Jeff Misenti
March 11, 2026
Difficulty Level: easy
20 min Prep
45 min Cook
1 hr 5 min Total
12 Servings
The ever-popular butter cake is the kind of dessert or sweet snack that never goes out of style. A St. Louis favorite, it is loved for its rich texture, sweet buttery flavor, and soft, creamy topping, all of which just melt in your mouth. Delicious.
When baked, the cake gets dense but tender, and the top remains gooey. For me, it’s the powdered sugar crust that’s the most delicious part. Its contrast in texture makes me always go back for seconds.
On the surface, this style of cake looks simple, but any tray or plate with it on it is guaranteed to be empty very quickly. Plus, this recipe uses a yellow cake mix, so it’s super easy to make too. Check out the ingredients and cooking steps below to find out more.
Gooey Butter Cake Ingredients
- 1 box of yellow cake mix (15.25 oz)
- 1/2 cup of unsalted butter (melted)
- 3 large eggs
- Butter or non-stick cooking spray (for greasing the pan)
- 8 oz of cream cheese (softened)
- 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
- 4 cups of powdered sugar (plus extra for dusting)
Gooey Butter Cake Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F.
- Grease a 9×13-inch baking dish with butter or nonstick spray.
- In a mixing bowl, stir together the yellow cake mix, melted butter, and 1 egg until a thick dough forms.
- Press the dough evenly into the bottom of the prepared pan using your hands or a spatula. Use slightly damp fingers to help keep the dough from sticking as you press it in.
- In another bowl, beat the softened cream cheese with an electric mixer until smooth and creamy.
- Add 2 eggs and vanilla, then mix until fully combined.
- Gradually add the powdered sugar, 1 cup at a time, mixing well after each addition.
- Pour the cream cheese mixture over the crust and spread it into an even layer.
- Bake for 45 minutes, until the edges are lightly golden and the center still has a slight jiggle.
- Let the cake cool completely in the pan for around 2 hours.
- Once cooled, dust the top with powdered sugar before cutting into squares.
Nutrition
Calories: 420cal
Carbohydrate: 54g
Protein: 4g
Fat: 22g
Cholesterol: – -mg
Sodium: – -mg