Name: Ooey Gooey Butter Cake
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 35 min
Total time: 165 min
Ingredients: 1 box yellow cake mix; 1 stick butter, (melted); 2 large eggs, (at room temperature ); 8 oz cream cheese, (at room temperature); 2 large eggs, (at room temperature); 4 cups powdered sugar; 2 tsp vanilla extract

I see this recipe online everywhere! Some times it’s called Gooey Butter Cake, sometimes I see it called Southern Chess Squares, and sometimes it’s called Neiman Marcus cake. The story goes that supposedly an employee at Neiman Marcus shared their secret recipe with a friend and it went viral. I don’t know the veracity of the story, but I do know that this is one mighty tasty cake that uses just six ingredients that bake up into one of the tastiest treats ever. The best way to describe it? The vanilla crust has the texture and chew of a perfectly baked brownie that’s topped with a smooth cream cheese filling that’s reminiscent of your favorite cheese cake. It’s utterly delectable! Oh and did I mention how easy it is to make? With just a handful of ingredients? Keep reading to find out how to make it.

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How To Make Ooey, Gooey Butter Cake:

Start by preheating the oven to 350℉.

Next grease a 13×9 inch oven safe baking dish and set it aside.

Helpful Tip: Don’t toss that butter wrapper. Use any butter on the wax paper to grease your baking dishes. No waste, gotta love that!

Make the crust:

In a large mixing bowl, combine cake mix, 2 eggs, and a stick of melted butter.

Spread the batter out into an even layer in the greased baking dish. Batter will be very sticky. Set aside.

Helpful Tip: Using the butter wrapper to spread the crust layer into the greased pan makes it easier to spread the sticky dough into the pan in a smooth even layer.

Make the topping:

Whisk together softened cream cheese, 2 eggs, powdered sugar, and vanilla extract until smooth and there are no lumps.

Pour filling over batter in the baking dish.

Spread filling out to the edges of the pan.

Bake and cool the cake:

Bake at 350℉ for 30-35 minutes.

Remove from the oven and allow cake to cool completely before cutting it into squares to serve. This cake is pretty rich, so I cut the cake into 24 squares.

Helpful Tip: Use a wet knife to cut the cake into squares, this prevents the filling from dragging when being cut producing cleaner edges. Clean off and re-wet knife as needed.

If you want to get really fancy, garnish the top with your favorite fresh berries and a few sprigs of mint. It’s totally optional because it’s delicious even when just served plain like the picture below.

If you’re ever scrambling for a dessert to bring to a function or get together, this is the perfect sweet treat to bring along. You probably have all the ingredients you need in your fridge and pantry, so no last minute rush to the store needed. I call recipes like this halfway homemade recipes. It’s a homemade dessert baked in your oven but it uses a convenience item like the boxed cake mix instead of making it completely from scratch. It’s a huge timesaver! Once you have the crust and filling in the pan, pop it in the oven and when it’s all baked up, let it cool. Voila! You have an easy to make, simple to transport, delectable dessert to share. You won’t come home with any leftovers, guaranteed! Be sure to save this recipe and keep it in your arsenal for any time you need a tasty dessert at the last minute.

Ooey Gooey Butter Cake

Barbara

An easy to make dessert with a chewy vanilla flavored crust topped with a creamy cheese cake filling that uses just six ingredients. This recipe is a keeper!

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Prep Time 10

Cook Time 35

Cool Time: 2

Total Time 2 45

Course Dessert

Cuisine American

Servings 24 servings

Equipment

13X9 inch baking dish

Ingredients

For the crust:

1 box yellow cake mix
1 stick butter, melted
2 large eggs, at room temperature

For the filling:

8 oz cream cheese, at room temperature
2 large eggs, at room temperature
4 cups powdered sugar
2 tsp vanilla extract