Houdini Bars

By carvalhohm

Ingredients

• 1 package (18.25 ounces) plain yellow cake mix, or 1 package (18.5 ounce) plain butter recipe golden cake mis
• 8 tablespoons (1 stick) butter, melted
• 3 large eggs
• 1 package (8 ounces) reduce -fat cream cheese, at room temperature
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 2 cups confectioners' sugar, sifted
• 1/2 cup sweetened flaked coconut
• 1/2 cup chopped pecans

Details

Servings 30
Preparation time 15mins
Cooking time 60mins

Preparation

Step 1

Place rack in center of oven and preheat oven to 350 degrees. Set aside ungreased 13x9-inch metal baking pan

Place cake mix, butter, and 1 egg in large mixing bowl and beat on low speed and with electric mixer until ingredients and incorporated, 1 minute. Press batter into bottom of partially up sides of baking pan and set pan aside.

Place cream cheese in same mixing bowl and beat with electric mixer on low speed until fluffy, 30 seconds. Add remaining 2 eggs and vanilla and confectioners' sugar and beat on low speed until smooth and combined, 1 minute. Fold in coconut. Pour mixture over crust and smooth top with rubber spatula. Scatter pecans, if using, over top. Place pan in oven.

Bake bars until edges are well browned and center is firm to touch, 45 to 5 minutes. Transfer baking pan to wire rack and let cool 30 minutes before cutting bars and serving.

Store bars, covered with plastic wrap or aluminum foil, in refrigerator for up to 5 days.

If cream cheese mixture is not sweet enough for you, add up to 1 cup more sugar.