Ingredients
Base Dough
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, very soft
- 1 (15.25-ounce) box strawberry cake mix
- 1 large egg
Filling
- 1 cup white chocolate chips
- About 8 ounces (60% of a 14-ounce can) sweetened condensed milk (fat-free preferred)
Instructions
- Preheat and Prepare Pan: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a 9×9-inch baking pan with aluminum foil to ensure easy cleanup, then spray the foil with cooking spray. Set the pan aside.
- Make Dough: In a large bowl, add the softened butter and beat it with a handheld mixer on medium-high speed until it becomes smooth and creamy.
- Add Cake Mix and Egg: Add the strawberry cake mix and the egg to the butter. Beat on low speed until everything is combined and the mixture transforms from pea-sized crumbles into a tacky, thick dough.
- Form Base Layer: Take between half and two-thirds of the dough and spread it evenly into the prepared pan to create a smooth base layer. Use a spatula or your hands (sprayed with cooking spray) for easier handling. Keep the remaining dough aside.
- Add White Chocolate Chips: Sprinkle the white chocolate chips evenly over the base dough layer in the pan.
- Drizzle Sweetened Condensed Milk: Evenly drizzle about 8 ounces, or 60% of the can, of sweetened condensed milk over the white chocolate chips. Just eyeball this amount.
- Top with Remaining Dough: Tear the remaining dough into approximately 1-inch pieces and distribute these over the sweetened condensed milk layer. Lightly press them down, but it’s okay if the dough pieces don’t completely cover the surface.
- Bake: Place the pan in the oven and bake for 27 to 30 minutes, or until the edges are set and turn light golden brown, and the center is mostly set but may still jiggle slightly.
- Cool and Set: Remove the bars from the oven, then allow the pan to cool on a wire rack for at least 2 to 3 hours, or preferably overnight, so the bars firm up enough to cut cleanly.
Notes
- Using foil to line the pan makes cleanup easier and helps remove bars effortlessly.
- You can spray your hands with cooking spray to prevent the dough from sticking when spreading or placing it in the pan.
- Fat-free sweetened condensed milk works well to lighten the bars but you can use regular if preferred.
- Cooling the bars thoroughly before cutting ensures cleaner slices and better texture.
- Bars will have a slightly gooey center even when done; this is intentional and adds to the moist, luscious texture.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 27 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
