Granny’s Goody Bars Recipe

In this post I’ll be sharing Granny’s Goody Bars Recipe!

What are goody bars? Granny’s goody bars are an easy sweet cookie bar treat. Goody bars are similar to chess bars. 

A delicious base layer is made with a boxed cake mix and cream cheese then topped with pecans and gets a final layer of a powdered sugar and coconut topping before baking.

These will satisfy your sweet tooth cravings in a jiffy! The top layer remains gooey and is so delicious. 

I love these goody bars after they’ve been chilled in the refrigerator. Coconut pecan goody bars are also perfect for sharing!

Cake Mix Cookie Bars

Check out those delicious layers! That ooey gooey coconut topping is incredible!

It is amazing the things that you can create using a boxed cake mix.

Ooey Gooey Bars

What do I need to make Goody Bars? Just a few ingredients! 

Granny’s original recipe called for a can of coconut. I haven’t seen those blue cans of flaked coconut in ages so I adjusted the recipe to use coconut out of the bags that we all use now.

Cake Mix Gooey Bars Recipe

The bottom soft chewy cookie layer of the goody bars will be made with the cake mix, some butter and and egg. 

The batter will be a little stiff but is easy to spread out in your baking dish using your fingers. It kind of feels like Play-Doh.

Try to get the bottom layer as close to even as possible for even cooking.

Goody Bars Recipe with Cake Mix and Powdered Sugar

Next comes some chopped pecans. I just love pecans don’t you? Once again this past holiday season I was thrilled to be gifted a pound of pecans from my neighbors.

Gently press the chopped pecans into the cake layer. Don’t press them in too much though, you don’t want to bury them.

Coconut Pecan Gooey Bars

The final layer is the sweetest ooey gooey layer. It is so rich and creamy after the goody bars are baked. 

This layer is made with the powdered (confectioners) sugar, cream cheese, eggs and coconut.

Just pour the creamy coconut layer over the bottom pecan layer and spread it out to cover the lower layer.

Granny’s Goody Bars

Into the oven it goes to bake to golden brown perfection. See how it all looks kind of even out of the oven? Well, most of the center will sink down some (like a quiche does) as it cools.

Allow the goody bars to cool completely before slicing. In fact if you can hold off, allow them to chill in the fridge overnight.

It might just be me but I’ve always thought they were best cold from the fridge cause that’s how Granny always served them.

Old Fashioned Goody Bars

Since Granny’s goody bars are also quite sweet, I like to cut them into small squares, about 2 inch by 2 inch in size. It is just enough for a couple of tasty bites.

You’ll get over 30 bars cutting them smaller in size. Keep the goody bars covered in the refrigerator and they’ll last up to a week.

Granny’s Goody Bars Recipe

4.27 from 15 votes

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Granny’s Goody Bars Recipe

Granny's good bars recipe are an easy sweet treat made with a boxed cake mix. This layered dessert cookie bars are a classic and have been around forever. The creamy ooey gooey top layer is so delicious with just the right amount of coconut flavor.

Prep Time10 minutes mins

Cook Time45 minutes mins

Total Time55 minutes mins

Servings: 36 Goody Bars

Calories: 133kcal

Author: Julia Jordan | Julia’s Simply Southern

Ingredients

• 1 Boxed White Cake Mix I used Duncan Hines Perfectly Moist
• 1 Stick of Butter melted
• 3 Eggs divided use (see instructions)
• ¾ cup Pecans chopped
• 8 ounce Cream Cheese softened
• 16 ounce Box of Confectioner’s Sugar
• 1 cup Moist Flaked Coconut this is the sweetened coconut

Instructions

• Preheat oven to 350°F
• In a mixing bowl, use a hand electric mixer to combine the cake mix, melted butter and 1 egg. Batter will be stiff; spread into an ungreased 9 x 13 baking dish.
• Next, spread the chopped pecans over the cake mix layer then gently press them into just a little bit.
• For the final layer; in a mixing bowl combine the cream cheese, confectioner’s sugar and 2 eggs with a hand mixer at medium speed.
• Next, add the flaked coconut and combine. Pour the creamy coconut mixture over the bottom layers in the baking dish.
• Bake 45 minutes.
• Allow the goody bars to cool completely then cover and refrigerate overnight Cut into small squares for serving.

Recommended Products

Domino Powdered Confectioners Sugar 16oz, 2 Pack—2 Pounds TOTAL (Including Professional Plastic Classic Measuring Scoops Set & Silicone Mixing Spatula) Domino Sugar & Baking Utensil Set

Pyrex Basics 3 Quart Glass Oblong Baking Dish, Clear 8.9 Inch X 13.2 Inch – 3 Qt

Duncan Hines Perfectly Moist, Classic White Cake Mix, 15.25 Ounce (Pack of 12)

Nutrition

Serving: 1 | Calories: 133kcal | Carbohydrates: 16g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 8g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Cholesterol: 29mg | Sodium: 60mg | Sugar: 14g

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Thank you so much for stopping by! I’m so happy that you did. I know you’ll love Granny’s Good Bars. They are such a delicious treat!

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About Julia

Hey Y’all! I’m Julia, the cook and writer behind the recipes here at Julia’s Simply Southern. I began my website so that I could share easy to follow recipes that anyone can use to put a home cooked meal on the dinner table. Thanks so much for stopping by!

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