This is one of my all time favourite recipes to make. This Gooey Butter Cake is a cake like layer covered in a soft buttery vanilla cheesecake-like topping. Soft, creamy and a mixture of chewy and gooey!
**Original posted 2016. Photos and post updated 2020**
Until a few years ago, I didn’t even realise a gooey butter cake was even a “thing”. I had never seen nor heard of this dessert and I have never seen it made or sold in New Zealand.
After seeing a butter cake being made on a TV show, and doing a bit of research I found that it is definitely an American dessert. One that doesn’t seem to have taken off here in little ole’ New Zealand. (Perhaps I will be the one to start this phenomenon, who knows?!)
It was around four years ago that I discovered this dessert and I am still none the wiser of what it actually is. Is it a cake as the name suggests? Is it a slice? Is it a cheesecake?… American friends, comment below if you know the answer. In the meantime I call it a slice.
Defining these aren’t the only trouble they have posed for me.
Actually finding a recipe was quite a struggle.
There are a lot of different variations but almost all of these use a boxed cake mix for the base and I didn’t want that. I felt like I was cheating. So I persisted in searching and experimenting and my persistence paid off. I found a base recipe and from there I made a few changes and the butter cake was born. (My version of it anyway).
If the name didn’t already give this away, this recipe contains butter. I would say quite a bit of butter but not over the top amounts. The original recipe contained quite a lot but I changed mine and managed to bring down the amount of butter without any flavour or texture sacrifice. The top part of the butter cake or as I call it, the cheesecake layer, contains melted butter which I had never seen used before in a “cheesecake” type mixture. All I’m saying about that is that it is awesome.
I hope you enjoy this Gooey Butter Cake and I truly hope you give this recipe a go and remember to rate and report back your results in the comments below. I love reading your comments! Also #lightscamerabake on Instagram for a chance to be featured and don’t forget to subscribe to my YouTube Channel for fun baking videos!
Cake like layer covered in a soft buttery cheesecake.
- 3/4 Cup Sugar
- 2 Cups All Purpose Flour
- 2 tsp Baking Powder
- 100 g Butter, Melted (1/2 Cup)
- 1 Large Egg
- 2 Tbsp. Milk
- 250 g Cream Cheese
- 1 tsp Vanilla Extract
- 100 g Butter, Melted (1/2 Cup)
- 2 Large Eggs
- 2 Cups Icing Sugar
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Preheat the oven to 180°C (350°F) and line a 9"x13" pan with baking paper.
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Place the sugar, flour and baking powder in a bowl.
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Mix in the butter, egg and milk.
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Spread evenly in the pan and set to the side.
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Beat the cream cheese, eggs, vanilla and butter together until smooth and creamy.
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With the beater on, add the icing sugar and beat until all incorporated and pour over the cake layer.
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Place in the oven and bake for 35-40 minutes until the top is lightly golden but the middle is still slightly wobbly.
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Allow it to cool completely and I recommend allowing it to set in the fridge before slicing.
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If you don't mind it being a bit gooey, just let it come to room temperature before serving
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