Gooey Chess Squares

Kindly note: As an Amazon Associate and Affiliate for other companies, I may earn a commission from qualifying purchases if you use the links provided. There is no additional cost to you if you use these links. Thanks so much for supporting my home business, Diligent Homemaker! 

Need a recipe to take to a holiday event, or even a summer picnic? Gooey Chess Squares will be a hit! This recipe is one of the star trio when I owned a catering business. Clients always asked for these bars. Alongside the squares, I like to serve my Famous Holiday Mint Brownies and Pinà Colada Bars.

The flavor is very much like Chess Pie, which is my wonderful Mr. Patient’s second favorite pie. Most cooks in the American South are familiar with classic Chess Pie (video tutorial here.) The flavor of Chess Pie is difficult to describe other than a “firm but creamy, vanilla dessert.” It is very much like a custard pie. Chess Squares are the same taste with just a bit firmer texture. The squares can be used as a “pick-up” dessert for parties and gatherings any time of the year. They are suitable for formal or casual occasions.

Gooey Chess Squares start with basic yellow cake mix. A creamy filling completes the Chess Squares. When baked, a light crust forms the top.

This dessert may be cut into large or small bars or squares. I like to cut into one-inch squares to add to a dessert variety on a large silver tray. I can cut 88 nice little squares from a 9 x 13 baking dish. Cut 8 lines one direction and 11 the other direction for single bites squares.

Ingredients You’ll Need

• boxed cake mix ~~ Basic yellow cake mix is used. I have never used another flavor although I am sure it would work. The resulting flavor won’t be the same but it would still be delicious, I am sure.
• butter and salt~~ I use unsalted butter in all of my cooking and baking. This allows me to better control the salt in a recipe. If salt is required for a recipe, I only and always use Redmond Real Salt.
• eggs ~~ Eggs are vital ingredients in not only classic Chess Pie but in these Gooey Chess Squares.
• cream cheese ~~ Be sure to allow cream cheese to soften at room temperature to ensure easy creaming.
• vanilla extract ~~ Homemade is best and not hard to make. If you don’t have homemade, or don’t wish to make your own (video tutorial) , purchase the best quality your budget can afford. The taste of any food is the direct result of the quality of the ingredients. I would suggest looking for “vanilla extract.” Do not choose “vanilla flavoring” because it is usually just chemicals created to taste like vanilla.
• confectioners’ sugar ~~ This is a very finely ground sugar mixed with cornstarch. It is actually possible to make your own in a high-powered blender. Confectioners’ sugar is known as “powdered sugar” in the United States. It is known as “icing sugar” outside of the USA. My Mama always wrote it in recipes as “XXX.” Buy the best that your budget can handle. Many cheaper brands use more cornstarch. However, there is no shame in buying what you can afford. It’ll be fine!

Gooey Chess Squares recipe

Family Favorite Recipes

Years ago my Mr. Patient and children encouraged me to write down many of their favorite recipes in one book. My first cookbook, From Katie’s Kitchen, Vol. One, includes 205 of the recipes that they requested. This book has become a fan favorite with Heritage Ways homemakers world-wide. Get your copy HERE and start cooking our many of the recipes that our family has been cooking for generations.

The Heritage Ways Diligent Homemaker’s Commitment

As Diligent Homemakers, we do the best we can with the resources we have at the time. These resources include our time, physical health and energy, money and possessions. We commit to using these God-given resources to the best of our abilities and give ourselves grace in the process.
Lazy hands make for poverty but diligent hands bring wealth.
Proverbs 10:4 of The Holy Bible, NIV

Count your blessings and know you are loved,
Mrs. Katie of Heritage Ways