Chess Squares Without Cake Mix

Chess Squares Without Cake Mix are a delicious homemade dessert with lady fingers. This chess squares recipe also uses half the sugar of a typical recipe without losing any of the flavors. The recipe is the perfect treat for any holiday, potluck, or party.

Chess Squares without cake mix

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. 

You’d be amazed at how easy they are to fix, as well. And, they only require a few ingredients. 

I’d had a comment on my original chess squares post about lowering the amount of sugar. I thought I’d give it a try and it turned out delicious. 

Instead of putting four cups of powdered sugar, I used two in this recipe. The four cup chess squares are sweeter, but the two cup chess squares are just as flavorful. My husband said he’d eat more of them! 

If you love this recipe, try lemon chess squares, as well. 

Complete recipe and printable instructions listed below. 

Start by adding cream cheese and eggs to a medium-sized bowl. Mix it together. It will be lumpy until you add the powdered sugar. 

If you forget to set the cream cheese on the counter for a while, don’t worry about it. It still cooks the same, it will just be a little harder to mix together. 

I made the mistake of using a smaller bowl and ended up dusting half of the kitchen with powdered sugar when I turned on the mixer. Use a medium or large bowl.

Mix the first cup of powdered sugar into the cream cheese and eggs before adding the second cup. 

Add the second cup of powdered sugar and mix until it is well blended. It might still be a little lumpy, but that is ok. It will still cook up smooth and delicious.

Line a greased baking dish with the lady fingers.  

I love lady fingers. They are amazing in Tiramisu. Wouldn’t these chess squares taste great with lady fingers soaked in espresso? Might have to try that sometime.

The lady fingers will soak up some of the moisture in the mixture and soften while they cook. 

Pour the cream cheese mixture over the lady fingers. 

If you get a crazy stray lady finger that wants to come up, just push her back down underneath the cream cheese mixture. 

The picture came out a little yellow. But, you get the idea. You’re going to love these homemade chess squares without cake mix. 

Bake the chess squares at 300-degrees for approximately 40 minutes. The top will be a little flaky. 

Use a cake tester to check if they are done cooking. If it comes out clean, they are done. 

Let the chess squares cool and then slice a piece and put it on a plate. This recipe makes about 12 small servings. 

If you love this recipe, try my other chess square recipes.

• A Southern Girl’s Chess Squares – this is the old fashioned, tried and true recipe for chess squares. The recipe includes a yellow cake mix and butter. These are very similar to Paula Deen Chess Squares.

Spice Cake Pecan Chess Squares – Chess squares with pecans and spice cake makes a great dessert for the fall and Christmas season. 

Love cream cheese recipes?

• Try Gooey Cream Cheese Cake Cookies for a fluffy and light cookie. 
• How about a Sweetened Condensed Milk Chocolate Pie? You’ll love it. 

Yield: 16

Chess Squares Without Cake Mix

Print

Chess Squares Without Cake Mix are a delicious homemade dessert with lady fingers. This chess squares recipe also uses half the sugar of a typical recipe without losing any of the flavors. The recipe is the perfect treat for any holiday, potluck, or party.

Prep Time 10 minutes

Cook Time 40 minutes

Additional Time 30 minutes

Total Time 1 hour 20 minutes

Ingredients

• 1 pkg. lady fingers
• 8 oz. cream cheese
• 2 eggs
• 2 cups powdered sugar

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 300-degrees.
2. Grease a 9" x 9" casserole dish and line with lady fingers.
3. Add the cream cheese and eggs to a medium-sized mixing bowl. Mix together.
4. Now, add the powdered sugar, one cup at a time, and mix together.
5. Pour over lady fingers and bake for 40 minutes, or until cake tester comes out clean.

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  KitchenAid 606354-KHM512HT Hot Sauce 5-Speed Ultra Power Hand Mixer

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

16

Serving Size:

1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 115Total Fat: 6gSaturated Fat: 3gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 2gCholesterol: 39mgSodium: 55mgCarbohydrates: 15gFiber: 0gSugar: 14gProtein: 2g

Nutrition is approximate.

Other sites to find great recipes:

Southern Plate, and Julia’s Simply Southern

Kelly Lynn’s Sweets and Treats and The Country Cook