Home DessertsSouthern Chess Squares

Southern Chess Squares

Name: Southern Chess Squares
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 45 min
Total time: 1 h
Yield: 18
Cuisine: Southern
Ingredients: 1 box yellow cake mix; 1 cup unsalted butter, melted; 1 large egg; 1 cup chopped pecans; 16 ounces cream cheese, softened; 16 ounces powdered sugar; 2 large eggs

Southern Chess Squares are so wonderfully buttery, sweet and rich. People rave about them whenever I bring them to potlucks.

Prep15 min
Cook45 min
Total1 hr
Serves18
Rating4.0

Southern Chess Squares are so wonderfully buttery, sweet and rich. People rave about them whenever I bring them to potlucks.

Boxed Cake Mix Recipe

These dessert bars are so easy to make with a box of cake mix. They are very similar to Gooey Butter Cake, just with a little less butter.

Two Layers

Southern Chess Squares consist of two simple layers. A cake mix crust with chopped pecans topped with a buttery cream cheese layer combine to make one scrumptious bar. Together they are fabulously sweet. If you do not have an extreme sweet tooth, they may not be for you. And because they are so sweet, they are best cut into little squares.

How To Make Southern Chess Squares

In a large bowl mix together a box of yellow cake mix ( I use Betty Crocker or Duncan Hines), a cup of unsalted butter that has been melted and 1 egg. Mix in 1 cup of chopped pecans and press the mixture into the bottom of a 9×13-inch pan lined with parchment paper.

If you don’t have parchment paper, spray the baking dish with baking spray or butter and flour it.

Next use an electric mixer to beat 2 8-ounce blocks of softened cream cheese together with a 1-pound box of powdered sugar. It’s easiest if you beat the cream cheese by itself briefly and then mix in the powdered sugar in 3 or 4 additions.
Once smooth, beat in 2 eggs and pour the mixture over the crust. Bake for about 45 minutes at 350 degrees. Let cool before slicing. Told you it was easy!

Storage

Leftovers should be stored in the refrigerator and they taste great cold or at room temperature.

Pin this now to find it later

Next time you have to bring something to a potluck, whip up this classic southern treat and be prepared to have people ask you for the recipe.

If You Like Chess Bars, Try These Chess Pie Recipes

Recipe Source: allrecipes.com

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links.

Ingredients

1 box yellow cake mix
1 cup unsalted butter, melted
1 large egg
1 cup chopped pecans

Filling

16 ounces cream cheese, softened
16 ounces powdered sugar
2 large eggs

Equipment 9x13-inch baking dish, Hand-held electric mixer, Parchment Paper

Steps

1
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a 9x13-inch pan with parchment paper.
2
In a large bowl, mix together cake mix, melted butter and egg until mixed well. You can do this by hand or with a mixer. Stir in pecans.
3
Press mixture into the bottom of the prepared pan.
4
Use an electric mixer to beat the cream cheese and powdered sugar until smooth.
5
Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Pour filling over crust.
6
Bake for 45 minutes, or until filling is set.
7
Cool before cutting into squares.