Easy Fruit Bar Cakes - Master Cookbook Recipe # 274

Name: Easy Fruit Bar Cakes - Master Cookbook Recipe # 274
Prep time: 20 min
Total time: 20 min
Yield: 2-3 Bar Cakes
Cuisine: Southern
Ingredients: 1 box White cake mix (White is essential for the clean bar look); 20 oz. can Pie filling (your choice of fruit: strawberry, blueberry, cherry, etc.); 8 oz. Cream cheese (room temperature); 8 oz. container Cool Whip topping (or homemade whipped cream); Fresh fruit for garnish

These Easy Fruit Bar Cakes turn a simple white cake mix into elegant, bakery-style treats that look as good as they taste. By slicing a standard sheet cake into bars and layering them with creamy fruit fillings and airy whipped topping, you create a sophisticated dessert perfect for tea parties or special gatherings. The versatility of this recipe allows you to customize the fruit to your liking, from classic strawberry to zesty lemon.

This is recipe #274 in Tammy’s Master Cookbook.

Prep time: 20 minTotal time: 20 min

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Ingredients

1 box White cake mix (White is essential for the clean bar look)
20 oz. can Pie filling (your choice of fruit: strawberry, blueberry, cherry, etc.)
8 oz. Cream cheese (room temperature)
8 oz. container Cool Whip topping (or homemade whipped cream)
Fresh fruit for garnish

Instructions

Bake & Cool: Prepare and bake the white cake in a 13x9x2-inch pan according to package directions. Let it cool in the pan for 5 to 10 minutes, then flip it out onto parchment paper to cool completely.
Section & Trim: Cut the cooled sheet cake into three wide sections (crosswise) or two long sections (lengthwise). Carefully split each bar into two thin layers. Trim away any brown edges for a clean, professional appearance.
Prepare Filling: You can use the pie filling as-is, or for a richer, more stable filling, blend 8 oz. of room temperature cream cheese with half of the can of pie filling.
Assemble: Place the bottom layer of a bar on a serving plate. Spread your chosen filling over the layer and top with slices of fresh fruit if desired.
Layer: Place the top cake layer onto the bar.
Garnish: Add a generous layer of Cool Whip or whipped cream to the top. Create decorative swirls and finish with pieces of fresh fruit or drained canned fruit.
Serve: For a Lemon version, use lemon filling blended with cream cheese and garnish with fresh lemon zest.

Notes

Tammy’s Tips

Using a white cake mix is the secret to making these look like they came from a high-end bakery,the contrast with the colorful fruit filling is stunning. When trimming the edges, use a serrated knife and gentle sawing motions to keep the cake from crumbling and ensure perfectly straight lines!