Gold Bars perfect for potlucks, cookouts and trips to S. Carolina islands

A few years ago on a trip to visit friends in Kiawah Island, S.C., Lindsay Denny wasn't sure what sort of dish she should take.

"The person who invited us is a professional chef, so I was a little intimidated as to what to bring," she said.

"I ended up making a batch of Gold Bars."

Gold Bars feature, among other ingredients, yellow cake mix, eggs and cream cheese. The South Carolina gathering included four adults and three children, and the Gold Bars, which she'd packed in a disposable plastic container, went quickly.

"I walked into my bedroom one evening, and there was the empty box -- with crumbs still in it -- on my pillow," said Denny, a freelance graphic designer who resides in Short Pump.

"I thought it was strange that he'd return it, and I told him he could just throw it away. He said he put it there because he wanted me to make more and refill it! So, I figured coming from a chef that was pretty high praise."

Aside from being just right for trips to islands off the coast of South Carolina, Gold Bars are a great addition to cookouts and potlucks, too, according to Denny.

She came across the recipe for the Gold Bars in a newspaper article years ago; they were called Texas Gold Bars. She said they're similar to "gooey cakes" that Paula Deen prepares. However, Denny said she prefers the simple recipe for Gold Bars.

Contact Bill Lohmann at (804) 649-6639 or .