Red velvet ooey gooey butter cake squares are easy and decadent dessert bars. They’re a fun recipe variation of the southern classic!

Red velvet ooey gooey butter cake bars are the perfect combination of a delicious red velvet cake crust, topped with a sweet cream cheese filling. It’s like eating a variation of chess pie, only in bar form!

UPDATED December 2, 2025 with new photographs.

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Have you ever had ooey gooey butter cake squares before? It’s a southern dessert delicacy that is always a hit.

In some areas, they might be referred to as chess squares, but no matter how you slice it, this is one of those tasty desserts that everyone should have in their repertoire.

Not only are they incredibly easy, but they are oh so good!! 

My recipe for ooey gooey butter cake squares is a classic option for any gathering, and one that I grew up eating at church potluck dinners. 

But it’s always fun to try new flavors!

Like my pistachio ooey gooey butter cake recipe, these red velvet ooey gooey butter cake bars are a spinoff of the original, and you will not be disappointed!

Red Velvet Dessert Bars Made with Cake Mix

Although Paula Deen is often credited with being the original creator of ooey gooey butter cake, it’s actually a dessert that originated in St. Louis, Missouri, thanks to a German baker who accidentally measured some ingredients incorrectly.

Making them with cake mix is a fantastic shortcut that helps you save time without sacrificing flavor or texture.

Instead of the typical yellow cake mix, I swapped in a red velvet cake mix. The result is a tender red velvet bar “crust,” which is then topped with a rich, smooth and sweet cream cheese filling. 

It’s basically like eating red velvet cake with cream cheese frosting (like this red velvet pound cake), only in the form of ooey gooey buttercake squares!

Simply decadent, my friends, and they’re one of the best potluck desserts around!

You have a couple of options when making these bars.  If you eat them while they’re still warm, they are SERIOUSLY ooey gooey, as in you will most definitely need a fork for these bad babies.

But, if you allow them to cool, the cream cheese filling firms up a bit.  While the filling is still soft and gooey, you can feasibly hold these with your fingers and eat them as a bar. 

The choice is up to you!

For another tasty treat, try this red velvet dirt cake trifle.

How to Make Red Velvet Ooey Gooey Butter Cake

Make the base. To start, you’ll simply combine a red velvet cake mix with some melted butter and an egg. 

Mix until it’s combined into a dough, then press it into the bottom of a greased pan.

Make the cream cheese layer. Next, use an electric mixer to mix together more eggs, confectioner’s sugar, and cream cheese. 

Beat that until it’s smooth and creamy. Pour the cream cheese mixture over the top of the cake mixture. 

Bake the butter cake. Bake it for about 35-40 minutes, or until the edges and top are light golden brown but the center is still a little jiggly.

Either serve warm or allow to cool! 

Because these are pretty rich, I think you can easily get 24 servings out of a pan if you cut them into somewhat smaller squares.

But if you prefer larger servings, you could cut it into 16 squares instead!

Don’t forget to save this to your dessert board on Pinterest!

Check Out These Ooey Gooey Butter Cake Flavors and Recipe Variations:

• Brownie Pecan Pie Ooey Gooey Butter Cake (from Recipes, Food, and Cooking)
• Gooey Strawberry Butter Cake (from My Sweet Sanity)
• Lemon Lavendar Ooey Gooey Bars (from Paula Deen)