Sandra This Paula Deen Gooey Butter Cake Recipe is a rich and decadent recipe, which is made with yellow cake mix and cream cheese. It’s the ultimate comfort food recipe, ready in about 1 hour.
Paula Deen Gooey Butter Cake Recipe Ingredients
- 1 (18.25 oz) package yellow cake mix
- 1 large egg
- 1 cup (2 sticks) butter, melted and divided
- 1 (8 oz) package cream cheese, softened
- 2 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 (16 oz) box powdered sugar
How To Make Paula Deen Gooey Butter Cake
- Preheat Oven and Prepare Crust: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Lightly grease a 13×9-inch baking pan. In a medium bowl, combine the yellow cake mix, 1 egg, and ½ cup (1 stick) of the melted butter. Mix with an electric mixer until combined, then pat the mixture firmly into the bottom of the prepared pan to form the crust.
- Make the Cream Cheese Filling: In a large bowl, beat the softened cream cheese with an electric mixer until it is smooth and free of lumps. Add the 2 eggs and the vanilla extract and beat until combined.
- Add Butter and Sugar: With the mixer on low, slowly pour in the remaining ½ cup of melted butter. Once combined, gradually add the powdered sugar, mixing until the filling is smooth.
- Assemble and Bake: Pour the cream cheese filling evenly over the cake crust in the pan. Bake for 40 to 50 minutes. The edges should be golden brown, but the center should still be slightly gooey and have a little jiggle.
- Cool Before Serving: Let the cake cool completely in the pan before slicing into squares. This is important for the center to set properly.
Recipe Tips
- How do I know when the gooey butter cake is done? This is the most important part! The cake is ready when the edges are set and golden brown, but the center still looks slightly underbaked and has a jiggle to it. Do not wait for a clean toothpick test, or you will overbake it and lose the “gooey” texture.
- Why is my cake not gooey? The most common reason is overbaking. This cake is meant to be a dense, gooey bar, not a light, fluffy cake. Trust the process and pull it from the oven while the center is still soft.
- How do I get clean slices? For the cleanest cuts, it’s best to chill the cake completely in the refrigerator for a few hours before slicing. Use a large, sharp knife and wipe it clean between each cut.
- Can I use a different cake mix? While yellow cake mix is classic, you can absolutely experiment. A butter pecan, French vanilla, or even a chocolate cake mix would create delicious variations.
What To Serve With Gooey Butter Cake
This dessert is incredibly rich and sweet on its own, but it’s often served with:
- A simple dusting of powdered sugar
- A dollop of whipped cream
- Fresh raspberries or strawberries to cut the richness
- A scoop of vanilla ice cream
- A hot cup of coffee or a cold glass of milk
How To Store Gooey Butter Cake
- Refrigerate: Cover the cake tightly or store slices in an airtight container in the refrigerator. It will keep for up to 5 days.
- Serving: It can be served chilled directly from the refrigerator or allowed to come to room temperature.
- Freeze: This cake freezes wonderfully. Wrap individual squares tightly in plastic wrap and then foil, and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw in the refrigerator or at room temperature.
Gooey Butter Cake Nutrition Facts
- Serving Size: 1/15 of recipe
- Calories: ~450 kcal
- Protein: 4g
- Carbohydrates: 55g
- Fat: 24g
- Sugar: 45g
Nutrition information is estimated and may vary based on ingredients and cooking methods used.
FAQs
It’s a dense, rich dessert bar with two distinct layers: a firm, buttery cake-like crust on the bottom and a soft, gooey, sweet cream cheese layer on top. It is not a light and airy cake.
This can sometimes happen if the filling is much thinner than the crust batter. It doesn’t affect the taste, but to keep the layers distinct, make sure the crust is patted down firmly and evenly before pouring the filling on top.
Yes, using softened cream cheese is crucial for getting a smooth, lump-free filling. If your cream cheese is cold, it will be difficult to beat and will leave small lumps in the final product.
Paula Deen Gooey Butter Cake Recipe
Description
A famously rich and decadent dessert bar featuring a buttery yellow cake crust and a sweet, gooey cream cheese topping.
Ingredients
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease a 13×9-inch pan.
- Mix cake mix, 1 egg, and ½ cup melted butter. Pat firmly into the bottom of the pan.
- Beat softened cream cheese until smooth. Beat in 2 eggs, vanilla, and the remaining ½ cup melted butter.
- Gradually mix in the powdered sugar until the filling is smooth.
- Pour the filling over the crust.
- Bake for 40-50 minutes, until the edges are golden but the center is still slightly gooey.
- Cool completely in the pan before slicing and serving.
Notes
- Do not overbake this cake. The key to the “gooey” texture is pulling it from the oven while the center is still soft.
- For the smoothest filling, ensure your cream cheese is fully softened to room temperature.
- The cake must cool completely before slicing to allow the gooey center to set properly.
- This dessert is very rich; small squares are the perfect serving size.
