This delectable Gooey Butter Cake has a rich, buttery, soft cake crust and a gooey cream cheese top. It is made with seven easy ingredients in two easy steps. Having this cake prepped and in the oven in less than ten minutes makes it perfect for potlucks, family reunions, neighborhood shindigs, and bridal and baby showers.
If you have never tried a Gooey Butter Cake, you must treat yourself!! This is one of those regional recipes. It is a St. Louis original recipe, or so I have been told. It is still up for debate whether a German baker at a South St. Louis bakery or a baker named John Koppe, also from St. Louis, created this treat.
You will fall madly in love with this family-friendly, easy dessert recipe. If you like this easy dessert recipe, try oatmeal bars, old-fashioned oatmeal cake, and lemon bars.
Ingredient Notes and Substitutions
- Cake mix: yellow cake mix or yellow butter cake mix. See below for variations.
- Butter: unsalted or salted
- Eggs: large, three of them to be exact
- Cream cheese: go for the gusto and use full-fat
- Vanilla extract: use the pure stuff, please
- Powdered sugar: also known as confectioners’ sugar
How to Make Gooey Butter Cake
This is the summary version; see the recipe card below for the complete list of ingredients and the instructions.
Start by buttering a 9×13-inch baking dish. Then, in a large bowl, mix a yellow butter cake mix, a stick of melted butter, and an egg. Once combined, pat the dough into the prepared baking dish.
Using a stand or hand electric mixer on medium speed, beat the cream cheese in another large bowl until smooth and lump-free. Then, turn the mixer to low and add the eggs one at a time, mixing until incorporated. Add the vanilla and powdered sugar in several increments, blending just until incorporated.
Pour that layer on top of the cake batter already in the baking dish. Bake in a preheated oven for about 45 minutes. Cool before slicing, and if desired, sprinkle with powdered sugar.
Preparation Tips
- Coat the baking dish with butter or nonstick cooking spray to prevent the crust from sticking and to make removing this soft, gooey cake from the pan easier.
- Soften the cream cheese and bring the eggs to room temperature.
- Load the cake on the middle rack in the center of the oven
- For best results on the top layer, beat the cream cheese until smooth and lump-free. Then, turn the mixer to low and add the eggs one at a time, mixing just until incorporated. Keeping the mixer on low, add the vanilla and powdered sugar (in intervals), mixing just until incorporated.
Flavor Variations
- German Chocolate: Substitute a German chocolate cake mix for the butter cake mix on the bottom. Fold 3/4 cup toasted chopped pecans and 1 cup sweetened coconut flakes into the top layer.
- Strawberry: Fold two cups of chopped fresh strawberries into the top layer.
- Pumpkin: Increase eggs to three for the top layer; after adding eggs and vanilla on low, add 15 ounces of pumpkin puree, 1 stick of melted butter cooled slightly (1/2 cup), and 2 teaspoons of pumpkin pie spice. Then, proceed with adding the powdered sugar.
- Lemon: Substitute a lemon cake mix for the butter cake mix on the bottom. In the top layer, omit the vanilla extract, but add three tablespoons of freshly squeezed lemon juice.
Storage
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
To freeze, cover with a couple of layers of plastic wrap followed by a layer of aluminum foil. If they are individual slices, place them in a freezer-safe container or freezer zipper bag. Freeze for up to 3 months.
Frequently Asked Questions
Any yellow butter cake mix will do. It does not have to be a specific one. My mother always swore by Betty Crocker, but I prefer Duncan Hines. See above for more flavor variations.
You can not use the toothpick method to test for doneness on this cake since it is a gooey cake. 40-45 minutes does the trick with a nice golden brown crust and a light golden brown color for the center.
To cut clean slices, spray the knife with nonstick spray and wipe the knife clean with a paper towel after each slice.
More Dessert Recipes
Gooey Butter Cake Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 yellow butter cake mix or yellow cake mix just the cake mix
- ½ cup butter melted
- 3 large eggs
- 8 ounce package cream cheese softened
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 3 ½ cups confectioners’ sugar plus more for dusting if desired
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees
- Grease a 9×13-inch baking pan.
- Mix cake mix, melted butter, and 1 egg. Pat gently into the bottom of the prepared baking dish.
- Using a stand or hand mixer on medium speed, beat the cream cheese until smooth and lump free. Turn the mixer to low and 2 eggs one at a time and mix just until incorporated. Mix in vanilla extract. Mix in powdered sugar in several increments blending just until combined. Pour this mixture on top of the layer in the baking dish. Do NOT mix the two layers together. Bake for 40-45 minutes or until golden brown.
- If desired, sprinkle with powdered sugar when fully cooled.
Video
Notes
- Coat the baking dish with butter or nonstick cooking spray to prevent the crust from sticking and to make it easier to remove this soft, gooey cake from the pan.
- Soften the cream cheese and bring the eggs to room temperature.
- Load the cake on the middle rack in the center of the oven
- For best results on the top layer, beat the cream cheese until smooth and lump-free. Then, turn the mixer to low and add the eggs one at a time, mixing just until incorporated. Keeping the mixer on low, add the vanilla and powdered sugar (in intervals), mixing just until incorporated.
Nutrition
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https://www.smalltownwoman.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/Beth-1.pdf
Nik
How big is the box of cake mix you use? They keep reducing the sizes so it would be helpful to list that in the recipe. The Betty Crocker box I have is 13.25oz.
Beth Pierce
The recipe has wiggle room in it. That will be fine.
Harmony
Oh my goodness. This gooey butter cake recipe was wonderfully delicious. Thank you so much for sharing!
Beth Pierce
My pleasure, Harmony!
Yasmine
Oohh this gooey butter cake is so delicious! Everyone in my family loved it. This is going to be a regular treat at our house.
Tania M
I love anything with cream cheese, so I knew I would like this. It is delicious! I shared it with my office workers and they loved it, too!
Lissa M
This was so decadent and utterly delicious! I think this is my son’s new favorite dessert. He wants me to make it again, already. Thanks for sharing the yummy recipe!
Beth Pierce
Thanks, Lissa! I am glad that you and your son liked the cake.
Karen
i am literally drooling…I am baking it tomorrow, can’t wait!!!! These pictures…I died…I hope it turns out as good as these pictures. Thank you so so much for the recipe.
Beth Pierce
My pleasure, Karen! Enjoy!
Julie
What a decedent cake recipe! We loved every bite! We enjoy so many of your recipes! Thank you so much for sharing.
Beth Pierce
My pleasure, Julie!
Stacie K
I’m actually so sad my chronic illness won’t allow me to even try this, but I’ll be definitely making this for my family. I think they’re gonna love it!!
Beth Pierce
Thanks, Stacie! I hope they enjoy it as much as we do!
Marie
Oh my gosh! So yum and the texture was so good!
Beth Pierce
Thanks, Marie!
Kim
This cake was out of this world! So flavorful and I really loved the texture!
Beth Pierce
Thank you, Kim!
Chenee
This is so yummy! I am going to make it again for the office potluck. My co-workers love it.
Kathleen
Oh, my deliciousness! Easy to make and the whole family loves it This drool worthy dessert is not going to last long in my home.
Scarlett
This was delicious! We really enjoyed both making and eating it!
Beth Pierce
Thank you, Scarlett!
Charah
So easy to make and my family loves it, will make more of this recipe. thankyou for sharing
Beth Pierce
My pleasure, Charah!