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Simple gooey butter cake includes a crumbly cake crust with a gooey cream cheese topping that is completely addicting!
Gooey butter cake starts with simple ingredients for two gooey layers. If you like this recipe, be sure to try our Gooey Butter Cookies and Gooey Rolo Cookies.
WHY WE LOVE GOOEY BUTTER CAKE!
Do you have “go to” dessert recipes you use all the time? This gooey butter cake is one of ours! Let me tell you why:
- SIMPLE. This cake is very easy and is made with ingredients that most people tend to have on hand.
- DELICIOUS. Everyone loves it. Chalk full of butter and cream cheese and powdered sugar (plus cake batter) – you can’t go wrong.
- GREAT FOR PARTIES. Cut them up in tiny squares as dessert finger foods or bigger squares for a dessert. No matter what, it’s always popular.
This popular cake “accidentally” created in the 1930’s in St. Louis is a must-try!
Ingredients
- yellow cake mix – The classic flavors of cake batter in this cake are from the yellow cake mix, but white cake mix is a close second.
- eggs – Used in two different layers so take note of the division.
- melted butter – We use unsalted butter but salted can work as well.
- cream cheese – This helps create the gooey softness in this cake.
- vanilla extract
- powdered sugar
- powdered sugar to sprinkle
Two Tasty Layers!
This simple butter cake comes together in no time for two delicious layers of gooey goodness.
- PREP. Grease a 9×13 pan with cooking spray and preheat the oven to 350°F.
- CRUST. In a large bowl, whisk cake mix, 1 egg, and melted butter until smooth. Press into your greased 9×13 pan.
- TOPPING. Blend cream cheese, 2 large eggs, vanilla, and powdered sugar (confectioners sugar) until creamy and smooth. Pour and spread over the first mixture in your pan.
- BAKE. Bake at 350°F for 40-45 minutes or until edges are golden brown (middle may sink in a bit).
- TOP. Top with extra powdered sugar and ENJOY!
PRO TIP
To cut neat slices. Use a plastic knife to cut – they tend to slice right through cakes and brownies that have a fudgy texture with ease.
Recipe Tips
This ooey gooey butter cake requires simple ingredients, but as always, using them correctly makes all of the difference!
- Use a handheld electric mixer or stand mixer with a paddle attachment to combine all the ingredients.
- Sift the powdered sugar to help eliminate any of the harder clumps that tend to form.
- Lining the pan with parchment paper will help keep it from sticking.
- The bottom layer should be much thicker than a typical cake batter and more like a soft dough. Use a rubber spatula or add a little olive oil to your finger to help press it evenly in the pan.
- Top each slice with some fresh berries.
Storing Info
- STORE this gooey butter cake recipe at room temperature in an airtight container for 2-3 days or in the refrigerator for 5-7 days.
- FREEZE this treat to eat at a later time by first wrapping it tightly with plastic wrap. Then keep it in a freeze-safe container or bag. It should last for 4-5 months in the freezer.
This is also a good make-ahead option. Just thaw it completely when you’re ready to serve and eat it.
More cakes to try:
Easy Chocolate Cake Recipe
50 mins
White Texas Sheet Cake
30 mins
Coconut Poke Cake
3 hrs
Cream Puff Cake
1 hr 50 mins
Gooey Butter Cake Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 (15.25-ounce) box yellow cake mix
- 1 egg
- ½ cup butter melted
- 1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese
- 2 eggs beaten
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 3 ½ cups powdered sugar
- powdered sugar to sprinkle
Instructions
- Grease a 9×13 pan and turn oven to 350°F.
- Blend cake mix, 1 egg, and butter until smooth. Press into your greased 9×13 pan.
- Blend cream cheese, 2 eggs, vanilla and powdered sugar until creamy and smooth. Spread over your the first mixture in your pan.
- Bake at 350°F for 40-45 minutes or until edges are golden brown (middle may sink in a bit).
- Top with powdered sugar and ENJOY!
Video
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
First… 5 stars for tasting like the commercial gooey cake. I think this is a very good recipe hack. We thought it was identical to the commercial cake on day 2 after the base softened a bit. I give it 4 stars for how sweet it is. It is over the top sugary. We are going to play around with the amount of powdered sugar it calls for and see if we can get the same result, but without the sugar punch to the mouth and gut. Still, I think this is a super easy dessert that is ideal for taking to a party where you could cut it into smaller pieces. We are also thinking of other variables like chocolate cake base with orange zest in the cream cheese topping… etc This is the dessert version of funeral potatoes… easy, homey, tasty, a little over the top, and total comfort food.
The recipe was easy to follow and the cake came out as pictured. My husband and I both thought it was too sweet. I made a blueberry compote to balance out the flavors. Overall, we didn’t care for it.
I have a brownie recipe that I 1 1/2 times to get a little thicker brownie in my 9×13 pan.
Would this work with this recipe? How long would it take to bake and would it be too sweet?
Did you make a glaze on yours. It looks dif than the sprinkled powder sugar more like a glaze
Made this 2 x’s so far and it’s an absolute hit!! ♥️♥️♥️ it!!
Very good, l used chocolate cake mix.
Super easy and very good. I made it for a second time this week with a chocolate cake mix (sugar free) because I had one I needed to use up and it was also great.
Looks yummy but I am wondering can anyone help with high altitude baking?
Thanks
The middle was very runny, I had to throw it away??? Why was this ??
Made it and served it warm with vanilla ice cream and Berry compote. It was so good.
I sprinkled a few choc chips on top hope it turns outOK. Thanks for the recipe. S.
Made it for the first time and it was a hit with everyone! It’s perfect and easy to make!
This recipe for Gooey Butter Cake is absolutely perfect. Made the recipe this morning, it is so easy and delicious. Forty minutes is just the right amount of time.
Good#One
My meme used this recipe and I have used it for years also. We add a little lemon juice to the middle. There are other recipes that include extra butter in the topping that is not needed. It works with less sugar also. This is perfect as is but for those asking no extra butter needed.
Thanks for sharing!! So glad you love the cake recipe. We love it too! 😉
Divine! Haven’t made these in many years! I decided to go with your recipe over others because the picture had a glossy crunchy top similar to what brownies create. I went with Duncan Hines yellow cake and I’m glad that I did. It smelled so good when it was baking they were absolutely delicious. I find that softened cream cheese worked better and sifting the powdered sugar as you recommended all at once made everything blend smoothly. I did press the “dough” up the edges a little bit but didn’t keep it too thick around the bottom edge because it bakes up similar to a cookie. I bet the crust would be delicious for a cheesecake or as cookies!
I made this recipe tonight! It turned out great. I use to make them but lost the recipe. I’m glad I found it tonight. Thanks!
STL born and raised, needed a great recipe for a quick and easy gooey butter cake. WOW! We demolished it, perfect cake. Thank you for recipe!
This cake is fantastic. My husband asked for it to be his birthday cake this year. Love it. Will be making it again and again.
This reminds me of my mom’s gooey cake so much. I never knew it was this quick and easy to make. Recipe is super simple and it tastes 🔥🔥🔥
I am from St. Louis and know ooey gooey butter cake VERY well. This recipe turned out amazing. The one thing I don’t like about ooey gooey butter cake in general, though, is how sweet and rich it is. So, I actually used around 2 1/2 cups of powdered sugar instead of 3 1/2 cup, and it turned out to be the BEST ooey gooey butter cake I’ve ever had. My husband brought some to work for his coworkers and they are all raving about it as well.
Check out Lil Luna’s Cheesy Goulash recipe as well! That recipe is also phenomenal.
Great recipe!Everyone loved it.
My comment may be premature, but I’ve had it in the oven for 50 minutes and the cake batter doesn’t seem cooked. When I put a butter knife in the center, it’s just liquid. Do I just need to be patient? It smells so good, I hope it turns out. Thanks!
Yes, I would wait until the knife comes out clean/just a few crumbs. The cake will set a bit as it cools too. Hope it turned out for you and you enjoyed!
This cake was amazing! I was curious tho if on the cream cheese mixture another stick of butter is missing on ingredients? All of the other recipes I have seen online called for it. I made it without and it was great!
Courtney, I’ve made this many times and, yes, there should be another stick of melted butter included for the top layer; it should be added with the eggs.
Our recipe doesn’t call for another stick of butter with the top layer, and it turns out delicious! No need for more butter, right? 😉 But, it sounds like you could add it in and it would work too. Personal preference, I guess. Glad to hear that method is delicious! Thanks for sharing Lori!
What size pans do you use for this recipe if you double it, or triple it? That information doesn’t appear when you change the amounts.
I’ve tried several similar Gooey Butter Cake recipes trying to find one that is as good as one I tried years ago and this is IT. I’m so glad I ran on to this. Thanks for sharing!
Melted butter….how much?
This recipe is delicious and so addicting – make it again for my brothers next week!
this cake has got to be my new favorite! The crumbly crust and the gooey top is just everything that I wanted and more! thank you so much for sharing
This was so rich and yummy! An easy dessert.
Can I add home made apple pie filling in the middle then add the cream cheese mix on top
I have never tried doing that before. So I’m not sure how it would turn out. But if you do, I’d love to hear how it goes!
I love making variation of this with different flavor cakes. For example, I use spice cake for fall. But has anyone tried something that can make it pumpkin spice? I’m thinking I can add canned pumpkin purée to either the cake or the cream cheese portion of the cake but have no idea how. Anyone?
You’re in luck! We have a pumpkin variation of this recipe! https://lilluna.com/butter-pumpkin-cake/
The ingredient list calls for two eggs; however, in the directions, step 2 calls for one egg and step 3 calls for two eggs which equals three eggs. How many eggs should I use and in which step(s) do I use them? I made this recipe once before, and it was fabulous! But I can’t remember how many eggs I used and where I used them. :/ Thank you!
The ingredient list has the eggs listed as 1 and then 2… so yes, a total of three eggs is needed for this recipe.
I cooked for 35 minutes at 350 and it was still a little too done in my opinion. I’ll try again and do it for 30 minutes
Can i reduce the sugar at all? Just worried from the other comments that it will be too sweet. Thank you!
We have always made it as is. And we love it! So if you do reduce the sugar, you’ll have to let us know how you enjoy it.
It’s a good cake but I narrow down on the sugar. Instead of using 3 cups I used 2 cups and it still was too sweet for my liking. I will be making this again but I am only going to use 1 cup of sugar.
Ive made this many many times & its sssooooooo gosh darn great!! Everyone always wants me to make it again! As for the comments saying its ‘too sweet,’ its actually well balanced with the pastry like base, eggs, butter & cream cheese. However, I use salted butter & cut back the powdered sugar to 2 1/2 cups. It doesnt change the cake much but it makes me feel better when i have a second piece!!
I’m so glad to hear you love the cake!! Thanks for sharing what you do
I’ve never left a comment on a recipe before, but this one deserves it! Followed the exact instructions and the cake turned out PHENOMENAL! It was such a hit at the party I hosted. This is my new go-to dessert recipe. Thank you for sharing!
This recipe is amazing! I made it last night for my family and they absolutely loved it. It’s already gone and I have made another one. I found this recipe incredibly simple and straightforward to make. It only requires a handful of ingredients and I was able to make the crust and the topping in under 10 minutes. I found that baking for around 42 minutes produced great results. Thanks so much for this recipe; it is my new go to dessert!
You’re welcome! I’m so glad you enjoyed the cake!!
The best dessert ever! Going to make this a lot. Made this the first time following the recipe exactly and it was amazing! The second time I added to the cream cheese mixture before mixing with electric mixer, the zest from one lemon, and two teaspoons fresh lemon juice, and it was phenomenal!
DELICIOUS. Tastes exact to one I had at a restaurant!!
The directions list 3 eggs (1 for the cake mix then 2 for the cream cheese) but the recipe only lists 2 eggs.
So the recipe does have 3 eggs, they are just listed separately. So it lists 1 egg and then 2 eggs beaten. Hopefully that is helpful!
Omg. This is fantastic. First time I made girl it’s 10 star. I will be fixing this for family gatherings. It was very easy to make.
Sorry, way too sweet.
Thank you, Teresa Szuminski, for you comment – I checked these comments specifically to see whether anyone mentioned it’s too sweet. A cake mix PLUS 3.5 cups of flour seemed like it might tilt that way.
Thanks for the feedback!
you mean 3.5 cups of SUGAR
I give this cake 10 stars out of 5🥰😄. It is Ooey Gooey goodness. It is moist and buttery. If you can’t bake you can make this cake. This is the second time I’ve made it and I’m sure it won’t be the last.
Made this for mothers day and it was a hit. I did make some small changes though and it was top tier. I used 2 eggs instead of one in the batter added a splash of almond essence to it along with a half a cup of mayo and some shredded coconut and when it was piping hot out of the oven, I brushed the top of it with some honey butter. Chefs kiss perfection. Making another one this weekend and I cannot wait.
Been making this cake for years and it is truly a family favorite
So glad to hear that! Thanks for sharing!
Perfectly delicious!
Can I double or triple recipe with the same amounts of everything?
Yep!
Was delicious and turned out perfectly! I had a day off school and wanted to bake, and this recipe called for pantry staples which was great. Surprised my mom with it when she got off work and she loved it
Love that!! Thanks for trying it!
super yummy easy to make and everyone loved it. I am making it for the 2nd time within one week.
The cake mix batter wasn’t smooth at all. I added a little milk to make it a batter.
Accidently tried another recipe. Wife noticed the difference right away! She had me through it ot (as I am not a fan of gooey butter cake, being diabetic is another reason).
Soo, a happy wife with ur recipe. Your recipe is great. Wouldn’t change a thing
This recipe is so delicious. I have started using less powdered sugar and it makes it the perfect not to sweet dessert that all my friends and family LOVE.. I am going to try to make them into cupcakes today
Have you done that before? Any suggestions?
You have a lot of great recipes if I’m searching for a recipe and your website shows up, I know it will be delicious. Thanks for making recipes easy for us all to use…beginners or experts
I haven’t tried this recipe as cupcakes before. You will have to let us know how they turn out! We do have a cookie variation of the recipe that is tasty as well: https://lilluna.com/recipe-tip-of-the-week-gooey-butter-cookies/
Could this be made with a pound cake boxed mix? I have a lemon one I think I’m going to try😀
I have never tried it with a pound cake mix before… So i’m not sure. I know the textures of a pound cake vs. a regular cake are different. But, if you gave it a try, we’d love to hear how it turned out! 🙂
Living in St. Louis (the lou), gooey butter cake is a “staple” dessert. I had never had it had before moving here, and I am not a fan. However my wife (a Lou native) loves them and I have made at least a dozen with your recipe and my wife raves about them. I switched with the last one and used my mother-in-law’s recipe. She hated it and asked what I did. Just told her it was her mom’s recipe. Gave that one to my neighbors and made one with your’s. Happy wife is your gooey butter cake recipe. 5+ rating
Oh that makes me so happy to hear that she loves this recipe!! Thanks for sharing and rating!
I have made this cake a couple of times and every time the cake part is a little dry, I followed the recipe so what is wrong?
I’ve used an almost identical recipe for 30 years but mine has always called for 2 eggs 1 stick melted butter and 1 box cake mix (I like to use French Vanilla Cake Mix)
I use a smaller pan it’s a 6×10 size
works perfect everytime
I tried using an 9×9 pan but it was still soupy under the pretty golden crust. I have popped it back in the oven again and I am now waiting to see if it will finish cooking. I placed aluminum foil over the top so it doesn’t get too brown. Fingers crossed! 🤞🏻
Hopefully it turned out for you!
There are lots of different factors that can affect baking… elevation, temperature, each oven cooks differently, etc. So the suggestions below are great. You could try either of those. You could also try reducing the baking time slightly in case it is over baking. Hope some of this helps!
Has anyone used a different flavor cake mix (besides lemon)? I’m sure lemon is delicious but was wondering if anyone has tried maybe chocolate cake mix?
Yes! Chocolate is delicious! I love that this recipe is so versatile and the flavors can be changed easily. Chocolate is a good one!
I’ve made this twice. The second time my bottom layer didn’t turn out as smooth and the result was a layer that was done faster than the top and the top pooled in the middle. I think next time if it’s not smooth I will add either some more melted butter or water. Also any tips for making this to where you can cut into bars?
I’ve used an almost identical recipe for 30 years but mine has always called for 2 eggs 1 stick melted butter and 1 box cake mix (I like to use French Vanilla Cake Mix)
Do you know if it would work if you leave off the powdered sugar in the topping? Need to have sugar free
I forgot to add it to the top it was still perfect and yummy!
There is sugar in every layer of this cake.
Not sure what i did wrong but my cake mix was very sticky, not doughy like yours. I was unable to press it into the pan.
This is so good. My Family and my kids love this recipe!😀
I love this the best I ever had
I’ve never had gooey butter cake before so I don’t have anything to compare it to, but we loved this! Making it again tonight! Thanks!
You’re welcome! I’m so glad you enjoyed the cake. It’s a favorite over here for sure!
I made this last weekend and we’re still talking about how good it was! This will be my go-to recipe now for Gooey Butter cake. I live in St. Louis where Gooey Butter cake originated – this tastes just like it should. I made the recipe as-is! Thank you for a delicious recipe!
You’re welcome! I’m so glad you enjoyed the recipe!!
I make this for all of our family functions and they absolutely love it!
I always use gooey cake for my strawberry shortcake …So yummy, and I always get asked for recipe!
Mmmm that sounds delicious!! So glad you the cake is a hit (as strawberry shortcake too!)
Looks good and it’s in the oven now. But prep time 7 minutes!! It took me 7 minutes to find the vanilla flavoring!!! I chose this recipe because I thought it would be quick to throw together. I sure hope it’s good.
Hope the cake turned out well and that you enjoyed it! Thanks for giving it a try!
Hope you enjoyed the cake, even if the prep time was a little longer than anticipated. 🙂
Are you supposed to add the cake mix plain or make the cake mix and then add it
Just the plain cake mix (dry mix). You won’t need to follow any of the instructions on the cake mix box… just the recipe here.
No idea what I did wrong but couldn’t get top batter creamy at all any suggestions what I did wrong
Hmmm… I haven’t had that problem before. Maybe your cream cheese needs to be softened a bit more? Or you could try mixing it longer until it becomes creamy. I use a hand mixer to help cream it all together. Not sure if you used a mixer or not? That will definitely make a difference. Hope some of these tips help!
How creamy should the middle be after it’s baked? Mine seems a little runny.?.?. Lol
The cake will definitely set a bit as it cools down. Hope it turned out well and that you enjoyed it!
Do you use salted or unsalted butter in this recipe? The only modification I make is to use 1/2 vanilla and 1/2 almond extract. Yum! Thanks for posting!
I typically use unsalted butter because then I can control the amount of salt in my baked goods. But either probably could work. Hope you enjoy the cake!
My friend made this gooey butter cake. I thought she bought it at the store. When I asked her where she bought it, she laughed. It was this recipe. Best gooey butter cake I ever had. YUMMY!!
I love it!! So glad to hear you enjoyed the cake!
What a waste of ingredients. It tastes like a warmed over brownie. Too sweet, too nothing.
We tried it and threw out the rest. I’m not getting it.
Thanks for your feedback and for giving the recipe a try!
The most decadent, Indulgent, buttery, soft desert I’ve ever made! So easy to make I encourage you to make two at a time because you will want to keep one for yourself!
Thanks for the sweet words. So glad you enjoyed the cake!!
I made this with lemon cake mix. It was amazing.
Mmm yum! I bet it was great with the lemon! Thanks for sharing.
We call these Chess Bars.
They are a family favorite.
I love that!!
Thank you so much ! My friend called me and asked me to bake this cake for her. she is in her 80’s and I will be 80 in July. So I didn’t want to put this off another time.( Real Friends don’t at least I don’t.) Again and again. Thank you so much.
This recipe is easy and delicious. I will definitely make these again.
Every time I bake this cake its ate in one days
Yay!! I’m so glad to hear that it’s a hit!
These are delicious, and so are the coconut version with the crumb style topping. I can’t seem to find that recipe on the site anymore. My family LOVES it!!
I’m so glad you enjoyed the butter cake! You are correct – we do not have the coconut version with the crumb style topping on the site anymore. But we do have a coconut cake if you’d like to give that a try – Coconut Cake.
My husband and mother-law-loved it. It reminded them of a bakery in Levittown,Pa.
Very easy recipe but I only baked it for 35 minutes. I shared it with friends and they loved the recipe too.
Oh that makes me so happy to hear! Thank you for sharing!! I’m glad that everyone enjoyed the recipe.
Hi Cathy! I’m from Levittown, PA, too! Are you talking about Fritz’s Bakery??
I don’t care for strawberry cake mix, but I think this one would be awesome made as is and have sliced strawberries on top with whipped cream. Oh goodness, my diet!!! lol
Ooh that does sound amazing with the toppings! I might just have to try that variation! 😉
I add 1/4 cup of lemon juice to the cream cheese mixture. My family loves it this way. We call them lemon bars😊
Mmm sounds delicious!
I’ve made these many times, and they’re often called “blonde brownies.” Excellent recipe adaptable to other variations like red velvet or devils food cake mixes. Like a cake that frosts itself during baking.
Yes, that’s such a fun idea to switch up the recipe using different flavor cake mixes!
Such a great tasting dessert that’s simple but so good.
Sometimes Less is more. It is not the most fancy cake, but it is absolutely delicious and tastes great with a cold glass of milk or a cup of hot chocolate.
The most delicious and simple dessert! The texture and flavor are both incredible! So yummy!
Awe, thanks so much for sharing that! I appreciate it! So glad you liked it!
This is one of our favorite cake recipes now! It only needs a few ingredients but so good and tasty!
It’s one of our favorites too! So glad you enjoyed it!
This cake is insanely delicious! I wanted to save some but my kids ate it all!
I’m so happy you and your kids loved it so much! Thanks for sharing!
This cake just melts in your mouth!! It is incredibly soft & one of my favorite, non-chocolate cakes!
I have made this cake so many times!! It’s a hit every time!! My family and friends love it!! A wonderful simple recipe !!! Thanks so much!!
You are so welcome!! Thank you so much for sharing that!
YUM ????
It is 🙂 Thank you & I hope you try it!!
Hi, Kristyn, I love the recipe and have made the bars several times but I can’t seem to cut them as beautifully as you do. Would you mind sharing your secret for cutting the bars? AND even if i cut them well, I can’t seem to get them cut into equal sizes. Ive tried rulers, it makes it worse, for me… Any help would be super appreciated.
Might try a plastic knife, it works great on warm brownies.
Made them yesterday and shared them with my colleagues. Damn these are a piece of heaven in your mouth. Soooo good. Definitely going to make these again.
Thx
LOL!! So glad they were a hit. They are so delicious and gooey, huh?? Thank you for stopping by!
This was so simple and fast to prepare! Everyone enjoyed them, thanks so much! I can’t wait to try making the Ooey Gooey Chocolate Rolo Cookies next!
Thanks, Monica! So glad you liked them. You definitely need to try the cookies next – they are DELISH!
I enjoyed your site and especially your presentation pics…. but i noticed the gooey butter bars topping. only calling for 2 cps powdered sugar instead of the traditional 1 lb. Is this correct or did you mean a 1lb box which equals = 3 3/4 cps. ? Thank you soo very kindly. 🙂
It’s just two cups and then I put a little more into the sifter and sprinkled some on. 🙂
Is it 2 cups of powdered sugar or 3.5? You’re saying here 2 cups, but the recipe says 3.5 cups.
I’d suggest to follow the recipe. We have updated it through the years.
Butter Bars look excellent. Thank you and have a great week!
These are AMAZING!!! Just made them tonight! So glad I found this recipe!
Thank you. Nice recipes. Have a good week.
Love these butter bars. Thank you and have a supere day!
These are “Gooey Butter Cake” – a St. Louis tradition!
These look sooooo delicious! I love a good recipe that’s also simple! Can’t wait to try them out!
Mmmm…they look delicious! Can’t wait to try the recipe out! I love Philadelphia cream cheese!
Wow, those butter bars look divine. Thanks a lot for giving me something else to do today! (Maybe after the kids are in bed I’ll treat myself). Your photos are fantastic as well. Thanks for the inspiration. Heidi
Thanks for trying it!