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.
what if there is no package of yellow cake mix ? (we do not have this already prepared cake in France : we are real cooks!) and can we replace sugar with sweetener , like stevia (I am diabetics) ?
I see a lot of comments about how sweet it is and that people do not have cake mixes because they are “real cooks”. First of all, if you read the instructions before the recipe you would see how many times the author stated it was a very, very, very sweet cake/bar. For those who thumb your noses at cake mixes, all a cake mix is is pre-measured dry ingredients. Measuring some flour, baking soda, baking powder, etc into a bowl does not make you a real cook. If you ever watch Food Network there are some pretty famous chefs on there who deem a box mix short cut appropriate. Some of them even have the title of Iron Chef. The article also states that if you don’t have box mix then use your favorite scratch recipe. People need to read the information completely before going off on others.
I’m 15 and made this. It turned out great! I enjoy making desserts for my family and absolutely LOVED this recipe. Thanks!
So glad, Samara!
I e made this twice and the cake overlaps not the center when it bakes. It doesn’t look like the pictures, but still tastes fine. Why does it do that?
I love these cakes … I am a baker2 …
This is only recipe I use. My daughter is having me make this for her birthday(what I am doing as I’m writing this. Just waiting for it to bake. Will make this many more times.
Yay! Happy Birthday to your sweet girl!
wow what wonderful recipes,you are great keep them comming and Thank you.
Will this work with a gluten free yellow cake mix?
It should, but I have not tested that so can’t accurately speak to its effectiveness.
Hi,
Should I use salted or unsalted butter!
Good recipe, but butter cake is never, ever, ever baked in a round tin and cut into wedges.
Thanks! Except that is how I chose to make it. 🙂 So it is.