Sandra A yellow cake mix, butter, and one egg form the pressed base of a 13×9 pan. A beaten mixture of softened cream cheese, two eggs, vanilla, butter, and a full box of powdered sugar spreads on top. The whole pan bakes at 350°F for 40 to 50 minutes and serves 10.
Paula Deen, author of Paula Deen’s Southern Cooking Bible, stirs a full 16-ounce box of powdered sugar into the cream cheese topping. The powdered sugar thickens the mixture enough to hold a soft, sunken center as the cake bakes, rather than spreading flat. That gooey center is the defining feature of the finished square.
Not overbaking is as important as what goes in the batter. The recipe specifies 40 to 50 minutes and explicitly warns against overbaking because the center should stay gooey. A fully set center means the topping has dried out past the point that makes the cake what it is supposed to be.
Paula Deen Gooey Butter Cake Recipe
Description
Paula Deen Gooey Butter Cake Recipe: yellow cake mix base, cream cheese topping with powdered sugar and vanilla. Bakes at 350°F in 50 minutes. Serves 10
Ingredients
Cake Base
Cream Cheese Topping
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F. Lightly grease a 13×9-inch baking pan.
- Combine the cake mix, 1 egg, and 8 tablespoons melted butter in a bowl. Mix well with an electric mixer. Pat the mixture evenly into the bottom of the prepared pan.
- In a large bowl, beat the cream cheese until smooth. Add the 2 eggs, vanilla, and 8 tablespoons melted butter and beat well to combine.
- Add the powdered sugar to the cream cheese mixture and mix well. Spread evenly over the cake batter in the pan.
- Bake for 40 to 50 minutes. Do not overbake — the center should remain a little gooey.
FAQs
Can the yellow cake mix be replaced with another flavor?
Any flavor of cake mix works at the same 18¼-ounce quantity. Chocolate cake mix produces a brownie-like base, lemon gives a citrus version, and spice cake mix produces a warmer, cinnamon-forward result. Paula Deen’s site publishes separate variations built on chocolate, pumpkin, and toffee using this same two-layer format.
Why does the cream cheese need to be fully softened before using?
Cold cream cheese will not beat smooth and leaves lumps in the topping that stay visible after baking. Pull the cream cheese from the refrigerator at least 30 minutes before starting. A lumpy topping bakes unevenly, with some spots over-set and others still raw, which defeats the uniform gooey texture the recipe aims for.
Can this cake be made ahead of time?
Gooey butter cake keeps at room temperature for 2 to 3 days covered, and actually improves slightly overnight as the topping settles. Refrigerating firms the topping further; bring it back to room temperature for 30 minutes before serving to restore the intended texture. For longer storage, cut into squares and freeze in an airtight container for up to 2 months.
What other Paula Deen cake bakes in a 13×9 pan for the same easy, crowd-serving format?
Paula Deen’s pineapple cake uses the same sheet pan format, cutting into squares without any layering or crumb coating work. A Paula Deen pineapple cake on this site builds on crushed pineapple and cream cheese frosting in a format ready in about an hour. Both suit the same table — straightforward to slice and built for a crowd.
What Paula Deen cake provides a bright, citrus contrast to this rich butter cake?
A lemon pound cake clears the palate where this butter cake settles and sits at the opposite end of the flavor spectrum. A Paula Deen lemon pound cake on this site uses fresh lemon zest and a sweet glaze to make two loaves ready in about 1 hour 25 minutes. Together they cover rich Southern indulgence and a bright citrus finish on the same table.
