Neiman Marcus Bars
Need a go-to dessert bar recipe that travels well and is a crowd-pleaser? Look no further, try making Neiman Marcus Bars!! Made up of three delicious layers, these dessert bars are named for the famous department store, Neiman Marcus, where they were served at the lunch-counter in the store. I found this recipe over a decade ago and have made it more times than I can count. Chances are, if you’ve been to a party at my place, you’ve had Neiman Marcus bars for dessert. This is one of my go-to recipes to make-and-take to events because it travels so well. And who doesn’t love a tasty bar? You won’t stop at one bite. Easy to make, this dessert bakes in a little over an hour in an oven preheated to 300 degrees Fahrenheit. Allow me to take you through how I made this, step by step!
For the first layer, you will need a box of yellow cake mix (dry mix only, not prepared), a stick of butter softened to room temp, and one egg. In a bowl, mix these three ingredients together until the consistency resembles yellow play-doh (silly description I know, but it’s the best way to describe the consistency). Press your mix into the bottom of a 9x13 pan that’s sprayed with cooking spray. I have baked this in both a 9x13 glass Pyrex dish and 9x13 metal cake pan, with great success.
*A completely optional, but not necessary, step is to line your pan with 2 sheets of parchment paper leaving a 2 inch overhang on each side of the pan. From there, I spray my parchment paper with cooking spray. I use clips to keep the parchment paper in place while I add my layers, being sure to remove the clips before placing the bars into the oven. If you want to pull the bars out of the pan in one sheet before cutting and serving, the parchment paper serves as an elevator for this process. No parchment paper, no problem, just skip step and be sure to spray your 9x13 pan of choice with cooking spray.
For the second layer, you will need a 12oz bag of semi-sweet chocolate chips (I used mini chips because I had them in my pantry, but regular size chips work great too). Spread the chocolate chips evenly over the first layer and gently press the chocolate chips into the first layer.
*I don’t add nuts to the second layer, but you could absolutely add one cup of chopped nuts to this layer. Be sure to mix the chopped nuts with your chocolate chips first before spreading the mixture evenly over the first layer. Then, gently press the chocolate chip and nut mixture into the first layer with your hands.
For the third and final layer, beat 8oz of cream cheese softened to room temp., 2 eggs, and 1 tsp of vanilla extract until well combined. Continue beating and slowly add in 4 cups or 1 16oz box of sifted confectioners sugar by one large spoonful at time. Mix all these ingredients together until a smooth consistency forms, leaving very little to no lumps in the batter. To avoid lumps, make sure your cream cheese is soft and your confectioners sugar is sifted. Pour this smooth batter evenly over the chocolate chip layer. This is my favorite layer of the bar because it bakes into this flaky, gooey layer of deliciousness.
Now, let’s bake these bars at 300 degrees Fahrenheit for at least one hour and 5 minutes. At the 1 hour and 5 minute mark, I check to see if the top layer has risen evenly and is golden brown around the edges. If it is not fully risen, add 5 minute increments of baking time until your pan looks like this. Allow the bars to cool for 1 hour before cutting and serving.
I hope you will enjoy this recipe for Neiman Marcus bars as much I have over the years. I've taken these Neiman Marcus bars to multiple parties, meetings, and events, and I'm always asked for the recipe. I’ve shared this recipe countless times, and I am so happy to be able to share it with you today. I cannot take credit for creating this recipe, and I honestly don’t remember where I first found it. These bars taste great on their own, or served warm with vanilla ice cream. Cake-y, chocolaty, and flaky (in good way), I hope this recipe becomes one of your go-tos for entertaining!
-XOXO-
Sally
Neiman Marcus Bars
Ingredients
- 1 box of yellow cake mix
- 1 stick of butter, softened
- 3 eggs
- 1 12 oz bag of semi-sweet chocolate chips
- 8oz cream cheese, softened to room temp
- 1 tsp vanilla
- 1 16oz box or 4 cups of confectioners sugar, sifted
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 300 degrees Fahrenheit. Prepare a 9x13 baking pan or Pyrex dish by spraying it with cooking spray. *An optional step to preparing your pan is to add two layers of parchment paper with a 2 inch overhang on each side of your pan before finally spraying your pan with cooking spray.
- For the first layer, mix together your dry cake mix ingredients (not a fully prepared cake mix), 1 stick of softened butter, and 1 egg until a yellow play-doh consistency forms. Press your mix evenly into the bottom of your prepared 9x13 pan.
- For the second layer, spread your chocolate chips evenly on top of the first layer. Gently press the chips into the top of the first layer. *If you would like to add 1 cup of chopped nuts to this layer you can. Just make sure to mix your chopped nuts with your chocolate chips before evenly spreading this mixture onto the first layer. Gently press this chocolate chip and chopped nut mixture into the first layer.
- For the third layer, beat 8oz of cream cheese softened to room temp., 2 eggs, and 1 tsp of vanilla until well combined. Continue beating and slowly add in 4 cups or 1 box of sifted confectioners sugar one large spoonful at time. Mix all these ingredients together until a smooth consistency forms, leaving very little to no lumps in the batter. To avoid lumps, make sure your cream cheese is soft and your confectioners sugar is sifted. Pour this smooth batter evenly over the chocolate chip layer.
- Bake these bars for 1 hour and 5 minutes at 300 degrees Fahrenheit, adding additional baking time in 5 minute increments if the top layer is not fully risen. The edges should be golden brown, and the top layer should be even on top. Remove the bars from the oven and allow them to cool for one hour before serving. Once the bars are cool, I cut them into squares.