Skip to Content

Strawberry Chess Squares

Strawberry chess squares, aka strawberry chess bars, are a decadent and rich dessert, are an easy recipe to make, and turn out delicious every time.

I can’t emphasize enough how easy the recipe is to make. And, when strawberry season hits you will be ready to make these.

A Chewy Strawberry Bar

Strawberry chess squares on a plate

The chess squares ingredients include strawberry cake, powdered sugar, vanilla extract, crushed strawberries, and cream cheese for a rich and sweet dessert.

Chess squares are one of the best dessert recipes and it never fails that people beg for the recipe when I bring them along somewhere.

I know the statement above makes it sounds like I bring strawberry chess squares around with me in the car for snacks. Well, I’m tempted, and I’ve been known to do things like that.

But, for the most part, I like to take strawberry chess squares places like church, or the kid’s school because a pan of these yummy desserts goes a long way.

The chess squares are super decadent and rich and you’ll be thankful the recipe is right at the bottom of this post.

I love the gooey center and crackly top combination–it’s one of those great recipes that everyone falls in love with.

Strawberry chess squares on a plate with strawberries

 

Strawberry Chess Squares Ingredients

For this recipe, you only need a few simple ingredients including dry cake mix, butter, cream cheese, and a couple of other ingredients. You most likely already have most of the ingredients in your kitchen.

  • Strawberry cake mix
  • Butter softened
  • Cream cheese softened
  • Vanilla extract
  • Crushed strawberries
  • Powdered sugar

Full printable recipe with measurements and instructions listed at the bottom of the post in the recipe card.

Strawberry chess squares on a plate with strawberries on the side

How Do I Make the Strawberry Chess Squares Recipe?

  1. Start by preheating the oven to 350 degrees.
  2. Mix the one egg, butter, and cake mix in a medium-sized bowl until well blended and then press into a greased 9″ x 13″ baking dish.
  3. In another medium-sized bowl, mix the softened cream cheese, three eggs, vanilla extract, crushed strawberries, and the powdered sugar until creamy.
  4. Pour over the cake and bake for 40 to 50 minutes at 350 degrees.
  5. Allow the chess squares to cool for at least one hour. Cut and serve.

Step-By-Step Instructions

Bottom Layer

Butter, strawberry cake, and an egg in a glass bowl

Firstly, add the cake mix, one egg, and the softened butter to the bowl.

I used an electric mixer for the recipe. You can use either a hand mixer or a stand mixer as both will work great.

However, you can mix the ingredients by hand, but it will just take a few minutes longer.

Mixing strawberry cake for chess squares in a glass bowl

Secondly, mix until everything is well blended.

You can also use a yellow cake mix for this step, which is what regular chess squares call for, but I like the added flavor from the strawberry cake mix, so that is what I added.

Strawberry cake in a pan

Thirdly, press the cake mixture into the bottom of a greased 9″ x 13″ casserole baking dish. Try to get an even layer across the bottom.

Don’t forget to grease the pan, otherwise, it will stick like glue. The edges of the chess bars get sort of chewy, which I love, but tend to stick to the side of the dish and it’s not fun to clean it off if you forget to grease it.

You can also line the cake pan with parchment paper, as well. That comes in handy when you want to lift the bars out of the pan.

Top Layer

Eggs and cream cheese in a glass bowl.

Start by adding the softened cream cheese and three eggs to a medium-sized bowl.

Strawberries, eggs, and cream cheese in a large bowl

Secondly, add the vanilla extract and crushed strawberries to the bowl.

Powdered sugar in a glass bowl

Thirdly, add the powdered sugar to the bowl.

Mixing the ingredients for strawberries chess squares

Mix until well blended.

Strawberry chess squares in a casserole dish

Fourthly, pour the cream cheese mixture over the top of the cake mixture and bake for 40 to 50 minutes at 350 degrees.

Check with a cake tester after the 40 minutes and if it comes out covered in mixture, it needs to cook a little longer. Once the recipe is done, it will still have a tad bit of mixture on the cake tester.

The top will be golden brown and crackly.

Once you remove the chess squares from the oven, allow them to cool for at least one hour before slicing.

Strawberry chess squares on a white plate with strawberries in a bowl

Do Chess Squares Need To Be Refrigerated?

Yes, chess bars need to be refrigerated because they contain cream cheese. The bars will hold up better and are easier to cut when refrigerated, as well.

More Delicious Desserts

There’s nothing better than fresh strawberries in a dessert, and this is one sweet treat.

If you love gooey bars, you will love this recipe.

Two strawberry chess squares on a white plate

Strawberry Chess Squares

Yield: 32 squares
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 50 minutes
Additional Time: 1 hour
Total Time: 2 hours 5 minutes

Strawberry chess squares are a decadent and rich dessert, are an easy recipe to make, and turn out delicious every time.

Ingredients

  • 15 ounce box strawberry cake mix
  • 4 eggs
  • 8 Tablespoons butter, softened
  • 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1/4 cup crushed strawberries
  • 16 ounces powdered sugar

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350-degrees and grease a 9" x 13" casserole dish with nonstick cooking spray.
  2. In a medium-sized bowl, mix the strawberry cake mix, one egg, and the softened butter until well blended.
  3. Press into the bottom of the casserole dish.
  4. In another medium-sized bowl, add the three eggs, cream cheese, crushed strawberries, vanilla extract, and powdered sugar and mix until well blended.
  5. Pour over the cake and bake for 40 to 50 minutes, or until the cake tester comes out mostly clean.
  6. Allow to cool for at least one hour before cutting.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 32 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 159Total Fat: 8gSaturated Fat: 4gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 3gCholesterol: 46mgSodium: 79mgCarbohydrates: 21gFiber: 0gSugar: 19gProtein: 2g

Nutrition is approximate.

Did you make this recipe?

Please leave a comment on the blog or share a photo on Pinterest

Chess Squares Without Cake Mix - Back To My Southern Roots

Wednesday 10th of March 2021

[…] Chess squares are a pretty popular dessert. They are popular in the south, and whenever I’ve brought them to a church potluck they are one of the first desserts to get eaten up lickety-split. I always get people asking me for the recipe because it’s that good.  […]

Easy Chocolate Chess Cake (Chocolate Chess Squares) - Back To My Southern Roots

Wednesday 10th of March 2021

[…] chocolate chess cake, also known as chocolate chess squares, is a decadent, chewy, mouthwatering dessert that […]

The Best Strawberry Shortcake - Back To My Southern Roots

Thursday 4th of March 2021

[…] strawberry shortcake is a sweet, comforting, and popular […]

Easy Chess Squares Recipe - Back To My Southern Roots

Tuesday 20th of October 2020

[…] that dessert table. Mmm… I’m pretty sure chess squares are almost always on the […]

Chocolate Chess Pie - Back To My Southern Roots

Wednesday 8th of July 2020

[…] Strawberry chess squares […]

Skip to Recipe