Gooey Butter Cake is a St. Louis tradition of a yellow cake crust topped with a gooey cream cheese filling. Here I share the classic recipe as well as some delicious Ooey Gooey Butter Cake variations!
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The Invention of Gooey Butter Cake
Gooey Butter cake is said to have been an accidental invention. A baker in Missouri was attempting to make coffee cake, but he got his measurements mixed up, and ended up with this gooey cake. The new cake sold so well that it became a bakery staple.
We enjoyed this cake as the dessert for our Missouri state dinner, but many serve it for breakfast as a coffee cake! Whenever you enjoy it, the creaminess of the filling, and the vanilla flavor, do pair well with coffee.
What Makes This Cake So Good?
There are just 7 ingredients in this gooey butter cake! It is so simple!
The recipe begins with a cake mix as the foundation for the crust. Using a cake mix keeps the recipe easy!
Many recipes call for only butter in the cake. This is a butter cake recipe, after all! So having the flavor of butter is really important. However, in testing this recipe I discovered that adding a little bit of oil made the cake more rich and moist.
Traditional recipes for gooey butter cake range from 2-4 cups of powdered sugar in the filling. I found that right in the middle, at 3 cups is the perfect balance of being sweet, but not overly sweet. Plus, the cake gets dusted with additional powdered sugar, so starting a little lighter on the powdered sugar works well.
How to Make Gooey Butter Cake
Prepare the Cake Batter
- Look at this! It couldn't get any easier! Just mix cake mix, eggs, butter, oil, and vanilla in a bowl. This makes a thick batter that is in between the consistency of regular cake batter and cookie dough.
Mix the Filling
- The key to this step is to mix the cream cheese and vanilla extract together until they are smooth. Using room temperature cream cheese helps with this, but if you don't have the time to let your cream cheese sit out, just beat the mixture a little bit longer.
- Once all of the ingredients are mixed together, turn your mixer onto high and beat it for one minute. This step makes it fluffy and smooth.
The Butter Cake Layers
- The two batters now get layered in the pan, starting with the cake batter. Pour it into a greased pan. Since it is thick you will need to use a spoon to press it into the pan.
- Next, pour the cream cheese layer over the top and spread it evenly.
Don't Overbake!
- Bake until the edges are brown and puffy, but the middle is still a little gooey. If you overbake the cake you will just have a butter cake - there will be no gooeyness left.
More Brunch Recipes
Recipe Variations
- Pumpkin Gooey Butter Cake: Add 1 can of pumpkin puree, 8 tablespoons of melted butter, 1 teaspoon cinnamon, and ½ teaspoon nutmeg to the filling.
- Lemon Gooey Butter Cake: Use a lemon cake mix, and add ¼ cup lemon juice and 1 teaspoon lemon zest to the filling.
- Chocolate Gooey Butter Cake: Use a chocolate cake mix. Add ¼ cup of cocoa to the filling.
- Cinnamon Gooey Butter Cake: Mix together 3 tablespoons of granulated sugar and 1 ½ teaspoons of cinnamon together, and sprinkle over the topping before baking.
- Red Velvet Gooey Butter Cake: Use a red velvet cake mix.
- Strawberry Gooey Butter Cake: Use a strawberry cake mix. Top with sliced fresh strawberries.
Frequently Asked Questions
The cake can be stored at room temperature, covered, for up to 4 days, or in the refrigerator for one week. In the freezer, it will last for up to 4 months. Thaw before serving.
The trick to knowing whether or not your cake is done is to give it a little shake. The middle should jiggle, while the edges stay firm.
Let me know how you like this recipe by leaving a review! And follow along on Instagram @stateofdinner for behind the scenes and to be among the first to know when new recipes post!
Recipe
Gooey Butter Cake + 6 Variations
Recipe by:Ingredients
Crust
- 1 package yellow cake mix
- 2 eggs
- ½ cup melted butter
- 3 tablespoons oil
- 1 ½ teaspoons vanilla extract
Filling
- 1 package (8 ounces) cream cheese
- 2 eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 3 cups powdered sugar, plus additional to dust over the cake
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray a 9x13-inch pan with nonstick spray.
- In a medium bowl, mix together the cake mix, eggs, melted butter, oil, and vanilla. This batter will be thick. Press into the bottom of the baking pan.
- Using a handheld or stand mixer, beat cream cheese, eggs, and vanilla extract for 1-2 minutes, until smooth. Add in powdered sugar and beat on low until mixed in, and then increase speed to high for an additional minute.
- Pour the cream cheese filling over the cake batter.
- Bake 28-35 minutes, or until filling is set. The edges should be brown but the center should still look gooey.
- Remove from oven and cool completely before serving.
Notes
- Pumpkin Gooey Butter Cake: Add 1 can of pumpkin puree, 8 tablespoons of melted butter, 1 teaspoon cinnamon, and ½ teaspoon nutmeg to the filling.
- Lemon Gooey Butter Cake: Use a lemon cake mix, and add ¼ cup lemon juice and 1 teaspoon lemon zest to the filling.
- Chocolate Gooey Butter Cake: Use a chocolate cake mix. Add ¼ cup of cocoa to the filling.
- Cinnamon Gooey Butter Cake: Mix together 3 tablespoons of granulated sugar and 1 ½ teaspoons of cinnamon together, and sprinkle over the topping before baking.
- Red Velvet Gooey Butter Cake: Use a red velvet cake mix.
- Strawberry Gooey Butter Cake: Use a strawberry cake mix. Top with sliced fresh strawberries.
Sasha
Would the cook time be different if I use a smaller pan?
Erin
Yes, for a 9x9 pan you would cook the gooey butter cake for 35-40 minutes. An 8x8 cake would cook even longer. Check it around 40 minutes, but it could take as long as 55 minutes to be ready.
Lois B
Hi I don't have yellow cake mix will vanilla do?
Erin
Hi Lois! Yes, vanilla cake mix is a fine substitution! It may be a little bit sweeter, depending on the brand, but will still be delicious.
Cassie
I am from St. Louis and grew up with ooey gooey butter cake. This recipe reminds me of home! It is perfectly gooey with just the right sweetness. And I love your variations! The lemon gooey butter cake is my favorite!
Erin Gierhart
Isn't the lemon gooey butter cake heavenly? Almost like lemon bars, but extra creamy. Thanks for your rating!
Lynn J.
When do you use the 3 tbsp of oil?
Erin
It is added with the butter.