Enjoy a slice of irresistible Gooey Butter Cake! With its rich, buttery base and sweet, gooey top layer, this classic dessert is the perfect indulgence. Simple to make and always a crowd-pleaser, it’s great for gatherings or a sweet treat anytime.
Why This Gooey Butter Cake Is the Best
- Rich and Gooey Texture: The topping is sweet and gooey, providing a delightful contrast to the dense cake base.
- Buttery Flavor: The cake is rich with a buttery flavor that melts in your mouth.
- Easy to Make: This recipe is straightforward and can be made with simple ingredients you likely have in your pantry.
- Elegant Presentation: When dusted with powdered sugar and garnished with fresh mint, the cake looks as good as it tastes.
Perfect for Any Occasion
Whether you’re celebrating a holiday, hosting a party, or simply craving a decadent dessert, Gooey Butter Cake is the perfect choice. The combination of a dense cake base and a gooey topping makes it a crowd-pleaser that everyone will enjoy.
Ingredients Note
- Flour: To achieve the best results, I suggest using cake flour instead of all-purpose flour. While either option will work, cake flour is finely milled, resulting in a soft and tender cake crumb—ideal for this recipe.
- Butter: Before you begin, melt 1 cup of unsalted butter. The high fat content in butter contributes to the cake’s moist texture and imparts a rich flavor to the simple cake ingredients.
- Powdered Milk: Opt for non-fat powdered milk in this recipe. This concentrated milk powder serves as an excellent alternative to regular milk, providing the necessary flavor without adding extra liquid to the batter.
- Eggs: Eggs add protein and create a creamier cake batter. They play a crucial role in binding the wet and dry ingredients together. You’ll also use eggs in the topping to help achieve a thick, gooey consistency.
- Cream Cheese: Cream cheese is a key ingredient in the gooey topping. It is rich and thick yet soft enough to blend with other ingredients, creating a pudding-like mixture. Its distinct tangy flavor balances out the sweetness of the other ingredients.
- Powdered Sugar: Combine powdered sugar with the cream cheese to create a light, smooth mixture with the perfect level of sweetness. Sprinkle additional powdered sugar over the top for an easy yet elegant finish.
Tips for Making the Best Gooey Butter Cake
- Use Fresh Ingredients: For the best flavor, use fresh, high-quality butter and other ingredients.
- Don’t Overmix: Mix the batter just until combined to keep the cake light and fluffy.
- Bake Until Set: Bake the cake until the edges are set but the center is still slightly gooey to maintain the desired texture.
- Cool Before Slicing: Allow the cake to cool completely before slicing to ensure clean cuts and a firm texture.
Serving Suggestions
- With a Cup of Coffee: Enjoy Gooey Butter Cake with a hot cup of coffee for a cozy treat.
- With Whipped Cream: Serve with a dollop of whipped cream for extra indulgence.
- With Fresh Fruit: Pair with fresh berries or apple slices for a refreshing contrast.
- With a Glass of Milk: A cold glass of milk complements the rich flavors of the cake perfectly.
- With a Sprinkle of Powdered Sugar: Dust the top with powdered sugar for an elegant finish.
- With Caramel Drizzle: Drizzle with caramel sauce for an extra touch of sweetness.
Variations
- Cake Mix: Instead of making the cake base from scratch, you can use a cake mix. For this version, grab a box of yellow cake mix, a cup of melted butter, and 2 large eggs. Combine the butter and eggs into the powdered cake mix. Once it forms a smooth batter, pour it into your cake pan. The gooey cream cheese topping is prepared the same way as usual.
- Gooey Caramel Cake: To add a rich caramel flavor to the gooey topping, keep most of the ingredients the same but introduce dulce de leche or caramelized milk. Mix the caramel with the cream cheese until smooth. Then, layer the caramel cream cheese over the cake batter. For an extra touch, sprinkle brown sugar or drizzle Salted Caramel Sauce on top before serving.
- Gooey Lemon Cake: For a fresh, citrusy twist, add a tbsp of lemon juice and a sprinkle of lemon zest to the cake batter. You can also enhance the lemony flavor by adding extra zest to the powdered sugar topping.
- Gooey Almond Cake: Another delicious variation involves adding chopped nuts to the cake mixture. Add chopped almonds by sprinkling them between the cake batter and the gooey topping. For an extra almond kick, whisk almond extract into the batter in this variation.
Love cakes? Be sure to check out these other great cake recipes!
Gooey Butter Cake
Whether you’re celebrating a holiday, hosting a party, or simply craving a decadent dessert, Gooey Butter Cake is the perfect choice. The combination of a dense cake base and a gooey topping makes it a crowd-pleaser that everyone will enjoy.
Ingredients
Cake Layer:
- 2 cups flour
- 1 1/2 cups sugar
- 1/2 cup non-fat powdered milk
- 1 tbsp baking powder
- 1/2 tsp baking soda
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1 cup unsalted butter melted
- 2 large eggs
Gooey Layer:
- 2 large eggs
- 2 tsps vanilla extract
- 8 ounces cream cheese softened
- 2 cups powdered sugar
To Finish:
- 1/2 cup powdered sugar
Instructions
Cake Layer:
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and coat a 9×13" baking pan with baking spray.
- In a big mixing bowl, combine flour, sugar, powdered milk, baking soda, and salt.
- Add the melted butter, eggs, and vanilla extract to the dry ingredients. Whisk the mixture well to ensure everything is thoroughly combined.
- Spread the resulting mixture evenly into the prepared baking pan.
Gooey Layer:
- In your mixing bowl, add eggs, vanilla, cream cheese, and powdered sugar.
- Use a whisk or a hand mixer to combine the ingredients until you achieve a smooth consistency.
- Spoon this cream cheese mixture over the cake batter in an even layer.
To Finish:
- Bake for about 45 minutes.
- Allow the baked cake to cool completely before slicing.
- Once cooled, dust the top with powdered sugar for a finishing touch.
Notes
- Serve: Ensure that you allow this cake to cool completely before slicing it. While the cake is meant to be gooey, cutting into it while it's still hot will make it too gooey to serve.
- Store: Avoid leaving the cake uncovered at room temperature for more than a few hours. To store the butter cake, tightly cover it in tin foil. You can keep the Gooey Cake in the fridge for up to 1 week or at room temperature for 1-2 days. If refrigerated, let it sit on the counter for a few hours before serving to bring it back to room temperature.
- Freeze: For freezing the cake, cut it into squares and place them in a gallon freezer bag with parchment paper between the layers. This prevents the squares from freezing together. The cake will remain frozen for up to 3 months. When you're ready to serve, place the freezer bag on the counter and let the cake bars thaw. Once they've reached room temperature, you can serve them as the perfect dessert.
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