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This gooey butter cake is built around contrast. A distinctive dessert, it has a dense, buttery base topped with a soft cream cheese layer that sets around the edges while staying loose in the center. It’s a cake that’s rich in flavor and relies more on texture than decoration. Once the gooey butter cake cools, the layers settle into that familiar St Louis-style slice people will want to enjoy right away.
Why You’ll Love It
Gooey butter cake is a yellow cake base topped with a creamy layer that bakes until set around the edges and stays soft and gooey in the center.
Texture driven: The firm base contrasts well with the soft, custardy topping.
Simple to make: Two layers are assembled without extra steps.
Recognizable classic: This is the traditional style people expect when they hear those magical words: gooey butter cake.
You might also like banana pudding poke cake, hidden heart cake, hummingbird loaf cake, homemade Butterfinger bites and honey bun cake.
Ooey Gooey Butter Cake Ingredients
A complete list of ingredients and amounts can be found in the recipe card below.
Yellow cake mix: Forms a dense, buttery base rather than a fluffy crumb.
Butter: Adds richness and weight to both layers.
Eggs: Provide structure so the cake holds together once cooled.
Vanilla extract: Brings warmth and balance to both layers.
Cream cheese: Creates the signature soft topping with a slight tang. I find that full fat cream cheese creates the best gooey texture.
Powdered sugar: Sweetens and thickens the topping into a smooth batter.
How to Make Gooey Butter Cake
For more detailed instructions with weights and measurements, jump to the printable recipe card.
Prepare the pan: Heat the oven and grease a rectangular baking dish.
Mix the base: Combine the cake mix, butter, eggs and vanilla.
Press the base: Spread and press the cake batter evenly into the bottom of the pan.
Blend the topping: Beat the softened cream cheese until smooth, then mix in powdered sugar, melted butter, vanilla and egg.
Add the topping: Pour the cream cheese mixture over the base and gently spread it to the edges.
Bake until set: The edges should look firm while the center still has movement.
Cool completely: Let the cake cool fully so the layers settle before slicing.
Substitutions and Variations
Cake mix swap: White or butter cake mix (this one is good!) gives a slightly lighter flavor. You could also try a chocolate cake mix.
Butter choice: Salted or unsalted work fine.
Cream cheese type: Full fat cream cheese gives the softest texture but you can use any kind.
Flavor change: A small amount of almond extract can be used instead of vanilla.
Serving Suggestions
With ice cream: Enjoy vanilla bean ice cream with your cake to make it extra indulgent.
With a drink: Serve it with a bulletproof coffee or hot lavender matcha latte.
For dessert: It’s delicious after any kind of main dish from chicken puttanesca to stracciatella soup with homemade yeast rolls.
How to Store
Room temperature: Keep tightly covered for up to 2 days.
Refrigerate: Store covered in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
Freeze: Wrap well and freeze for up to 2 months.
Thaw: Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before serving.
Top Tips
Watch the center: A slight wobble means the topping will stay gooey once cooled.
Soften the cream cheese: This prevents lumps in the topping.
Spread gently: Avoid digging into the base when adding the top layer.
Cool fully: The cake firms as it cools and slices much more cleanly.
Dust last: Add powdered sugar right before serving to keep it looking fresh.
Ooey Gooey Butter Cake FAQs
That’s expected. The topping sets as it cools but should stay soft in the middle.
Chilling helps with clean slices but isn’t required if it has cooled fully.
The original gooey butter cake comes from St Louis, Missouri and dates back to the 1930s. It’s believed to have started as a baking mistake that produced a rich, soft cake people loved. The recipe evolved into the layered version known today and remains a St Louis classic.
Gooey Butter Cake Recipe
Gooey Butter Cake
Equipment
- Baking Dish 9 x 13-Inch
- Electric Mixer or StandMixer
- Fine Mesh Sieve Optional
Ingredients
For the Cake Base
- 1 Box yellow cake mix, 15 ¼-Ounce
- 1 ½ Sticks salted butter, ¾ Cup, melted
- 2 eggs, large
- 1 Teaspoon vanilla extract
For the Topping
- 8 Ounces cream cheese, softened
- 3 Cups powdered sugar
- ½ Cup salted butter, melted
- 2 Teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1 egg, large
- powdered sugar, optional
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F and grease a 9 x 13-inch baking dish.
Prepare the Cake Batter
- Mix the cake mix, melted butter, eggs and vanilla extract until combined.
- Press the mixture evenly into the bottom of the prepared pan.
Prepare the Topping
- Beat the cream cheese until smooth, then add powdered sugar, melted butter, vanilla extract, and egg. Mix until combined.
Bake the Cake
- Pour the topping over the base and carefully spread the mixture to the edges.
- Bake for 40 to 45 minutes until the edges are set and the center is still slightly gooey and wobbly.
- Cool completely before topping with powdered sugar if liked and slicing.
Notes
Soften the cream cheese: This prevents lumps in the topping.
Spread gently: Avoid digging into the base when adding the top layer.
Cool fully: The cake firms as it cools and slices much more cleanly.
Dust last: Add powdered sugar right before serving to keep it looking fresh.
Nutrition
Gooey butter cake is one of those delicious bakes that doesn’t need a big introduction once it’s on the counter. The top settles into a soft, creamy layer with that slight tang from the cream cheese, while the base stays dense and buttery so every bite has some structure. Let it cool all the way before cutting and you’ll get neat squares with the center still tender, not runny, just properly gooey. A light dusting of powdered sugar finishes it off nicely, but it’s just as good straight from the pan with a cup of coffee.
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Bella Bucchiotti
Bella Bucchiotti is a Canadian-based syndicated food, travel, and lifestyle writer, photographer, and creator at xoxoBella. She founded xoxoBella in 2015, where she shares her love for food, dogs, sustainability, fitness, crafts, outdoor adventures, travel, and philanthropy to encourage others to run the extra mile, try new recipes, visit unfamiliar places, and stand for a cause. Bella creates stress-free and family-friendly recipes for weeknight dinners and festive feasts.
