Chess Squares

These easy Chess Squares are a simple and comforting Southern dessert! Flaky and buttery, this sweet treat goes perfectly with tea or coffee.

Recipe by Kevin and Amanda on September 10, 2018

Prep time: PT10M

Cook time: PT45M

Total time: PT55M

Rating

5 stars ( reviews)

Keywords

chess squares, chess squares recipe, southern dessert, pastry recipe, easy dessert recipe, simple dessert, simple dessert recipe, best dessert recipe, quick and easy recipe

Ingredients

1 box yellow cake mix
3 eggs
8 oz cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, melted
4 cups (1 lb) powdered sugar

Cuisine

American

Steps

Preheat oven to 300 and spray a 9×13 dish with cooking spray.
Mix cake mix, melted butter and one egg to a soft dough. Press into the bottom of the pan.
Mix powdered sugar, softened cream cheese and remaining two eggs until smooth, about 1-2 mins. Pour on top of crust.
Bake at 300 for 40-50 minutes until top is golden brown.

Nutitrion

Calories: 464 calories
Carbohydrates: 75.8 g
Protein: 6.2 g
Fat: 15.9 g
Saturated Fat: 5.6 g
Trans Fat: 0 g
Cholesterol: 102.3 mg
Sodium: 363.2 mg
Sugar: 70.6 g

Reviews

Cassie V on 2020-12-22 (5 stars):
This is my Go-To easy dessert recipe. I've even tried to vary the cake mixes. I cannot recommend this recipe enough. AMAZING. Melt in your mouth fantastic flavor.
Jessica brinkley on 2021-12-20 (5 stars):
My grandmother made these every Thanksgiving. We called them "Pecan Squares." She would layer chopped pecans between the cake layer and the topping. I used to could make them fine, but ever since she passed away, my topping doesn't get crispy and flakey. It's sort of sad and spongey. Any ideas or suggestions?
Tammy Moore on 2022-09-30 (5 stars):
This simple recipe makes the best chess squares I’ve ever tried. They came out perfect, and my husband & I also said these are bakery quality. Super easy recipe!!
Alicia on 2023-05-27 (5 stars):
done this recipe multiple times and it always turns out great
Joe on 2024-05-18 (5 stars):
You can do variations on this basic recipe. You can use a chocolate cake mix with some mini chocolate chips in the cream cheese mixture, or one of my favorites is a lemon cake mix and just a teaspoon of lemon extract in the cream cheese mixture to make Lemon Chess Squares.