This Gooey Butter Cake is the kind of dessert that makes you pause and savor every bite. It’s rich, buttery, and just the right amount of sweet, with a golden crust that gives way to a creamy, gooey center. Whether it’s your first time trying it or a nostalgic favorite, this butter cake will win you over with its melt-in-your-mouth texture and irresistible flavor.

Gooey Butter Cake

This ooey gooey butter cake is so good and incredibly easy to make!

I love a good pound cake and all types of coffee cakes, but wow! A slice of warm butter cake really trumps them all.

This butter cake recipe is a personal favorite of mine, and I’ve been making it for this way for years and years.

I really can’t get enough of it, and my kids have even requested this cake as their birthday cake—it’s just that good!

You’d think they’d want something fancy, like a big chocolate bundt cake or a store-bought creation covered in sprinkles.

But nope, they looked me straight in the eye and said, “Mom, I want your butter cake for my birthday!” My heart just about melted—just like the buttery topping on this cake does in the oven!

Everyone loves this cake, and if you want instant fame, take it to your next office meeting, potluck, or family party. Or just make it and share it at home with your family.

It’s super easy to make, and this no-fuss cake is always a hit!

What Is Gooey Butter Cake?

The story is that in the 1930s, a German baker in St. Louis added the wrong proportions of ingredients to a cake, and the result was a cake with a gooey center.

Well, happy mistake for all of us, because this cake is fabulous!

I make it with a bit of a shortcut, using a boxed cake mix to do all the heavy work.

It’s also called the St. Louis Gooey Butter Cake and sometimes the Paula Deen Ooey Gooey Butter Cake (she revived this traditional recipe and made it popular once again).

This cake is buttery, chewy, smooth, and fabulous from the first bite to the last!

There are two parts to this cake: the crust and the gooey topping.

But with just a handful of ingredients, anyone can make this cake—you don’t have to be a German baker!

Why You’ll Love My Butter Cake Recipe

This is the kind of cake you’ll find yourself craving over and over. It’s simple, sweet, and absolutely unforgettable!

Here’s why you’re gonna love it:

Rich and Buttery: This gooey butter cake is full of buttery flavor that’s rich and satisfying. It’s so darn delicious you’ll have to have self-control when eating it!
Simple Ingredients: With just a cake mix, cream cheese, and a few pantry staples, this recipe is proof that you don’t need much to make an amazing dessert. It’s a simple butter cake with flavors that taste anything but simple.
Perfect Gooey Texture: The top layer stays creamy and gooey while the bottom layer is dense and chewy. It’s the perfect balance between cake and custard, making every bite irresistible.
A Classic Everyone Loves: This butter cake recipe is a crowd-pleaser. Every time I’ve seved it, I’ve gotten lots of recipe requests!
Quick and No Fuss: With a short bake time and easy steps, you can whip up this delicious butter cake in no time. It’s a great recipe for busy days or when you want dessert without spending hours in the kitchen.

Gooey Butter Cake Ingredients

These simple ingredients come together to create a delicious butter cake that’s rich, creamy, and oh-so-satisfying!

What You Need for the Crust

18.25 Ounce Box Yellow Cake Mix: I use a boxed yellow cake to make the base of the crust. Pay close attention to the sizes of the cake mixes, as they’ve been making them smaller! It creates a bottom layer that’s dense and slightly chewy.
Butter: Melted unsalted butter brings richness and moisture to the crust, giving it a tender texture that holds up the creamy topping.
Eggs: They bind everything together in the crust, adding structure and a little extra richness.
Vanilla Extract: A splash of vanilla extract adds nice, warm flavor to the crust.

Topping Ingredients

Cream Cheese: The secret to the top layer is the cream cheese. It gives the topping its smooth, creamy texture and a slight tang that balances the sweetness.
Eggs: Eggs make the topping light and silky. They help the mixture bake up into that perfect texture that defines a gooey butter cake.
Vanilla Extract: Another splash of vanilla extract adds a beautiful flavor to the creamy topping. It blends beautifully with the tanginess of the cream cheese.
Butter: The extra butter helps the topping form into the ooey gooey texture that makes this recipe so delicious!
Powdered Sugar: to sweeten the gooey topping.

How To Make This Gooey Butter Cake Recipe

Prepare Your Crust: First, heat oven to 350°F. In a large bowl, mix the cake mix, melted butter, large egg, and a teaspoon of vanilla extract. Stir until it forms a thick, smooth dough. Pat this dough into the bottom of a greased 9×13-inch baking dish, pressing it firmly to create the bottom layer.
Make the Gooey Topping: In another large mixing bowl, beat the softened cream cheese with two large eggs two teaspoons of vanilla extract, melted butter, & the powdered sugar. Use an electric mixer on medium speed to blend until the mixture is smooth and creamy. This will be your top layer, so make sure there are no lumps!
Assemble the Cake: Pour the creamy topping over the cake batter crust, spreading it out evenly with a spatula. The layers should sit perfectly, with the topping ready to turn golden and gooey in the oven.
Bake to Perfection: Place the dish in your preheated oven and bake for about 40 minutes. The top will bake to a lovely golden brown, while the inside stays gooey and delicious. Keep an eye on it during the bake time to get the best results (you don’t want to overcook it!).
Cool and Finish: Once baked, remove the cake from the oven and let it rest on a wire rack for about 5 minutes. The cake will sink slightly as it cools—that’s what gives it its signature gooey texture! Sprinkle generously with powdered sugar.

If You Love Ooey Gooey Desserts, Try These Recipes:

How To Tell When Gooey Butter Cake Is Done

Cook the cake at the recommended temperature and time, then check the cake by inserting a toothpick into the middle of the cake.

If it comes out clean or just has a few crumbs clinging to it, then it is done. If the toothpick comes out gooey, cook it for a few more minutes, then check it again.

Gooey Butter Cake Variations

Chocolate: Swap the yellow cake mix for a chocolate one to create a rich, decadent chocolate version. Add a sprinkle of chocolate chips to the top layer before baking to take it up a notch.
Lemon: Use a lemon-flavored cake mix and add a teaspoon of lemon extract to both the crust and the creamy topping.
Pumpkin Spice: Mix pumpkin puree and a pinch of pumpkin spice into the cream cheese topping.
Berry-Topped Gooey Butter Cake: After the cake bakes, top it with fresh strawberries, blueberries, or raspberries.
Caramel Pecan Butter Cake: Drizzle caramel sauce over the finished cake and sprinkle chopped pecans on top. Or just use my pecan praline sauce instead!
Cinnamon Roll: Add a swirl of cinnamon-sugar mixture to the top layer before baking. Once cooled, drizzle with cream cheese frosting for a cinnamon roll-inspired twist.
Banana Butter Cake: Mash a ripe banana into the creamy topping for a banana bread-inspired version. The sweetness and slight tang of the banana pair perfectly with the buttery crust.Stir shredded coconut into the creamy topping and sprinkle more on top before baking. Toasted coconut adds a lovely tropical flair.
Coffee Gooey Butter Cake: Mix a teaspoon of instant coffee or espresso powder into the topping for a bold coffee flavor. It’s perfect for pairing with a hot cup of tea or coffee.
S’mores Gooey Butter Cake: Add mini marshmallows, graham cracker crumbs, and chocolate chips to the topping for a campfire-inspired dessert. And if you really love s’mores, be sure to try my S’mores Cookies!

Recipe Tips

Make sure your cake mix box is 18.25 ounces! You can buy two cake mixes and measure them by weight if you cannot find an 18 ounce box.
The butter should be melted but not hot.
A hand mixer makes short work of this cake. It can handle both the bottom layer and the gooey topping ingredients.
This cake will sink as it cools – so don’t think you did something wrong!
To dust the cake with powdered sugar, put the sugar into a fine sieve and shake it over the top of the cake.
Bake this cake in a cute baking dish, then you can serve the cake right out of it.
You can use parchment paper to make it easy to lift out of the pan.

Serving Suggestions

I love this easy Gooey Butter Cake when it is still warm from the oven, but what cake doesn’t go better with a scoop of ice cream?

Add a scoop of vanilla bean ice cream, some fresh fruit, or a dollop of whipped cream to make this cake even more special.

Storage

Store any leftover ooey Gooey Butter Cake in an airtight container (or just cover the baking dish with plastic wrap) and pop it into the fridge. This cake is best fresh, but it’ll keep just fine in the fridge for a few days.

Serve your leftover cake at room temperature, or warm it for a few seconds in the microwave. For an extra special treat, put a dab of butter on the top of the warm cake and let it melt in.

Print Pin

Gooey Butter Cake

Author Mrs Happy Homemaker

Ingredients

For the crust:

1 box yellow cake mix
1/2 cup butter melted
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

For the gooey topping:

1 8oz package cream cheese, softened
2 eggs
1/2 cup melted butter
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
16 oz confectioners sugar

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
Mix cake mix, melted butter, 1 teaspoon vanilla, and 1 egg together. Pat into a greased 9x13 baking dish.
Beat cream cheese, 2 eggs, 2 teaspoons vanilla extract, & powdered sugar together until smooth and creamy. Spread on top of cake batter crust.
Bake for 40 minutes. Let cool for 5 minutes on a wire rack. Sprinkle with powdered sugar. Cake will sink a little as it cools.

The Best Ooey Gooey Butter Cake That Melts in Your Mouth

Gooey Butter Cake

What Is Gooey Butter Cake?

Why You’ll Love My Butter Cake Recipe