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Southern Chess Squares

a stack of southern chess squares on a plate

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Chess squares are kin to the southern favorite, chess pie. The cream cheese topping sits on a simple cake mix crust. It’s an easy dessert recipe that’s always a hit!

Ingredients

Scale

For the Base

  • 1 box yellow cake mix (or golden butter 15.25 ounces to 16.25 ounces)
  • 1 large egg, lightly beaten
  • 1/2 cup butter (softened)

For the Filling

  • 8 ounces cream cheese (softened)
  • 16 ounces confectioners’ sugar (about 3 1/2 cups)
  • 3 large eggs
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

Instructions

  1. Heat the oven to 325 F. Grease and flour a 9-by-13-inch baking pan.
  2. 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.
  3. Press the crumb mixture into the pan, patting as evenly as possible.

Prepare the Filling

  1. In a mixing bowl with an electric mixer, beat the softened cream cheese until it is smooth and creamy.
  2. 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.
  3. Spread the cream cheese mixture over the crumb layer.
  4. Bake for 35 to 45 minutes or until set and lightly browned.