Ooey Gooey Butter Cake is almost an American classic! Since the 50’s moms and grandmas have been making Ooey-Gooey Cakes for all to enjoy. You may be surprised by the ingredients! Make sure to try Chocolate Ooey Gooey Cake too!
Butter Cake
Before making this I studied a lot of Ooey-Gooey Cake recipes. One comment was very, very common: “It’s very sweet”. But I can handle sweet, I mean, I have made Chocolate Ooey Gooey Cake, Strawberry Ooey Gooey Cake, even Red Velvet Ooey Gooey Cake! I like sweet, but just be prepared. It is VERY sweet!
What is Ooey Gooey Butter Cake?
This recipe is based on the original ooey gooey cake made famous in St. Louis. I have made my version semi-homemade in that I use a cake mix for the bottom layer, but you can certainly make one from scratch if you prefer! There are two distinct layers in an ooey gooey cake. This one is yellow cake on the bottom and a cream cheese butter flavored layer on top. The bottom layer should be a bit firm, but the top layer is melt-in-your-mouth velvety perfection.
I like to serve this ooey gooey butter cake with a light topping of powdered sugar at the end. Some people prefer whipped cream too. Why not add something a little sweeter to the top of this already sweet cake?
Ooey Gooey Bars
Although this is called ooey gooey butter cake, it is technically a bar. Most recipes are made in a 9×13 pan and then cut into a bar shape, so when you make an ooey gooey butter cake you are technically making a bar! I chose to make mine in a 9×3 round cake pan just because I love round cakes, but if you choose to make yours in a 9×13 pan keep an eye on cooking times. The rest of the recipe is the same!
How to Make Ooey Gooey Butter Cake
Make sure you prepare your pan correctly. I use GOOP {Homemade Baker’s Spray} and think it’s far superior to any product you can buy at the store. If you don’t want to make GOOP, grease your pan then line with parchment paper.
Use room temperature ingredients. Set your butter and cream cheese out a couple hours before you plan on making this amazing cake. You will not regret it!
Don’t undermix ingredients. Whip the cream cheese until it is light and fluffy, at least 3 minutes.
Did you know the “magic” version of this recipe? You simply mix all the ingredients in one bowl and then bake. There is no layer separation, but the flavor and texture are still amazing!
Sweet Ooey Gooey Butter Cake
And this is about how much I could eat in one sitting. I mean, don’t get me wrong, it tastes great! Like, really, really great. Fantastic! AMAZING! It is just one of those dishes best served with a cup of black coffee or tea and your dentist’s business card.
I hope you like this ooey gooey butter cake as much as we do!
Ooey Gooey Butter Cake
Ingredients
Cake
- 1 package yellow cake mix
- 2 eggs, room temperature
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup (113g) butter, melted
Filling
- 1 package (8 ounces) cream cheese, room temperature
- 2 eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1/2 cup (113g) butter, melted
- 4 cups confectioners sugar
Instructions
- Heat oven to 350 degrees. (I set my convection oven to 325°F)
- In a bowl, combine cake mix, 2 eggs, 1 tsp vanilla and the melted butter. Mash together with a fork until all ingredients are fully incorporated.
- Spray a 9-inch by 3-inch round cake pan or a 9-inch by 13-inch pan with baking spray or use a piece of parchment in the bottom of the pan.
- Press cake mixture into bottom of prepared pan and get it as flat as possible.
- Place cream cheese, remaining eggs, vanilla and melted butter in a stand mixer and beat on medium speed until creamy.
- Add in confectioners sugar 1 cup at a time (and on low speed) until all sugar has been added.
- Pour cream cheese mixture over cake mixture.
- Bake for 35-45 minutes. I moved mine from the oven when the edges were brown, but the center was still a bit jiggly. You do not want to over cook.
- Allow to cool before serving.
Did you make this recipe?
Thank you for making my recipe! You took pictures, right? Well go ahead and post them on Instagram! Be sure to mention me @iambaker and use the hashtag #YouAreBaker.
Hi. Love all of your incredible recipes. I have a question – what is “California” Cream Cheese? All I know is Philadelphia Cream Cheese that goes on my bagel. Is it basically the same thing?
I actually Googled “California” Cream Cheese and came up with an Urban Dictionary definition that I’m pretty sure you weren’t going for. lol 😉
“Dairy products made with 100% California milk are distinguished by the Real California and Real California milk seals. California cream cheese refers to cream cheese made with California milk.” If it’s unavailable in your area, any type of cream cheese will work. I LOVE that you googled it… you are too adorable!!! Have a blessed day girl!
Oh my goodness, you have just made my day! A friend’s mom used to make this all the time for us in high school, but would never share the recipe and we could never quite recreate it. To up the ante a bit, she added chocolate chips to her cream cheese layer. I can’t wait to try this!!
Cook’s illustrated has a recipe for gooey butter cake with several variations: original, butterscotch, and chocolate!
I’m from St. Louis, the home of Gooey Butter Cake. It’s makes me cry to see this version which takes our traditional yeast bread breakfast cake and, and…well, changes it to not even be close to the original! Yes the topping is sweet but the original does not include one bit of cream cheese and when balanced with a slightly sweetened base that is more bread than cake, it’s simply divine. I know I know, no big deal to many but when you are from the town where it made it’s name; when it was a breakfast treat EVERY Sunday after church for your entire childhood; well, you might get a bit misty at this too!
Want what is considered the original recipe? This is from one of the bakeries in St. Louis south side; the true beginnings of Gooey Butter Cake! My only caveat is that I have since bought the 8″ square pans…the topping ratio needs to be a bit thicker than what I made with 9″ pans…you know the better to scrape it off and eat it all by itself my dear. 🙂
http://www.creative-culinary.com/real-st-louis-gooey-butter-cake/
Great! Thank you!
Could this be made with a gluten free cake mix? All these yummy recipes when I’m trying to keep my gut happy.
Hi, I saw you in a video , King Arthur flour, so it lead me here to check out your blog ,(
I’m pretty sure I *need* this in my life! 🙂
Try this one! It’s fabulous.
http://smittenkitchen.com/blog/2010/03/st-louis-gooey-butter-cake/
I am from St. Louis where this cake is originally from. The “REAL” on does not have cream cheese in it. The crust has yeast in it and is not cake like. Yours looks good but it is not the original, sorry.
KIM D gave you a good recipe.
I am pretty sure I never said it was the original? I pretty much said the opposite? Not sure where you got that idea.
Don’t give up on them! make it from scratch.