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These chess squares are always a hit! Made with yellow cake mix, cream cheese, powdered sugar, eggs, and butter, they’re sweet, buttery, and rich—similar to a gooey butter cake or chess pie filling. This crowd-pleasing dessert is easy to make and perfect for potlucks, bake sales, and holiday gatherings.
The cream cheese topping forms a soft, custardy layer over the buttery crust, and you don’t need any special equipment or techniques. If you’re in a hurry, you can even soften your cream cheese in the microwave to speed up prep.
What You’ll Like About This Dish
Easy to make. Cake mix and pantry staples make this recipe fast and fuss-free.
Rich and gooey. The cream cheese topping bakes into a soft, sweet layer over a buttery crust.
Perfect for sharing. Great for potlucks, parties, lunch boxes, or casual snacking.
Ingredient Notes
- Yellow cake mix: Use any brand of yellow or golden butter cake mix, 15.25 to 16.25 ounces.
- Butter: Softened butter helps bind the crust—unsalted or salted is fine.
- Eggs: One egg for the crust and three for the creamy topping.
- Cream cheese: Softened to blend smoothly—full-fat works best.
- Confectioners’ sugar: Also called powdered sugar—sweetens and adds structure to the topping.
- Vanilla extract: Adds depth to the creamy filling.
Steps to Make Southern Chess Squares
- Preheat the oven and grease a 9×13-inch baking pan.
- Mix the cake mix, one egg, and butter until crumbly.
- Press the mixture evenly into the bottom of the prepared pan.
- Beat softened cream cheese until smooth.
- Add powdered sugar and blend well.
- Beat in the remaining eggs and vanilla to make a smooth batter.
- Spread the cream cheese filling over the crust.
- Bake until set and lightly browned. Cool before cutting.
Tips for Perfect Chess Squares
- Soften cream cheese quickly by microwaving for 15 to 20 seconds, or dice it into small pieces to soften faster at room temp.
- For clean slices, cool completely and use a sharp knife wiped clean between cuts.
- Don’t overbake—the center should be just set with a slight jiggle.
Recipe Variations
- Lemon version. Add 1 tablespoon of lemon juice and zest to the filling for a citrus twist.
- Chocolate crust. Use a chocolate cake mix instead of yellow.
- Add coconut. Sprinkle sweetened shredded coconut on top before baking.
- Nutty version. Add chopped pecans to the crust or sprinkle over the top.
- Gluten-free. Use a gluten-free yellow cake mix and check other ingredients for GF labeling.
Serving Suggestions
- Serve plain or dusted with powdered sugar.
- Cut into small squares for bake sales or lunchbox treats.
- Pair with coffee or hot tea for a sweet afternoon snack.
- Include on dessert trays for holidays or parties.
- Wrap individually for easy grab-and-go treats.
How to Store
Refrigerate: Store chess squares in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days. They’re best chilled or at room temperature.
Freeze: Freeze cooled squares in a single layer or between parchment in an airtight container for up to 2 months. Thaw in the refrigerator or at room temperature.
Make ahead: Bake a day ahead and refrigerate until ready to serve. Cut once fully chilled for cleaner slices.
Southern Chess Squares
Ingredients
- Butter and flour or baking spray, for greasing the pan
For the Base
- 1 box yellow cake mix, or golden butter (15.25-16.25 ounces)
- 1 large egg, lightly beaten
- ½ cup butter, softened
For the Filling
- 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
- 16 ounces confectioners’ sugar, (about 3 1/2 cups)
- 3 large eggs
- ½ tsp vanilla extract
Recommended Equipment
Instructions
- Heat the oven to 325°F. Grease and flour a 9-by-13-inch baking pan or spray it with baking spray.Butter and flour or baking spray
- In a mixing bowl with an electric mixer on low, combine the cake mix with the beaten egg and the softened butter until the mixture begins to clump together.1 box yellow cake mix | 1 large egg | 1/2 cup butter
- Press the crumb mixture into the pan, patting as evenly as possible.
Prepare the Filling
- In a mixing bowl with an electric mixer, beat the softened cream cheese until it is smooth and creamy.8 ounces cream cheese
- Add the confectioners’ sugar to the cream cheese and beat until blended. Beat the 3 remaining eggs and the vanilla to make a smooth batter.16 ounces confectioners’ sugar | 3 large eggs | 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
- Spread the cream cheese mixture over the crumb layer.
- Bake for 35 to 45 minutes or until set and lightly browned.
Nutrition
Disclaimer:
Our nutritional information is based on a third-party application that analyzes the ingredients list to determine the values. The information is meant to be helpful, but should be considered an estimate. Values may differ depending on measurements, brands, serving variations, and database availability.
