Classic Cream Cheese Squares 

Classic Cream Cheese Squares 🧀🍰

(A beloved, old-fashioned dessert with a buttery crust, creamy cheesecake layer, and crumbly topping!)

Ingredients

For the Crust & Topping:

• 1 box (15.25 oz) yellow cake mix

• ½ cup (115g) unsalted butter, melted

• 1 large egg

For the Cream Cheese Filling:

• 16 oz (450g) cream cheese, softened

• 2 large eggs

• 4 cups (480g) powdered sugar

• 1 tsp vanilla extract

Instructions

1. Prep: Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9×13-inch baking pan.

2. Make Crust: In a bowl, combine cake mix, melted butter, and 1 egg until crumbly. Press ⅔ of the mixture into the pan to form the crust.

3. Make Filling: Beat cream cheese, 2 eggs, powdered sugar, and vanilla until smooth. Pour over crust.

4. Add Topping: Crumble remaining cake mixture over the filling.

5. Bake: Bake 40–45 minutes until golden and set (center may still jiggle slightly).

6. Cool & Chill: Cool completely, then refrigerate at least 4 hours before slicing into squares.

Pro Tips

• Room-temperature cream cheese prevents lumps in the filling.

• Don’t overbake—the bars will firm up as they chill.

• For a firmer texture, chill overnight.

Variations

• Lemon Cream Cheese Squares: Add 2 tbsp lemon zest + 1 tbsp lemon juice to the filling.

• Chocolate Chip: Fold 1 cup mini chocolate chips into the filling.

• Fruit Swirl: Swirl ½ cup raspberry or strawberry jam into the filling before baking.

“Buttery, creamy, and irresistibly sweet—these squares are pure nostalgia!” 💛

(Store covered in the fridge for up to 5 days or freeze for up to 3 months.)