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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:
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.
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!!