Introduction

These Strawberry White Chocolate Gooey Bars are a delightful treat combining the fruity sweetness of strawberry cake mix with the rich creaminess of white chocolate and condensed milk. They bake up soft and luscious—perfect for anyone craving a gooey, crowd-pleasing dessert.

Strawberry White Chocolate Gooey Bars Recipe - Recipe Image

Ingredients

1/2 cup unsalted butter (very soft)
1 box (15.25 ounces) strawberry cake mix
1 large egg
1 cup white chocolate chips
About 8 ounces (60%) of a 14-ounce can sweetened condensed milk (fat-free recommended)

Instructions

Step 1: Preheat your oven to 350°F. Line a 9×9-inch baking pan with aluminum foil and spray it with cooking spray for easy cleanup. Set aside.
Step 2: In a large bowl, beat the very soft butter with a handheld electric mixer on medium-high speed until smooth and creamy.
Step 3: Add the strawberry cake mix and egg to the butter. Beat on low speed until combined. The mixture will be thick and crumbly at first; continue beating until it forms a tacky, thick dough.
Step 4: Reserve about one-third of the dough. Press the remaining dough evenly into the bottom of the prepared pan, smoothing it into an even base layer. You can use a spatula or hands lightly sprayed with cooking spray.
Step 5: Sprinkle the white chocolate chips evenly over the dough layer in the pan.
Step 6: Drizzle approximately 8 ounces (60%) of sweetened condensed milk evenly over the white chocolate chips.
Step 7: Break the reserved dough into roughly 1-inch pieces and scatter them over the condensed milk layer, lightly pressing them down. It’s okay if some areas remain uncovered.
Step 8: Bake for 27 to 30 minutes, or until the edges are set and lightly golden, and the center is mostly set but may still jiggle slightly.
Step 9: Let the pan cool on a wire rack for 2 to 3 hours, or preferably overnight, until the bars are firm enough to cut.

Tips & Variations

For easier handling, spray your hands with cooking spray before pressing the dough into the pan.
Use fat-free sweetened condensed milk for a lighter version without sacrificing creaminess.
Try substituting white chocolate chips with milk or dark chocolate chips for a richer flavor twist.
Adding a handful of chopped nuts like almonds or pecans can provide a pleasant crunch.

Storage

Store the bars in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days, or refrigerate for up to a week. If refrigerated, bring bars to room temperature or warm slightly before serving to regain their gooey texture.

How to Serve

Serve this delicious recipe with your favorite sides.

FAQs

Can I use a different cake mix flavor?

Yes, you can experiment with other flavors like vanilla or yellow cake mix, but the strawberry flavor pairs especially well with white chocolate.

Do I need to line the pan with foil?

Lining the pan with foil makes cleanup easier and helps with lifting the bars out of the pan. If you don’t have foil, grease the pan thoroughly with cooking spray.

Strawberry White Chocolate Gooey Bars Recipe

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★★★★★

4.5 from 139 reviews

These Strawberry White Chocolate Gooey Bars combine a luscious strawberry cake base with sweet white chocolate chips and creamy condensed milk, baked to gooey perfection. Perfectly tender and sweet, they make a delightful dessert or snack that’s simple to prepare and irresistibly delicious.

Author: Nora
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 27 minutes
Total Time: 3 hours 42 minutes (includes cooling time)
Yield: 16 bars 1x
Category: Dessert
Method: Baking
Cuisine: American

Ingredients

Scale

Base and Topping

1/2 cup unsalted butter, very soft
1 (15.25-ounce) box strawberry cake mix
1 large egg
1 cup white chocolate chips

Filling

About 60% of one 14-ounce can sweetened condensed milk (about 8 ounces), preferably fat-free

Instructions

Preheat and Prepare Pan: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a 9×9-inch baking pan with aluminum foil, which is strongly recommended for easier cleanup, and spray the foil with cooking spray. Set the pan aside.
Cream Butter: In a large bowl, add the very soft unsalted butter. Using a handheld electric mixer, beat it on medium-high speed until the butter is smooth and creamy.
Combine Cake Mix and Egg: To the creamed butter, add the strawberry cake mix and the large egg. Beat on low speed to combine. The batter will be very thick; continue beating until the mixture changes from pea-sized crumbles to a tacky, thick dough.
Form Base Layer: Take between half and two-thirds of the dough and spread it evenly in the prepared pan to form a smooth base layer. A spatula can be used, or lightly spray your hands with cooking spray and press the dough into place. Set the remaining dough aside for later.
Add White Chocolate Chips: Evenly sprinkle the white chocolate chips over the dough base layer.
Drizzle Condensed Milk: Pour about 60% of the sweetened condensed milk (approximately 8 ounces) evenly over the white chocolate chips. Aim to drizzle it evenly for the gooey texture.
Add Remaining Dough: Place the rest of the dough in approximately 1-inch pieces over the condensed milk layer. Lightly press these pieces down, but don’t worry if there are gaps; full coverage is not necessary.
Bake: Bake the bars for about 27 to 30 minutes, or until the edges are set and turning light golden brown, and the center is mostly set but may still jiggle slightly. Use the edges as your indicator for doneness and then remove the pan from the oven.
Cool and Set: Allow the pan to cool on a wire rack for at least 2 to 3 hours, preferably overnight, until the bars have firmed up enough to be cut into squares cleanly.

Notes

Using aluminum foil to line the pan makes cleanup much easier and helps lift out the bars for serving.
Spraying your hands with cooking spray helps prevent the thick dough from sticking when pressing it into the pan.
The bars are best when cooled completely and set overnight for optimal firmness and gooey texture.
Fat-free sweetened condensed milk can be used to reduce fat content without compromising taste.
Don’t worry if the top dough pieces don’t completely cover the condensed milk — this contributes to the gooey texture.

Keywords: Strawberry dessert, white chocolate bars, gooey bars, easy dessert, baking recipe, strawberry cake mix dessert