🛒 Ingredients
For the Crust:
1 (15.25 oz) box yellow cake mix (just the dry mix!)
1 large egg
1 stick (½ cup / 8 tbsp) salted butter, melted
For the Filling:
1 (8 oz) block cream cheese, softened to room temperature
2 large eggs
1 tsp pure vanilla extract
1 (16 oz) box powdered sugar (~4 cups)
1 stick (½ cup / 8 tbsp) salted butter, melted
1 (12 oz) bag semi-sweet chocolate chips
🔥 Pro Tip: Use full-fat ingredients — low-fat cream cheese can make the filling grainy.
👩🍳 Step-by-Step Instructions
1️⃣ Prep & Preheat
Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
Grease a 9x13-inch baking dish well — or line with parchment paper for easy removal.
2️⃣ Make the Crust
In a bowl, mix:
Yellow cake mix
1 egg
1 stick melted butter
Press mixture firmly into the bottom of the pan — like a shortbread base.
Bake 10 minutes — just enough to set the crust.
3️⃣ Make the Filling
In a large bowl, beat cream cheese until smooth.
Add:
2 eggs
Vanilla extract
Powdered sugar
1 stick melted butter
Mix until smooth and creamy — no lumps!
Fold in chocolate chips.
4️⃣ Layer & Bake
Pour filling over warm crust.
Smooth the top with a spatula.
Bake 25–30 minutes, until edges are golden and center is just set (a slight jiggle is okay — it firms as it cools).
5️⃣ Cool & Cut
Let cool completely in the pan (about 2 hours).
Chill in the fridge for 1 hour for extra gooeyness and cleaner slices.
Cut into squares and serve!
🍽️ Serving Ideas:
With coffee or milk
Dust with extra powdered sugar
Serve slightly warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream
🌈 Variations & Pro Hacks
🌱 Gluten-Free? Use GF yellow cake mix + GF powdered sugar
🍫 Flavor Swaps: Try white chocolate chips, peanut butter chips, or butterscotch
🧂 Salted Caramel Twist: Drizzle caramel sauce on top before serving
🧊 Make-Ahead Magic: Keeps 4 days at room temp or 1 week in the fridge
❄️ Freeze It! Freeze uncut bars for up to 3 months — thaw at room temp
🧠 Why This Works So Well
Cake mix crust = foolproof texture with zero effort
Cream cheese + powdered sugar = frosting-like filling that sets perfectly
Double butter = rich flavor and melt-in-your-mouth texture
Chocolate chips = gooey pockets of joy in every bite
It’s not magic — it’s dessert genius. ✨
❤️ Final Thought: Sometimes, the Best Things Are Simple & Sweet
You don’t need a long ingredient list or hours in the kitchen to make something truly special.
Just good butter, real sugar, and love.
These Chocochip Gooey Treats prove that the most memorable desserts are often the simplest — where every bite tastes like comfort, care, and childhood joy.
So next time you want to bake something beautiful…
Grab that cake mix.
Whip up this easy recipe.
And let your kitchen fill with the scent of vanilla, chocolate, and home-baked happiness.
Because sometimes, happiness comes in square form. 💛