Gooey Butter Cake is exactly as magical as it sounds. A box of yellow cake mix is doctored up with butter and cream cheese and topped with what can only be described as gooey, buttery heaven. It’s been around for about 100 years and it’s not hard to see why it’s got such a great reputation!

Three pieces of cake are stacked on a plate.


Gooey Butter Cake

I’ll be very honest… I don’t know if I’ve ever met a cake I didn’t like. But with that being said, not all cakes are created equally! This gooey butter cake recipe just so happens to be towards the tip top of my list of all-time favorite cake recipes. I really love when I can take a store-bought box of cake mix and transform it into something that dreams are made of.

There are two layers to this gooey butter cake. The bottom is the actual cake! It’s a simple mix of yellow cake mix, an egg, butter and cream cheese. It’s delightfully dense and moist. Then, it’s topped off with the real star of the show – a layer of gooey goodness! Eggs, vanilla, almond and sugar come together to create the smoothest, sweetest layer to compliment the yellow cake.

This semi-homemade cake recipe is so easy to toss together! If you’re an avid baker like me, there’s a good chance you already have everything you need in your kitchen right now. After just a few minutes of prep work, you just toss the cake in the oven, wait about 40 minutes (enjoy all the sweet smells in your kitchen), and voila! You have a perfectly soft, dense, incredible gooey butter cake.

A baked cake is in a baking dish lined with parchment paper.

How to Make Gooey Butter Cake

This gooey butter cake recipe is so simple! For more details about the ingredient measurements and step by step process, just scroll down to the recipe card at the bottom of the page.

  1. Prepare. Coat a 9×13 pan with butter or spray. Preheat the oven to 350°F.
  2. Make the cake layer. Mix together the yellow cake mix, egg, and melted butter. Spread this mixture into an even layer in the prepared baking dish.
  3. Make the gooey layer. This is best to do with an electric hand mixer! Blend together cream cheese, eggs, vanilla, almond extract and powdered sugar. Once it’s smooth, spread it evenly across the cake layer.
  4. Bake. Place the cake in the oven and bake for about 40-45 minutes. The edges should be a nice golden brown color. Note that the center make sink a little bit – that’s perfectly fine!
  5. Let it cool. Place your cake on a wire rack and let it cool off. Sprinkle with powdered sugar and enjoy!

PRO TIP: Gooey butter cake is wonderful when served still a little warm from the oven! Just make sure it’s not too hot.

Several slices of gooey butter cake are on a blue plate.

Storage

You can store your gooey butter cake in an airtight container at room temperature for about 2-3 days. Before you store it, make sure it’s completely cooled to room temperature! You don’t want any condensation to form. You can keep it fresh for a little longer by storing it in the fridge instead, where it’ll keep for about 4-5 days.

Freezing

You can freeze gooey butter cake for up to 3 months. Just make sure it’s fully cooled to room temperature first! Then, place individual slices in an airtight freezer-safe container. Don’t forget to date and label. I find that it’s best to place a small square of parchment paper between each individual piece of cake so they don’t stick together.

Let each frozen piece adjust to room temperature on your kitchen counter for about an hour before enjoying!

Two forks are placed on a plate with cake on it.

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Three pieces of cake are stacked on a plate.

Get the Recipe: Gooey Butter Cake Recipe

Yield: 12
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 45 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour
Indulge in pure decadence! Gooey butter cake starts with a buttery, yellow cake base. This is overlaid with a lusciously sweet, gooey cream cheese filling. Its unique texture and rich flavor make it a truly irresistible dessert.
5 from 1 vote
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Ingredients

  • 1 15.25 – ounce box yellow cake mix
  • 1 egg, room temperature
  • 2/3 cup butter, melted
  • 8 ounces cream cheese

For the Gooey Layer

  • 2 eggs, lightly beaten
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1/2 teaspoon almond extract
  • 3 cups powdered sugar, plus more for sprinkling

Equipment

  • 1 baking dish

Instructions 

  • Coat a 9×13 inch pan with cooking spray and line with parchment paper.
  • Preheat oven to 350˚F.
  • In a large bowl, mix the cake mix, egg and melted butter together until smooth.
  • Press the cake mixture into the pan in an even layer.
  • Using a hand mixer, blend the cream cheese, 2 eggs, vanilla, almond extract and powdered sugar until smooth. Spread the mixture over the cake mix mixture.
  • Bake in the oven for 40-45 minutes or until the edges are golden brown.
  • Allow the cake to cool slightly on a wire rack.
  • Dust with powdered sugar and serve.
Calories: 423kcal, Carbohydrates: 61g, Protein: 4g, Fat: 19g, Saturated Fat: 11g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g, Monounsaturated Fat: 5g, Trans Fat: 1g, Cholesterol: 87mg, Sodium: 419mg, Potassium: 61mg, Fiber: 0.4g, Sugar: 46g, Vitamin A: 628IU, Calcium: 104mg, Iron: 1mg
Author: Kellie
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American, Southern