Yum Yum Bars

Name: Yum Yum Bars (Ooey Gooey Bars)
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 35 min
Total time: 45 min
Yield: 16 servings
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 1 box yellow cake mix; 1/2 cup butter, melted; 1/2 cup pecans, chopped; 3 large eggs, divided; 8 oz cream cheese, softened; 1 lb powdered sugar; Powdered sugar, for dusting

Yum Yum Bars are a vintage American dessert combining a buttery pecan-studded yellow cake mix crust with a rich cream cheese topping, made with just 6 ingredients and minimal effort.

🌍American 🏷️Dessert bars 🏷️Yum yum bars 🏷️Ooey gooey bars 🏷️Cake mix recipe Cream cheese

🏷️

🏷️Pecans

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dinnerin321onTikTok

Total

45 min

Servings

16

Difficulty

Easy

Est. Cost

$16–$26

Recipe Source

View original recipe

From TikTok · by dinnerin321

-0:00

dinnerin321onTikTok

Ingredients

1 box yellow cake mix
1/2 cup butter, melted
1/2 cup pecans, chopped
3 large eggs, divided
8 oz cream cheese, softened
1 lb powdered sugar
Powdered sugar, for dustingoptional

7 Ingredients

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Instructions

1
Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). In a large bowl, combine the yellow cake mix, melted butter, chopped pecans, and 1 egg.
2
Using a hand mixer, mix the ingredients until a thick dough forms.
3
Grease a 13x9 inch baking dish.
4
Press the crust mixture evenly into the bottom of the prepared dish.
5
In a separate bowl, beat the softened cream cheese with a hand mixer until smooth.
6
Beat in the remaining 2 eggs until well combined.
7
Gradually add the powdered sugar and continue to mix until the filling is creamy and smooth.
8
Pour the cream cheese filling evenly over the crust.
9
Bake for 30-35 minutes, or until the edges are golden brown and the center is set.
10
Allow the bars to cool completely in the pan.
11
Once cooled, dust the top generously with additional powdered sugar.
12
Cut into squares or bars and serve.

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Tips & Notes

Pro tips

Melt the butter completely and mix thoroughly with the cake mix and pecans until it resembles coarse crumbs before pressing into the pan.
Reserve 1 egg for the cream cheese mixture—using only 2 eggs in the crust prevents it from becoming too cake-like.
Don't overbake the cream cheese layer; it should be just set with a slight jiggle in the center to keep it creamy.
Let the bars cool completely before dusting with powdered sugar, which helps the sugar adhere to the top.

Substitutions

Butter pecan cake mix → white cake mix (lighter flavor, same texture)
Pecans → walnuts or chopped almonds (similar crunch and nuttiness)
Cream cheese → mascarpone (richer, slightly tangier topping)

Storage & make-ahead

Store covered in the refrigerator for up to 4 days; serve chilled or at room temperature.

Common Questions

Can you use a different cake mix flavor?

Yes, butter pecan or white cake mix work well as substitutes for yellow cake mix, though yellow cake is traditional for this recipe.

How do you know when Yum Yum Bars are done baking?

The cream cheese layer should be set but still slightly jiggly in the center when you gently shake the pan. Overbaking can cause the topping to crack.