Gooey Butter Cake

By
Kristina Vanni
Kristina Vanni
Kristina Vanni
An internationally recognized culinary authority, Kristina Vanni is well-known for her recipe development, food photography, and experience as a TV show host.
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Updated on 07/30/21
Gooey Butter Cake recipe

The Spruce / Kristina Vanni
Prep: 10 mins
Cook: 40 mins
Total: 50 mins
Servings: 12 servings
Yield: 12 squares
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
511 Calories
23g Fat
74g Carbs
4g Protein
Show Full Nutrition Label Hide Full Nutrition Label
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 12
Amount per serving
Calories 511
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 23g 29%
Saturated Fat 13g 66%
Cholesterol 101mg 34%
Sodium 442mg 19%
Total Carbohydrate 74g 27%
Dietary Fiber 1g 2%
Total Sugars 56g
Protein 4g
Vitamin C 0mg 0%
Calcium 122mg 9%
Iron 1mg 7%
Potassium 68mg 1%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

Gooey butter cake is a decadent treat originating in St. Louis, Missouri, in the 1930s. Legend has it, a local St. Louis baker was trying to make a classic German cake batter but accidentally reversed the proportions of butter and flour. Since ingredients were scarce at the time, the baker chose to bake the cake anyway, and the result was gooey and delicious. The squares were sold to customers, and the recipe became an instant hit.

Gooey butter cake is typically prepared in a 9x13 pan and cut into squares to serve. The texture is dense and gooey, as the name implies. It is typically dusted with powdered sugar and served similar to a coffee cake. It can be made from scratch using cake flour, butter, sugar, and eggs. However, a shortcut version using yellow cake mix and cream cheese was later developed for home cooks to easily prepare at home. Either way, the result is a sweet and rich cake that can be cut into pieces, similar to a brownie.

Ingredients

For the Base:

  • 1 (15.25-ounce) box yellow cake mix

  • 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted and cooled

  • 1 egg

For the Filling:

  • 1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese, softened

  • 4 ounces (1/2 cup) unsalted butter, melted and cooled

  • 2 eggs

  • 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract

  • 1/4 teaspoon salt

  • 4 cups confectioners' sugar, plus more for dusting

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients. Preheat oven to 350 F. Grease a 9x13-inch baking pan with cooking spray and set aside.

    ingredients for Gooey Butter Cake

    The Spruce / Kristina Vanni

  2. In a large bowl combine the yellow cake mix, 6 tablespoons of melted butter, and the egg.

    combine cake mix, melted butter, and egg

    The Spuce / Kristina Vanni

  3. Press the base into the bottom of the prepared baking pan.

    Gooey Butter Cake base pressed into baking pan

    The Spruce / Kristina Vanni

  4. In the large bowl of a stand mixer, beat together the cream cheese, 1/2 cup of melted butter, two eggs, vanilla extract, and salt.

    beat together the cream cheese, melted butter, eggs, vanilla extract, and salt for filling

    The Spruce / Kristina Vanni

  5. Gradually add the powdered sugar and beat until smooth.

    add the powdered sugar and beat until smooth

    The Spruce / Kristina Vanni

  6. Pour the filling over the crust and bake until golden and puffed—about 40 minutes. Do not overbake. The center should still be gooey and not yet completely set.

    Pour the filling over the crust and bake

    The Spruce / Kristina Vanni

  7. Cool completely on a wire rack.

    cool the Gooey Butter Cake on a wire rack

    The Spruce / Kristina Vanni

  8. When ready to serve, dust with additional powdered sugar. Cut into 12 squares and enjoy!

    Dust with powdered sugar, cut and serve the delicious Gooey Butter Cake

    The Spruce / Kristina Vanni

Recipe Variations

If you love gooey butter cake made with a cake mix, just wait until you try some of the variations.


  • Chocolate Gooey Butter Cake: use a chocolate cake mix and reduce the powdered sugar by 1/4 cup and add 1/4 cup of cocoa powder instead.
  • Strawberry Gooey Butter Cake: use a strawberry cake mix and add sliced fresh strawberries on top before baking.
  • Red Velvet Gooey Butter Cake: use a red velvet cake mix.