Gooey Butter Cake Recipe

By Magda Ellis

Gooey Butter cake is a staple in the city of St. Louis. Whenever I come over to St. Louis every couple of years, I make gooey butter cake with my grandpa.

Gooey Butter Cake with Coffee Cake layer

• About 2 sticks about 14 tablespoons of unsalted butter (make sure it is softened)
• 1 lb yeast-raised coffee cake (store bought or you can make one if you know how)
• 9 x 12 aluminum pan
• 1 egg
• 1 ¾ cups and 2 tablespoons of sugar
• A pinch of salt
• 3 tablespoons of light corn syrup
• 3 tablespoons of water
• 2 teaspoons of vanilla extract
• 1 ¾ cups of flour
• Some confectioners’ sugar

How to make it

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees
• Butter the pan
• Cut coffeecake into 2-inch pieces and press them onto to all sides of the baking pan to make a layer
• With an electric mixer, beat the butter, sugar, and salt at medium or high speed
• Add in egg and beat in corn syrup
• Add water and vanilla and then lower the speed to add in the flour and mix everything together
• Poke holes in the coffeecake all over with a fork or toothpick
• Pour batter over the top of the coffeecake and make sure it is spread evenly. Let it stand for 20 minutes
• Put the cake in the oven for about 20-25 (you know it is ready if the batter is golden-brown and bubbly.)
• Let the cake cool, then cut it into squares and add confectioners’ sugar on top
• Enjoy

Chocolate Gooey Butter Cake

• 1(18-ounce) devil’s food cake mix
• 3 eggs (divided)
• 3 ¾ cups of powdered sugar  
• 8 ounces of softened cream cheese
• ½ cup and 2 tablespoons of unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1 ½ teaspoons vanilla

How to make it

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees and grease a 9 by 13 in metal pan
• Beat cake mix, 1 egg, ½ cup of melted butter and then press it onto the pan (about ½ inch up the sides)
• Set aside 2 tablespoons of powdered sugar. Beat cream cheese with ½ tablespoons of cocoa powder and the remaining powdered sugar and vanilla in a large bowl. Beat 2 eggs and ½ cup of melted butter until its smooth
• Spread filling over the base and bake for about 25 minutes. Let it cool
• Combine the rest of the powdered sugar and cocoa powder to dust of the cake
• Enjoy