When you need a show-stopping dessert that requires almost zero effort, this easy ooey gooey butter cake recipe is an absolute lifesaver. With a chewy bottom crust and a rich, melt-in-your-mouth cream cheese layer, this incredibly decadent treat starts with a simple box mix to save you time. Whether you're heading to a neighborhood potluck or baking for the holidays, this sweet, sticky favorite will have everyone asking for your secret!
🤔What Exactly Is A Classic St. Louis Gooey Butter Cake?
While Paula Deen famously popularized the quick version of this dessert, both the original yeast dough and the modern cake mix shortcut actually originated right in St. Louis! The classic 1930s bakery accident eventually evolved into the original version of this easy recipe using a box mix for that same signature sticky texture. It's the absolute best way to get that authentic bakery flavor without spending hours in the kitchen.
💗A Sweet Treat From Nana's Recipe Box
I actually discovered this incredible shortcut method on a faded old newspaper clipping safely tucked away inside my Nana's recipe box. Her box is an absolute treasure trove where I also found the secrets to our favorite Carrot Bundt Cake and Pumpkin Spice Crumble. This gooey cake immediately became a huge family favorite because it delivers that decadent, from-scratch taste while fitting perfectly into a busy weeknight schedule.
✅Simple Tips For The Perfect Melt-In-Your-Mouth Cream Cheese Layer
The absolute biggest secret to a flawless ooey gooey butter cake is using completely softened cream cheese. If your cream cheese is even slightly cold, it will leave stubborn lumps in your smooth topping. For the best results, let it sit on the counter for two hours before you start baking. You also want to avoid overbaking this easy recipe to keep that signature center perfectly sticky. The edges should be beautifully golden brown while the middle still has a wonderful, slight jiggle.
🥘Ingredients for this Ooey Gooey Butter Cake Recipe
- Yellow Cake Mix - Starting with a simple boxed yellow cake mix makes the bottom crust totally foolproof and saves you so much prep time.
- Butter - Melted butter binds the base together perfectly while giving the whole treat that rich, classic bakery flavor everyone loves.
- Cream Cheese - Making sure your cream cheese is completely softened is the ultimate secret to getting that signature gooey, melt-in-your-mouth top layer.
- Eggs - A few large eggs provide just the right amount of structure to both the chewy crust and the creamy filling.
- Powdered Sugar - Blending powdered sugar into the topping creates that perfect sweet, crackly finish while keeping the inside beautifully soft. Don't forget to save a little bit for the dusting on top!
🔪How To Make Ooey Gooey Butter Cake
- Step 1: Blend the cake mix, melted butter and eggs with a mixer.
- Step 2: Spread the cake mixture into the bottom of a prepared 13x9 pan.
- Step 3: Mix the glaze ingredients until smooth.
- Step 4: Pour over cake mixture and bake for 35-40 minutes, or until edges are light golden brown.
Hint: When making the glaze, I find it helpful to add the confectioner's sugar in intervals. I add about ⅓ of it and fold it in slightly, then mix and repeat. This cuts down on the mess and helps to avoid powdered sugar dustings on your face and counter!
🌿Healthy Ingredient Substitutions
- Neufchâtel Cheese - Swap the regular cream cheese for Neufchâtel, which gives you that exact same rich, gooey texture but with a third less fat for your family.
- Low-Sugar Cake Mix - Grab a zero-sugar yellow cake mix at the store to instantly cut down the carbs without adding any extra prep time to your busy weeknight.
- Powdered Monk Fruit - Replace the traditional powdered sugar with a powdered monk fruit sweetener to get that perfect sweet, crackly top layer with significantly fewer calories.
🧈St Louis Gooey Butter Cake Variations
- Bright Lemon Twist - Swap the yellow cake mix for a lemon box mix and add some fresh zest to create the absolute perfect, refreshing summer dessert.
- Funfetti Birthday Cake - Use a funfetti cake mix and fold extra sprinkles into the cream cheese layer for a colorful treat that kids will completely go crazy for.
- Double Chocolate Dream - Grab a devil's food cake mix and add mini chocolate chips to the topping for an incredibly rich, decadent twist on this classic recipe.
🍽Basic Equipment Needed
- 13x9 nonstick metal pan
- microwaveable bowl
- hand mixer
- large mixing bowl
- medium mixing bowl
- scraping/rubber spatula
- mixing spoons
- measuring cups
- measuring spoons
- non-scratch serrated knife
- serving spatula
- small seive
🍶How Store Your Ooey Gooey Butter Cake
Store the cake, covered in aluminum foil, at room temperature for up to 2 days or in the fridge for up to 7 days. Or, freeze the cake, wrapped in foil, for up to 2 months. Thaw the cake overnight in the fridge before serving.
💭Pro-Tip: The Parchment Paper Sling
My absolute top tip for this sticky dessert is to line your baking pan with parchment paper, leaving a little overhang on the sides. Once the cake has cooled completely, you can use those paper handles to lift the entire thing right out of the pan. This makes cutting those perfect, bakery-style squares incredibly easy and saves you from scrubbing a messy dish later!
❓Ooey Gooey Butter Cake Recipe FAQ
Both versions originated in St. Louis! The traditional bakery recipe uses yeast dough, while the easy cream cheese shortcut was simply popularized by Paula Deen.
It is perfectly fine on the counter for two days. For longer storage, keep this dessert in the fridge for up to a week.
Yes! You can freeze this sweet treat for up to two months. Just wrap individual slices in plastic wrap for an easy dessert later.
The edges should be golden brown and set, but the center must still have a slight jiggle. It will firm up as it cools!
🍰More Box Mix Cake Recipes
Looking for other doctored cake mix recipes like this Ooey Gooey Butter Cake Recipe? Try these:
🍴Favorite Easy Weeknight Meals For Pairing
These are my favorite dishes to serve with St Louis Gooey Butter Cake:
📋Recipe with step-by-step instructions
Easy St. Louis Gooey Butter Cake
Equipment
- 13x9 non-stick metal cake pan (lined with parchement paper)
- microwaveable bowl
- medium & large mixing bowl
- small seive (for powdered sugar dusting on top)
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Ingredients
- 1 box yellow cake mix choose a brand that has at least 15 oz. in the box
- 2 large eggs at room temperature
- 1 stick butter, melted
- 8 ounces cream cheese softened at room temperature
- 1 pound box confectioner's sugar save a few spoonfuls for the dusting on top
- 2 large eggs at room temperature
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- In a large mixing bowl, add the cake mix and melted butter. Next, add the two eggs.
- Blend using your hand mixer on low speed for 1 minute. Stop the mixer and scrape down the sides of the bowl with a rubber spatula.
- Increase the mixer's speed to medium and beat 2 minutes more. Scrape the sides again, if necessary.
- Place the batter into your prepared pan, smoothing the top with the rubber spatula.
- In a separate, medium mixing bowl, make the glaze. Use your hand mixer on low speed to beat softened cream cheese, 2 eggs and confectioner's sugar until smooth (about 3 minutes).
- Pour the glaze over the cake, taking time to smooth it to the edges with the spatula.
- Bake for 35-40 minutes, or until edges are light, golden brown.
- Cool the cake for 20 minutes, then lightly dust with a few spoonfuls of powdered sugar.
Notes
Nutrition
Please note that nutritional information is provided by a third party service and is intended for guidance purposes only. KitchenReadyBetty.com makes no claims to its accuracy.
Katie S. says
My kids loved it. Thanks for the tip about buying Duncan Hines.
Kitchen Ready Betty says
Sure thing...it's one of the few brands that has kept higher ounces over the years.
Barbara K. says
I've always loved butter cake, but have never tried making it myself. Your recipe has inspired me.
Barb says
I've always enjoyed butter cake. This recipe sounds delicious and should taste as great as it looks in the picture.
Kitchen Ready Betty says
This is one of our favorites...it tastes even better than the picture :)!