Easy Chess Squares

Prep: 10 mins

Cook: 40 mins

Chill Time: 2 hrs

Total: 2 hrs 50 mins

Servings: 24 servings

Yield: 24 bars

In the South, you’ll see home-baked chess squares everywhere. At farmers’ markets, bakeries, office parties, and get-togethers, they’re always a popular choice. As you might expect, these bars are a riff on sweet Southern classic Chess Pie and are similar to ooey gooey butter cake, which is popular in the Midwest and Philadelphia.

Why is it Called Chess Pie or Chess Squares?

Some reports indicate that the earliest chess pies were made with chestnut flour, which could somewhat account for the dessert's name. Some suggest the dessert could be named after a pie chest or a town named Chester. But the most popular origin story for the name chess pie (and in turn chess squares) is that the dessert was made using easy-to-find ingredients around the house and called "jus' pie" which turned into chess pie.

What’s in a Chess Square?

This straightforward recipe uses basic ingredients, most of which you probably have in your pantry, like eggs, softened butter, cream cheese, and confectioners’ sugar. These ingredients combine to create a custard-like filling reminiscent of chess pie, yielding a delightfully uncomplicated, soft, gooey-baked treat.

Are Chess Square Bars Easy to Make?

These chess squares are exceptionally easy to prepare, thanks to the inclusion of store-bought cake mix. Whether you opt for a buttery cake mix, a basic white cake mix, or a yellow cake mix, you have the flexibility to personalize the dessert. Consider experimenting with a butter pecan mix for an extra delicious twist.

Finish the chess squares with a sprinkle of sifted confectioners' sugar once they've cooled. Keep a cake mix in your pantry, and you'll always be able to whip up a batch of these delectable squares whenever the craving strikes.

«As someone who didn’t grow up in the South, I’ve always been infatuated by Southern sweets, and I think Quick and Easy Chess Squares may be the ultimate for the sweet tooth. With the cake mix acting as the crust, you only need a few ingredients to make this sweet treat.» —Tracy Wilk

A Note From Our Recipe Tester

Ingredients

Baking spray (with flour), as needed
4 large eggs, divided
1 (15- to 18-ounce) package butter cake mix
1/2 cup (4 ounces) softened unsalted butter
8 ounces softened cream cheese
1 pound confectioners' sugar, more for dusting, optional
1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract, optional

Steps to Make It

Gather the ingredients. Position a rack in the center of the oven and heat to 350 F.
Generously spray a 9 x 13-inch baking pan with baking spray (with flour).
In a small bowl, lightly beat 1 large egg.
In a large bowl with an electric mixer on medium-low speed, combine 1 (15- to 18-ounce) packaged cake mix, 1/2 cup (4 ounces) softened unsalted butter, and the beaten egg. Beat on medium-low speed until the mixture is well combined and crumbs begin to form. Pat the crumbs firmly into the bottom of the prepared baking pan.
In another large bowl, beat 8 ounces softened cream cheese with an electric mixer on medium speed until smooth. Gradually add 1 pound confectioners' sugar and continue to beat until the mixture is light and well fluffy. Beat in the remaining 3 large eggs until very smooth. Beat in 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract, if using.
Pour the cream cheese batter over the pressed crumb layer, spreading with a silicone spatula to cover evenly.
Bake the chess squares until set and golden brown, 35 to 40 minutes.
Cool on a rack, cover with foil or plastic, and refrigerate until well-chilled before slicing. Cut into 24 2-inch squares. They are a little gooier if you cut them while still warm.
Store the bars in the refrigerator until ready to serve.

Feeling Adventurous? Try This

Chocolate Chess Bars: Use a chocolate devil's food cake mix or fudge cake mix for the cake layer and add 1 tablespoon of unsweetened cocoa to the cream cheese mixture along with the vanilla, if using.
Lemon Chess Squares: Add the juice and zest of one lemon to the cream cheese mixture and omit the vanilla.
Key Lime Chess Squares: Add 4 tablespoons of key lime juice to the cream cheese mixture along with the finely grated zest of 1 lime.

How to Store

These will keep in the refrigerator for up to five days in a covered container; they're especially good cold. If you're storing a lot of them, it's best to keep rows of them separated by wax paper so they don't stick together.
You can also freeze chess squares. For easy thawing, wrap individual squares in waxed paper and place them in a plastic resealable bag or freezer-safe for easy thawing container. Thaw in the refrigerator or at room temperature before enjoying.

Nutrition Facts
Servings: 24
Amount per serving
Calories	232
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 9g	11%
Saturated Fat 5g	25%
Cholesterol 51mg	17%
Sodium 227mg	10%
Total Carbohydrate 37g	13%
Dietary Fiber 0g	1%
Total Sugars 28g
Protein 2g
Vitamin C 0mg	0%
Calcium 60mg	5%
Iron 1mg	3%
Potassium 35mg	1%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.