar if desired, cut into squares, and enjoy your delicious ooey gooey butter bars!
Notes
- Do not use the toothpick test to check doneness; watch for a golden brown color and puffiness on top.
- Chilling the bars before cutting helps maintain their gooey texture and makes slicing easier.
- Foil lining and greasing the pan ensure the bars come out cleanly.
- Use softened cream cheese at room temperature for easier mixing and a smoother topping.
- These bars are rich and sweet, so small portions are recommended.
Keywords: Paula Deen, Ooey Gooey Butter Bars, butter bars, cream cheese bars, dessert bars, gooey bars, baking, American dessert
