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Best 4th of July Gooey Butter Bars: Easy Homemade Recipe

4th of July gooey butter bars - featured image
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These Best 4th of July Gooey Butter Bars are sweet, tangy, and ridiculously easy. They come together in minutes with a box of cake mix and cream cheese, then get a patriotic twist with raspberries and white chocolate chips.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 box (15.25 oz) yellow cake mix
  • 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, melted
  • 1 large egg
  • 8 oz cream cheese, softened
  • 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, melted
  • 2 cups powdered sugar
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 cup fresh or frozen raspberries
  • 1/2 cup white chocolate chips
  • Optional: Blueberries for extra color

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a 9×13-inch baking pan with parchment paper, leaving overhang on the long sides. Spray lightly with non-stick spray.
  2. Make the crust: In a medium bowl, combine cake mix, melted butter, and 1 egg. Stir until a thick dough forms. Press evenly into the bottom of the prepared pan.
  3. Prepare the filling: In a large bowl, beat softened cream cheese with an electric mixer until smooth and fluffy (about 2 minutes). Add melted butter and beat until combined. Gradually add powdered sugar, one cup at a time, mixing on low. Add eggs one at a time, mixing well after each. Stir in vanilla extract.
  4. Assemble the bars: Pour filling over crust and spread evenly. Drop raspberries evenly over the top, pressing gently into the filling. Sprinkle white chocolate chips over everything.
  5. Bake for 30-35 minutes, until edges are set and lightly golden. Center will still jiggle slightly. If top browns too quickly, tent with foil for the last 10 minutes.
  6. Cool completely in the pan on a wire rack. For clean slices, cool at least 1 hour at room temperature, then refrigerate for 2 hours.
  7. Lift bars out using parchment overhang, place on a cutting board, and slice into squares. Serve chilled or at room temperature.

Notes

Don’t overbake; the center should still jiggle slightly. Room temperature cream cheese is essential for a smooth filling. Parchment paper makes lifting bars out easy. Chill thoroughly before slicing for clean cuts. Bars can be made a day ahead and refrigerated overnight.

Nutrition

Keywords: gooey butter bars, 4th of July dessert, patriotic dessert, raspberry bars, white chocolate bars, easy dessert, summer dessert, cake mix bars

Find it online: https://chloeplate.com/best-4th-of-july-gooey-butter-bars-easy-homemade-recipe/