Ooey Gooey Neiman Marcus Bars are soft and chewy with buttery rich flavor and maximum sweetness for all the dessert lovers out there! With the help of yellow cake mix, this dessert bar recipe can be made by everyone!
The chewy and buttery cakey base topped with sweet and tangy cream cheese mixture offers something similar to blondies and cheesecake. Sprinkle a dusting of powdered sugar over the tops of these buttery dessert bars or serve them with a scoop of ice cream.
Jump to:
🗝️ Recipe's key points
- These gooey butter bars are the ideal treat for anyone with a serious sweet tooth! They're rich and buttery, chewy at the bottom, and irresistibly sweet.
- Thanks to the use of cake mix, anyone with any level of baking skills can make these Neiman Marcus dessert bars with success.
- A total of six inexpensive ingredients will make 24 dessert bars - perfect for potlucks, holidays, or when feeding a crowd.
These sweetly rich and buttery Neiman Marcus bars are so mouth-watering, you'll never have to worry about having to store leftovers!
🛒 Ingredients
This is an overview of the ingredients. You'll find the full measurements and instructions in the recipe card (printable) at the bottom of the page.
As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
- Yellow Cake Mix: Serves as the foundation of our bars, providing structure and a sweet, buttery flavor.
- Melted Butter: Adds richness and moisture to the base layer, helping to bind the cake mix into a cohesive dough.
- Large eggs: These are the binding agents in both the base and the topping.
- Cream Cheese: This is the star of the topping layer, providing that signature ooey gooey texture.
- Powdered Sugar: The sugar sweetens the cream cheese layer and contributes to the smooth, melt-in-your-mouth texture.
- Vanilla Extract: Adds a depth of flavor and a warm, sweet aroma that complements the cream cheese and sugar.
🗒 Instructions
This is an overview of the instructions. Full instructions are in the recipe card at the bottom of the page.
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F and arrange a rack in the middle. Soften the cream cheese at room temperature or in the microwave for 15-second intervals (about 30-60 seconds in total).
- Melt 1 stick of butter in the microwave for 20-second intervals (40-60 seconds in total). You can also melt the butter in a small saucepan over medium heat, if you prefer.
- Let the melted butter cool slightly before moving to the next step.
- Add the cake mix to the bowl of melted butter.
- Add the eggs to the mixture.
- Beat the mixture with an electric hand mixer or in a stand mixer with the paddle attachment on medium speed until it reaches a very thick and smooth consistency (about 25-30 seconds).
- Line the bottom and the 2 long sides of a 9x13-inch baking pan with a sheet of parchment paper. Transfer the thick mixture to the baking pan and spread it into an even layer.
- Wipe out the bowl and paddle used to combine the butter and cake mix (no need to wash) and add in the soft cream cheese and the remaining 2 large eggs.
- Next, add 1 pound of powdered sugar and 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract.
- Beat the ingredients on medium-low speed until smooth (about 40-45 seconds in total), scraping down the sides once or twice.
- Pour the mixture over the top of the cake batter and spread it into an even layer.
- Bake the bars for 35-40 minutes until golden brown around the edges with a slightly jiggly center. Cool the baked bars completely on a wire rack for 2-3 hours. To remove the bars, run a thin knife around the edges of the bars to loosen them and then lift the overhanging parchment paper out of the pan onto a cutting board to cut into 24 pieces.
🥫 Storage
Store leftover Neiman Marcus bars in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 1 week. You can also freeze these bars for up to 4 months. I prefer to wrap the single bars in plastic wrap so that they don't dry out.
Thaw your frozen bars in the fridge for 1 hour or at room temperature for about 15-20 minutes.
📚 Variations
- Add freshly squeezed lemon juice and lemon zest to these bars for a delicious lemon twist.
- Drizzle vanilla sugar glaze or cream cheese glaze over the tops of the baked and cooled bars for added sweetness and flavor.
- Add white chocolate chips, milk chocolate chips, or chopped candy bars into the cake batter for extra gooey decadence and texture.
- Use gluten-free cake mix if you need to cater to dietary requirements.
👩🏻🍳 Tips
- It's important to allow the cream cheese to soften before you combine it with the rest of the ingredients. Either soften it at room temperature or in the microwave, if you are rushed for time. It must be very soft!
- The overhang of parchment paper on both sides of the baking dish will allow you to easily pull the bars out once baked. It forms a type of sling that I find very helpful.
- The yellow cake mix adds a ton of convenience in this recipe, but feel free to use your own cake mix, if you prefer.
- Allow these gooey butter bars to cool completely before removing them from the baking pan to slice. They need time to set and you will also find it easier to slice them once cooled. If you are short of time, add them to the fridge.
🤔 FAQs
Yes, Neiman Marcus Bars can be made ahead of time. Store them in an airtight container for up to a week of freeze them for longer storage.
Absolutely! These Ooey Gooey Bars are versatile, and you can customize them by substituting ingredients like nuts, flour, or dairy-free alternatives to suit your taste or dietary preferences.
To achieve the perfect texture, don't overbake the bars. When taken out of the oven, they should be slightly wobbly in the center. Allow them to cool and set to a gooey consistency.
Neiman Marcus Bars are delicious on their own but pair wonderfully with a cup of coffee or tea. A light dusting of powdered sugar is all you need for a beautiful presentation.
Definitely! Neiman Marcus Bars make a delightful gift. Wrap them in colorful cellophane and tie them with a ribbon for a homemade treat that friends and family will appreciate.
📗 Related Recipes
- Homemade Brookies: Chocolate chip cookies marry brownies in this decadent dessert bar recipe. Much like the Neiman Marcus bars, these brookies are loaded with butter for maximum flavor and soft gooey texture.
- Frosted Sugar Cookie Bars: Add a fun twist to regular sugar cookies by turning them into cookie bars instead. They have all the same flavors as a classic sugar cookie, but in easy dessert bar form.
- Old fashioned Easy Lemon Bars: Insert a touch of summer into your dessert offerings with these lemon bars, made with a buttery shortbread crust and a tart lemon filling.
🍽 What to serve with (name of recipe)
While these Neiman Marcus bars are just as good on their own or with a simple cup of coffee or tea, you can also add a scoop of vanilla ice cream or a dollop of whipped cream to every serving.
🔪 All Our Way recommends the following
The following are affiliate links. We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.
You’ll need the following items to make this recipe successfully.
- Mixing bowls
- Electric Hand Mixer
- Dry measuring cups
- Measuring Spoons
- 13X9-inch baking pan
- Parchment paper
📞 Chiacchierata (chat)
Grazie mille for joining me in the cucina(kitchen) today! I hope you’re as excited as I am to try these Ooey Gooey Neiman Marcus Bars. They are truly perfect for any occasion, be it a family gathering, potluck, or cookout. Their ease of making and irresistible taste will surely make them a hit.
Before you go, don't forget to stampare la ricetta (print the recipe) so you have it handy whenever the craving strikes. Trust me, once you make these, they’ll become a family favorite. So, grab your grembiule(apron), gather your ingredients, preheat your oven, and get ready to enjoy some incantevole dolci (sweet delights).
Buon appetito and happy baking!
Tutti a tavolo, è pronto!
If you love this recipe please give it 5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.
What's new? Check out my All Our Way Store on Amazon. We'll be adding more items we love and use or wish we had to make cooking fun and easy.
📖 Recipe
Ooey Gooey Neiman Marcus Bars
Ingredients
- 8 ounces cream cheese
- 8 tablespoons unsalted butter 1 stick
- 1 box yellow cake mix 15.25-ounce
- 4 large eggs divided
- 1 pound powdered sugar about 4 cups
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Let 8 ounces cream cheese sit at room temperature until softened. (Alternatively, place the cream cheese in a small microwave-safe bowl, and microwave in 15-second bursts until very soft, 30 to 60 seconds total.)
- Arrange a rack in the middle of the oven and heat the oven to 350°F. Line the bottom and the 2 long sides of a 9x13-inch baking pan with a sheet of parchment paper, making sure it is long enough to hang over the sides by at least 1 inch to form a sling.
- Place 1 stick unsalted butter in a medium microwave-safe bowl. Microwave in 20-second bursts until melted, 40 to 60 seconds total. (Alternatively, melt the butter in a small saucepan over medium heat and transfer to a medium bowl.) Let cool slightly.
- Add 1 (15.25-ounce) box yellow cake mix and 2 of the large eggs to the melted butter. Beat with an electric hand mixer or in a stand mixer with the paddle attachment on medium speed until smooth, 25 to 30 seconds (the batter will be very thick). Transfer to the baking pan and spread into an even layer.
- Wipe out the bowl and paddle (no need to wash). Add the cream cheese, remaining 2 large eggs, 1 pound powdered sugar, and 1 teaspoon vanilla extract. Beat with the mixer on medium-low speed until smooth, scraping down the sides once or twice, 40 to 45 seconds total. Pour over the top of the cake batter and spread it into an even layer.
- Bake until golden brown around the edges but the center is slightly jiggly when the pan is gently shaken, 35 to 40 minutes. Place on a wire rack and let cool completely, 2 to 3 hours.
- Run a thin knife around the edges of the bars to loosen. Grasping the excess parchment paper, lift the slab out of the pan and place on a cutting board. Cut into 24 pieces.
Notes
Nutrition
Sign up for the emails and never miss another recipe!!
We'll never share your email or send you spam. Promise
