What is Gooey Butter Cake?

Sticky-sweet ooey gooey butter cake… Ever tried it? If not, you have been missing out! Gooey butter cake is a simple two-layered snack cake with a soft, sumptuous top layer and a tender, crumbly, almost shortbread-like layer on the bottom. It originated in St. Louis, Missouri, nearly a century ago and is similar to other regional treats like Southern Chess Squares and Philadelphia Style Cake. I like gooey butter cake the most, if only for its name. There are countless recipes on the web for semi-homemade and made-from-scratch Gooey Butter Cake, Chess Squares, and Philadelphia Style Cake. I’ve tried many of them. So many of them. In fact, when I decided to make my own Gooey Butter Cake Recipe, I tested the cake-mix version, the scratch-made yeast version, cream cheese and non-cream cheese versions, and nut versions… All in the same week. You could say I get a little obsessive at times. Honestly, they were all pretty good. However the cake-mix version was definitely missing that fresh butter flavor, while the scratch-made yeast versions were just too darn lengthy to make. Ultimately, I took what I felt were the best elements of each recipe and created my own. So here it is, the best Ooey Gooey Butter Cake Recipe we’ve ever tried or made. I’m confident you will think so, too.

When To Serve Ooey Gooey Butter Cake

Our Best Gooey Butter Cake Recipe is the perfect dessert for the holiday season. Decadent hand-held treats with massive homey appeal! Serve at Halloween, Thanksgiving, and/or Christmas Dinner. Take them to parties. Wrap and mail as holiday gifts. Mix things up in your holiday cookie exchange. The possibilities are endless. One thing is for sure: no one can resist the Best Gooey Butter Cake Recipe.

How To Make this Ooey Gooey Butter Cake Recipe

Firstly, pulse the almonds in a food processor until finely ground. Keep a close eye on how long you grind them – a little too long, and you might accidentally make almond butter. Then, toss in the flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt and pulse to combine. Next, add the eggs and butter and slowly form a loose dough. Drop your cake batter in a pan and gently pat it to form an even layer. Be careful about packing it too much – you don’t want your cake to be dense. Next, to start the gooey top layer, whip the cream cheese in the food processor. Once it is light and fluffy (1-2 minutes), add the eggs, vanilla extract, and almond extract and pulse the mixture until a smooth paste forms. Lastly, add powdered sugar and whip until smooth. Make sure you are scraping the bowl between adding ingredients so that everything is mixed in well and your batters are nice and smooth. Pour the cake mixture on top of the first mixture into the pan and bake for 50-60 minutes. When it’s done, it should be fluffy and a nice golden brown. Keep in mind that this recipe must be TOTALLY cooled before slicing. The time it takes to cool allows the cake to finish cooking and firm up to hold its shape. Finally, dust with powdered sugar and serve.

Get The Full (Printable) Recipe Below.

Best Dishes To Bake and Serve Holiday Recipes

I am a huge fan of Barn Light Electric’s Cooking and Serving Pieces. I’ve been using their stackable mixing bowls for the last couple of years and recently discovered their new line of serving dishes and dinnerware. These beauties are must-haves for those who love to cook and entertain! If you are looking for a unique Christmas gift for your favorite cook, I can guarantee you he/she would be thrilled with these timeless dishes, bowls, cake stands, pie plates, and tumblers. Barn Light Electric is an American-owned family business that crafts handmade works of art in Florida. Their dinnerware is designed and built just like their porcelain enameled lighting. Each piece is handspun from commercial-grade steel, then painted with layers of porcelain enamel and baked at 1,500 degrees for a super sleek and sturdy finish. They are made to stand the test of time, whether in the oven, freezer, or dishwasher. Barn Light Electric Dinnerware is rustic yet elegant and is perfect for oven-to-table cooking and serving. Check out all of Barn Light Electric’s New Products! You can also find them on Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, and  Twitter.

Looking For Other Great Holiday Recipes:

Scotcharoos (Peanut Butter Rice Krispie Bars) Best Pumpkin Muffin Recipe Salted Caramel Cheesecake Chocolate Pudding Cake Chocolate Chip Cookie Cake

Disclosure: This post is sponsored by Barn Light Electric. All porcelain-enameled loving opinions are my own.  Share This Recipe With Friends!

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