Chocolate Ooey Gooey Bars
Chocolate Ooey Gooey Bars are chocolate cheesecake dessert perfection. These brownie cheesecake bars make an amazing treat and are excellent for sharing. Baked to ooey gooey perfection, these decadent cheesecake brownies are ready to enjoy in less than an hour. Makes 24 bars.
Love a good bar dessert? Don’t miss Easy Lemon Bars and Funfetti Sugar Cookie Bars!
Want to save this?
We'll email a link directly to you so you can come back to it later! Plus, you'll receive new recipes delivered to your inbox each week.
This post contains affiliate links.
The photos and recipe for these Ooey Gooey Bars was originally published on October 13, 2011. This post was updated in May 2021.
This Cheesecake Brownie recipe is utterly, decadently delicious. They’re also a little bit addictive in the sense that once you try one, you’ll want another… and another… and another.
As a 21st birthday present, my mother collected 21 eclectic recipes to share with me — some from family members, others from cookbooks or family friends.
These Ooey Gooey Bars were from a family friend, and they were a hit from the get go.
Why I love this recipe:
Over the years, I’ve adapted these Chocolate Cheesecake Bars.
They’ve got a chewy chocolate brownie layer on the bottom as a crust. That is topped with a creamy cheesecake, which is studded with dark chocolate chips.
The taste and flavor are utterly perfect, and this is one of those recipes I love to share. So you will find me bringing this along whenever we’re invited to a gathering with new people or a crowd because it’s a crowd-pleaser.
As if we could dislike a dessert that has a gooey cheesecake top, a brownie bottom and extra chocolate chips, right?
Other delicious dessert recipes for sharing: Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars | Chocolate Cheesecake Dip | Strawberry Chocolate Cake | M&M Sugar Cookies | Boozy Bacon Pretzel Peanut Butter Bars
What you need to make this recipe:
The Speckled Palate participates in affiliate programs. As an Amazon Associate, I earn a commission from qualifying purchases. Please refer to my disclosure page for more information about these affiliate programs.
- 9″ x 13″ rectangular cake pan
- Glass bowls
- An electric hand mixer
Let’s talk ingredients!
In addition to the tools above, you’re going to need some ingredients to make this recipe, too! Chances are, you might already have some of them in your fridge or pantry. Scroll down to the recipe card for the full measurements and instructions.
In addition to these tools, you’ll need some ingredients, too:
- Chocolate cake mix — whatever kind of chocolate cake mix you grab is A-OK. Just ensure it is a 15.25 oz. box.
- Unsalted butter — we use this in both the brownie layer and the cheesecake layer. One needs to be melted and slightly cooled while the other will be softened. You could use salted butter if you don’t have unsalted.
- Large eggs — these work as the binder to hold both layers together!
- Cream cheese — this is an essential ingredient for the cheesecake layer. You can use reduced fat cream cheese, but I do not recommend using nonfat cream cheese. You need an 8 oz. package of this.
- Unsweetened applesauce — if you can’t find this, feel free to replace it with the same amount of softened butter. I like the texture and light sweetness the applesauce adds to the mixture, though.
- Vanilla extract — the real deal, please and thank you.
- Powdered sugar — also known as confectioner’s sugar. There is no substitute for this.
- Bittersweet chocolate chips — if you like semisweet or milk chocolate chips, feel free to use them, but use just ½ cup because otherwise, this cheesecake brownie recipe will become too sweet.
Variations and substitutions…
Swap the chocolate cake mix for a yellow cake mix to make these a Blondie Cheesecake situation! Red velvet cake mix would make a fun iteration for Valentine’s Day, too!
Use a different type of chocolate chip. If using semisweet, milk chocolate chips or even white chocolate chips, use ½ cup so that the cheesecake layer doesn’t become too sweet.
Forget the applesauce. If you don’t want to use applesauce or don’t have it, use the same amount of softened unsalted butter.
How to make this Cheesecake Brownie recipe
Preheat oven to 350°F, and spray a 9″x13″ baking dish with nonstick cooking spray. You can also line it with parchment paper, if desired. Set it aside.
Make the brownie layer. Melt the butter in the microwave or on the stovetop in a saucepan.
Mix the chocolate cake mix, the melted butter and one egg together to create the bottom layer of the bar with a hand mixer or a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment.
Dollop the mixture into the prepared pan and flatten with your hands. This should take a little while since the mixture is THICK and not very liquid-y.
Make the cheesecake layer. Blend the brick of softened cream cheese, 2 eggs, softened butter, applesauce and vanilla extract in another bowl until smooth with a hand mixer or your favorite electric mixer.
Pour in the powdered sugar into the cream cheese mixture gradually and stir until the wet ingredients are completed combined into a creamy batter.
Spoon this mixture on top of bottom layer in the pan. Sprinkle the chocolate chips on top of the cheesecake.
Bake. Bake in the preheated oven for 40 – 45 minutes, or until top is golden brown. It will be set but also still have that fabulous gooey texture beneath the surface.
Let cool for 30 minutes in the baking pan on a wire rack, then slice into individual bars and enjoy!
how to store:
Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days.
Erin’s Easy Entertaining Tips
These Ooey Gooey Bars are one of my all-time favorite entertaining desserts because they are well-loved by everyone who’s ever tried them.
Whether you’re hosting a Backyard Barbecue, an at-home tailgate, potluck or any event in between, these cheesecake brownies are a winner.
Here are a few ideas of how to transform this delightful dessert into an entertaining centerpiece:
- Make a double batch if you’re hosting a large group. While these are super decadent, you certainly don’t want to run out if your guests want more!
- Make the cheesecake brownies in advance. If you bake it early, store it in the fridge covered in plastic wrap and let it come to room temperature before slicing and serving. While they won’t be nearly as ooey or gooey as straight from the oven, they’ll be easier to serve and easier for your guests to enjoy, too.
- Bake them well in advance, and freeze the baked bars until the day before the party. After baking, let them come to room temperature before slicing. Line a baking sheet with wax paper, and place the individual brownies onto it. Transfer to the freezer, and freeze for 4-6 hours, or frozen solid. Transfer the frozen bars into a plastic freezer-safe baggie, and keep frozen for up to a month. Defrost in the refrigerate 2 days before your gathering, and bring them to room temperature just before serving.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, we always refrigerate these bars!
Yes, you need to refrigerate these Ooey Gooey Bars.
Yes, you can freeze Ooey Gooey Bars. Let them come to room temperature before slicing. Line a baking sheet with wax paper, and place the individual slices of the bars onto it. Transfer to the freezer, and freeze for 4-6 hours, or frozen solid. Transfer the frozen bars into a plastic freezer-safe baggie, and keep frozen for up to a month.
No. This is not the same recipe for an Ooey Gooey Butter Cake. This recipe is like a hybrid of that with a brownie cheesecake bar.
Quick tips and tricks to the best Brownie Cheesecake Bars
- How to make in advance: These cheesecake brownies are an excellent dessert to make in advance. Simply bake them as the recipe states, then let them cool completely before covering with plastic wrap and storing in the fridge. Bring to room temperature before serving, then slice and serve.
- How to store: Keep them in their baking dish in the refrigerator, covered in plastic wrap. Since this dessert involves cream cheese, I always keep them in the fridge.
- To freeze Ooey Gooey Bars, let them come to room temperature before slicing. Line a baking sheet with wax paper, and place the individual slices of the bars onto it. Transfer to the freezer, and freeze for 4-6 hours, or frozen solid. Transfer the frozen bars into a plastic freezer-safe baggie, and keep frozen for up to a month.
- Make some swaps? Use yellow cake mix instead of chocolate to make this bar into a blondie cheesecake. Swap out your favorite chocolate chips—just be sure not to pour in too many semisweet or milk chocolate chips because this dessert will get overwhelmingly sweet. Leave out the applesauce, and use the same amount of unsalted butter instead.
Now who wants to make some Ooey Gooey Bars of their own?
I can promise you they’ll be a hit and you won’t have any leftovers!
Scroll down to learn how I make them…
Ooey Gooey Bars
EQUIPMENT
As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Ingredients
Brownie Layer
- 15.25 oz. chocolate cake mix (1 box )
- 8 tablespoons unsalted butter melted and cooled slightly
- 1 egg
Cheesecake Layer
- 8 oz. cream cheese
- 2 eggs
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter softened
- ¼ cup unsweetened applesauce
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 1 lb. powdered sugar
- ¾ cup bittersweet chocolate chips
Want to save this?
We’ll email a link directly to you so you can come back to it later! Plus, you’ll receive new recipes delivered to your inbox each week.
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Spray a baking 9"x13" baking dish with nonstick cooking spray, and set aside.
Make the brownie layer.
- Mix 15.25 oz. chocolate cake mix, the melted 8 tablespoons unsalted butter and 1 egg together to create the bottom layer of the bar.
- Pour the mixture into the prepared baking dish and flatten. This should take a little while since the mixture is THICK and not very liquid-y.
Make the cheesecake layer.
- Mix together 8 oz. cream cheese, the other 2 eggs, the softened 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, ¼ cup unsweetened applesauce and 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract until smooth with a hand mixer in a large bowl.
- Pour the 1 lb. powdered sugar in gradually, stirring until the wet ingredients are completed blended and combined.
- Pour on top of bottom layer in the pan.
- Sprinkle ¾ cup bittersweet chocolate chips on the surface of the top layer.
- Bake for 40 to 45 minutes, or until top is golden brown.
- Let cool for 30 minutes, then slice into individual bars and enjoy!
Video
Notes
A note on substitutions:
- Swap the chocolate cake mix for a yellow cake mix to make these a Blondie Cheesecake situation!
- Use a different type of chocolate chip. If using semisweet or milk chocolate chips, use ½ cup so that the cheesecake layer doesn’t become too sweet.
- If you don’t want to use applesauce or don’t have it, use the same amount of softened unsalted butter.
Quick tips and tricks to the best Brownie Cheesecake Bars
- How to make in advance: These cheesecake brownies are an excellent dessert to make in advance. Simply bake them as the recipe states, then let them cool completely before covering with plastic wrap and storing in the fridge. Bring to room temperature before serving, then slice and serve.
- How to store: Keep them in their baking dish in the refrigerator, covered in plastic wrap. Since this dessert involves cream cheese, I always keep them in the fridge.
- To freeze Ooey Gooey Bars, let them come to room temperature before slicing. Line a baking sheet with wax paper, and place the individual slices of the bars onto it. Transfer to the freezer, and freeze for 4-6 hours, or frozen solid. Transfer the frozen bars into a plastic freezer-safe baggie, and keep frozen for up to a month.
Nutrition
About the Author:
Erin Parker is a Southern gal living in Texas with her husband and two daughters. She started The Speckled Palate to share what she was cooking as a newlywed… and over the years, it’s evolved to capture her love for hosting. Specifically, the EASIEST, lowest key entertaining because everyone deserves to see their people and connect over good food. Learn more about her…
Um, these look dangerous. But delicious. That is a winning combination for a dessert.
I’m the “official baker” of our tailgate and these look amazing…on the menu for the Auburn game for sure! Good to “meet” another baton rouge food blogger!
Holy sweet baby jesus. That looks and sounds amazing. Adding this to my list to try. Seriously, I want one right now.
I love the addition of applesauce! I must try these!
These look more than delicious. Cream cheese + chocolate + butter = deliciousness warning. Yum!
I made these shortly after finding the recipe and I did something wrong because they did not turn out gooey, but rather hard. I tried it a second time and they were perfect! I’m not sure what I left out, but I’m happy I decided to try it again! 🙂
Dani, I’m glad you gave them a shot for the second time around! I wonder what went wrong… Maybe it was the cooking time? Either way, I’m happy you tried it again because these bars have been winners for YEARS. (My friends still ask about the “crack brownies” whenever I see them, haha!)
We use to buy a box kit at Sam’s and we were in love, then they suddenly discontinued them and we have been looking for 7 years now. This recipe looks like what I am looking for!
Oh wow, Shawna! I didn’t realize this was sold in a kit, and I really hope that it tastes as good, if not better, than the stuff you got from Sam’s! This is one of my all-time FAVORITE recipes to bring to parties and barbecues, so I hope it serves you well!
These look amazing, can’t wait to try them. I think I might play with a few different flavors of cake mix too!
Thanks so much, Karen! I’m excited to hear what you think of these little brownies and what you do with the cake mixes. I bet that could be interesting!
Whoa…this is going to be the hit of the potluck!
Yes, they absolutely will be! (Says the woman who brings them to potlucks all the time and never brings home leftovers…)
I can see why these have been called “crack brownies”
Oh yes. 🙂 It makes total sense, haha.
These look so amazing! I can imagine why they’re called crack brownies! They’d make a fab treat!
Thank you! 😉 And ha. I KNOW. Such a fab treat!
What a super fun title for such yummy looking bars. I love ooey gooey!!
Thanks, Sandi! I love ooey gooey, too!
Look fantastic! My kid would love these bars!
They are totally fantastic! And I hope your kids dig them as much as we love them over here!
They look super tempting! I doubt I could stop at just one!
And THAT is the problem. I can never stop at just one. 😉
You had me at ooey gooey! These looks delicious!
Woohoo! Thank you so much, Krista!
OMG. Do you deliver late at night? Because I need these SO much right now!
OF COURSE, friend. I’ll just bring some right over. Easy as that. 😉
I feel like I just found my new go-to. These look absolutely INCREDIBLE! But thinking about it, I better make a “test batch” just to try out myself before I let anyone else dig in… right? 😉
Delish! My new go-to! Thank you!
HOORAY! So happy that you love these ooey gooey bars!