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Hi Bold Bakers!
Gooey Butter Cake, a traditional (and seriously beloved!) cake from St. Louis, is probably unlike any cake you’ve had before, and it is definitely a must-try! People from St. Louis have been eating this cake for over 60 years now, and if you’d talk to a person who calls the area home, I’d bet they’d have plenty of fond memories to share.
The cake itself is indulgently sweet and has a wonderfully dense, firm texture at the bottom, but the top is super soft, gooey, and sweet with butterscotch notes thanks to the brown sugar! The sweet cake is perfect when served alongside a hot cup of coffee — and one of my latest Bold Baking Worldwide recipes.
This cake is so popular that grocery stores, even outside of St. Louis, sell fresh or boxed gooey butter cakes—but an excellent homemade gooey butter cake puts them all to shame! Whip up this easy cake, brew a pot of coffee, and put on Judy Garland’s Meet Me In St. Louis for a real treat!!
[Want More Cake From Around The World? Try My Mum’s Irish Apple Cake!]
What Is Gooey Butter Cake?
Gooey butter cake is a cake made with butter and cream cheese, which makes it so gooey! Some people say this cake resulted from a happy accident in 1930 by a baker in St. Louis who was attempting to make just a regular cake but reversed the amount of butter and flour.
Since this mistake was made during the Great Depression, they weren’t about to throw out a mistake, and so the “flat gooey mess” became a hit!
What You Need To Make Gooey Butter Cake
- Measuring cups and spoons
- 9×9 inch (23x23cm) square baking pan
- Parchment paper or aluminum foil.
- Mixing bowls
How To Make Gooey Butter Cake
This cake has a texture that is unlike anything you’ve had before! I can’t wait for you to give it a try. Here is how you make gooey butter cake (and don’t forget to get the full recipe with measurements, on the page down below):
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (180°C). Line a 9×9 inch (23x23cm) square baking pan with either parchment paper or aluminum foil. Be sure to use enough that the paper/foil hangs over the edges so the cake can be easily released.
- Mix the flour, butter, 2/3 cup (4oz/115g) brown sugar, granulated sugar, 2 eggs, baking powder, and salt. Then, spread the batter evenly into your prepped pan.
- Then, mix the remaining ½ cup (3oz/85g) brown sugar, 2 eggs, powdered sugar, cream cheese, and vanilla.
- Pour the cream cheese mixture on top of the first layer, but do not stir it together. Bake the cake for about 1 hour or until the cake is set but still jiggles slightly when shaken.
- Allow the cake to cool slightly in the pan before cutting into 9 squares. Serve warm!
Gemma’s Pro Chef Tips For Making Gooey Butter Cake
- Be sure your parchment paper or foil goes all the way up the sides of your pan—otherwise, the cake will be hard to get out of the pan!
- You can add a few handfuls of chocolate chips, chopped nuts, or coconut flakes to the top layer for some fun variations.
- This is lovely served warm with a scoop of homemade vanilla ice cream.
- Always be sure that your ingredients are room temperature before you begin for the most even mixing.
How Do You Store Gooey Butter Cake?
You can store any leftover gooey butter cake in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days!
Make More Cake & Puddings!
- Pound Cake With Sprinkles
- Citrus Olive Oil Cake
- Best-Ever Chocolate Cake with Whipped Dark Chocolate Ganache
- Best-Ever Carrot Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting
And don’t forget to buy my Bigger Bolder Baking Cookbook!
Full (and printable) recipe below!
Try These Recipes!
Incredible Gooey Butter Cake Recipe
Ingredients
Gooey Butter Cake Sponge Layer
- 1 ½ cups (7½ oz/213 g) all-purpose flour
- ⅔ cup (4 oz/115 g) dark brown sugar
- ½ cup (4 oz/115 g) granulated sugar
- 6 tablespoons (3 oz/85 g) butter , melted
- 2 large eggs , at room temperature
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- ¾ teaspoon salt
Gooey Butter Cake Topping Layer
- 3 ½ cups (14 oz/402 g) powdered sugar
- 1 cup (8 oz/225 g) cream cheese , softened at room temperature
- ½ cup (3 oz/85 g) dark brown sugar
- 2 large eggs , at room temperature
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
Instructions
To Make the Gooey Butter Cake Layer
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (180°C). Line a 9x9 inch (23x23 cm) baking pan and set aside.
- In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, brown sugar, granulated sugar, butter, eggs, baking powder and salt until well combined.
- Spread the batter evenly into your prepared pan.
To Make the Gooey Butter Cake Topping
- In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a whisk attachment (or using an electric mixer) mix together the powdered sugar, cream cheese and brown sugar on low speed until smooth.
- Add the eggs and vanilla and whisk on medium speed until combined.
- Pour the topping evenly over the cake batter.
To Bake the Gooey Butter Cake
- Bake for 1 hour or until the edges are set but the center jiggles slightly when shaken.
- Let the cake cool in the pan slightly before cutting into 9 squares.
To Serve the Gooey Butter Cake
- Serve warm with whipped cream. Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Hi Gemma! I absolutely love this gooey cake. Is there a way to make a gooey chocolate version?
Hello
Is this meant to be a little toffee like?
and very sweet?
my cake doesn’t have the two layers?
I gave this a try and the guest liked it specifically the kids. I served it with vanilla ice cream. I made it in the wrong size baking pan so it spread more…in my opinion it’s better served with ice cream but it’s not as good alone with coffee… also used foil paper but next time parchment paper will be best…thanks!. Took me out of my comfort zone with this one jiji… had no idea what I was making or how it would taste. It was fun!.
Thanks you for this make from scratch recipe. All others had box cake and I don’t like that so I was looking for one like this. Going to try it out today.
You wrote 2 eggs plus 2 eggs? What doesn’t this mean?
Can u use a 8×8 as don’t want to buy another tin x
Hi, I made this and it’s actually pretty good! However, it’s too sweet for me, is there a chance we can change the measurement of the icing sugar?
Hi Gemma, I wonder if I can use mascarpone instead of cream cheese?
Just made this..soo yummy! Thanks Gemma!!
I would like to make these into cupcakes. How much should I shorten the baking time and do you have any other tips? I’d like to add that I am a huge fan of your recipes and approach to baking. I’ve made your no-knead pizza dough nearly every Friday for a year! Thank you for sweetening up an otherwise sour year.