Tuesday, June 26, 2012

Neiman Marcus Bars

Neiman Marcus Bars
Gooey Butter Cake
or
Chess Bars
I think they are all about the same thing.
We always called them Neiman Marcus Bars. 
I lost the recipe someone had given me so I searched through all my old school fundraiser cookbooks.



Don't you think that these are the best?
I looked in this one from my mother-in-law for the recipe. 
Don't ask me what A.E.S.P.A stands for.

I saw one and knew it was the same recipe I called Neiman Marcus Bars.

Chess Bars
1 box yellow cake mix (I use Duncan Hines)
1 stick butter
1 egg
Mix together dry cake mix, melted butter and egg. Blend well and pat into a greased 13x9 pan.
Batter will be pretty firm.



Mix together:

 8oz cream cheese softened.
16 oz. Confectioners sugar
and
2 eggs. (I know that some of you observant readers will notice 4 eggs. I doubled the recipe for a shower:)

Pour over crust.



Bake for 42 minutes @ 350 degrees.
I put an air bake cookie sheet under the  pan for the last half of baking time so the bars don't get too done on the bottom.



Sift 1/4 cup confectioners sugar over the top of the bars.
Trim the edges and cut into squares.
These are rich and wonderful.

I found a wide variety of recipes on the internet. Each with small changes. 
I have had these at potlucks sometimes and thought 
they were too dry.
This recipe seems perfect.
And it doubled well!

Some of the recipes on the internet for so-called Neiman Marcus bars had either coconut or nuts.
That has never been my experience at any potluck.

As well,
The original Gooey Butter Cake seems to be from St. Louis.
It was rumored to be an accident in the 1930's and was actually a breakfast cake or bread as the cake layer is made with yeast and needs to rise for a bit.

The original gooey mixture was corn syrup, an egg, sugar, vanilla and flour. Quite different from the cream cheese version popular now.

I think the cake mix concoction seems much easier. 
As soon as recipe mentions yeast and rising- I'm out. :)

I hope you will try this wonderful bar. It is always a hit at family functions.


Supposedly Bobby Dean has a lighter version. I have it pinned on my food board on Pinterest and will give that one a try sometime. 
Katie
Linking with,

Metamorphosis Monday @ Between Naps on the Porch
Wow Us Wednesday @ Savvy Southern Style 
Time Travel Thursday @ The Brambleberry Cottage
Feathered Nest Friday @ French Country Cottage 
Sat Nite Special @ Funky Junk Interiors
Sunday's Best Par tay @ 1929 Charmer Blog

  









4 comments :

  1. Oh I don't know that I have ever had these. I will definitely give them a try. Thanks tons for the recipe. Hugs, Marty

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    1. Thank you, Marty. I hope you'll give them a try!

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  2. Oh my those looks so delicious.I am making this recipe.
    ((Hugs))
    Anne

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    Replies
    1. Thank you Anne. They are so good. Thanks for stopping by.

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