Sweet Butter Cake recipe starts with a cake mix & is made with just a handful of ingredients! Simple cake that needs no frosting- I top mine with a dusting of powdered sugar & berries. Perfect cake recipe that everyone loves!
If you’ve never tried an ooey gooey butter cake before then you’re in for a real surprise This dessert is so good and so unlike anything you’ve eaten before that there’s no way you won’t want to make it again and again.
In some parts of the south, this cake would be referred to as a “Chess Cake” but here we’re going to call it a gooey butter cake because that’s exactly what it is! It took me a long time to get around to ever actually trying this recipe but once I did, WOW I was hooked. I took one bite and ran around my house shoving forkfuls in random family member’s faces yelling, “You’ve GOT to try this!!” It was awesome. I love how wonderful it tastes and how simple it is to make!
What is gooey butter cake?
It’s a traditional cake recipe usually made around Missouri, but that could be found by similar names elsewhere. The cake itself is dense and flat and about the thickness of a brownie while being soft, rich, buttery, and fabulous in every bite. Using boxed cake mix we make the recipe even easier and create a tiny crust that makes the cake unbelievably good
Gooey Butter Cake Ingredients
-Boxed cake mix: Using a 16.5 ounce (standard sized) box of yellow boxed cake mix we can create a crust for our cake.
-Eggs: We need a total of 3 eggs, but they will be divided. One in the crust and two in the filling.
-Butter: With 1/2 cup (one stick) of melted butter we can get this cake to live up to its namesake.
-Cream cheese: We want 8 ounces of softened cream cheese to make this cake extra fabulous and rich tasting.
-Powdered sugar: 4 cups of powdered sugar are about 1 pound, so we need a lot for this recipe plus more for dusting on top when we’re done.
How to Make Gooey Butter Cake
Preheat your oven to 325 degrees F and spray a 9×13 baking dish with nonstick cooking spray.
In a large bowl, mix together the cake mix, melted butter, and one egg to form a soft dough.
Press the dough onto the bottom of the prepared baking dish.
In another bowl, mix the powdered sugar, softened cream cheese, and two eggs until smooth. This should take about 1-2 minutes.
Pour the sugar mixture on top of your pressed crust.
BEST EVER BUTTER CAKE RECIPE
Ingredients
Crust
- 16.5 oz yellow cake mix
- 1/2 cup butter, melted 1 stick
- 1 egg
Filling
- 4 cups powdered sugar
- 8 oz cream cheese softened
- 2 eggs
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 325 degrees F and generously coat a 9x13-inch dish with nonstick cooking spray.
- Mix cake mix, melted butter and one egg to a soft dough. Press into the bottom of the pan.
- Mix powdered sugar, softened cream cheese and two eggs until smooth, about 1-2 mins. Pour on top of crust.
- Bake at 325 degrees F for 40-45 minutes until top is a light golden brown. (Cake should seem a little soft & gooey in the center, hence the name!)
- Cool, then dust with powdered sugar. Serve topped with berries.
Video
Nutrition
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Can I use a different type of boxed cake mix?
You can use practically any cake mix and expect similar results but not all will taste as great as expected. My favorite combination is lemon cake mix with this recipe because it’s so gosh darn good and tangy-sweet!
Does chess cake need to be refrigerated?
Nope. This cake can be safely stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to about 4 days and still be great. I recommend eating it sooner rather than later but you could also extend the shelf life a few days by placing it in the fridge. In the fridge, it can last up to a week but storing it, either way, is up to you.
Can I freeze the chess cake?
Yes, this cake can be made and frozen. I recommend letting it cool completely before wrapping and storing it in an airtight container for up to 6 months. Then to eat, simply allow to thaw beforehand.
More delicious cake recipes to try soon
- PINA COLADA POKE CAKE
- EASY CHOCOLATE ZEBRA CAKE
- EASY VANILLA CAKE BITES
- LEMON PUDDING BUNDT CAKE
- EASY CHERRY CHOCOLATE CAKE
- TEXAS SHEET CAKE
- PINK VELVET CUPCAKES
- ICED LEMON BUNDT CAKE
- KEY LIME CAKE
- PINK CAKE POPS
- EASY PINEAPPLE BUNDT CAKE
- CHOCOLATE CARAMEL PEANUT BUTTER POKE CAKE
- MINT CHOCOLATE CHIP CAKE
- CHRISTMAS JELLO POKE CAKE
- COCONUT CHEESECAKE BARS
You’re going to love this ooey gooey butter cake to the very last bite! It’s so easy to make and even more fun to eat. This sweet treat can’t be beat and it’s no wonder why it’s a great southern recipe that’s been around for ages!
Sweet Butter Cake recipe starts with a cake mix & is made with just a handful of ingredients! Simple cake that needs no frosting- I top mine with a dusting of powdered sugar & berries. Perfect cake recipe that everyone loves!
Jett Whitfield says
Oh my gooeyness! This is something I’ve always wanted to try! I have everything I need to make it at home now! YUM!! Pinned to my Butter!!!! Board on Pinterest =)
Linda Lambert says
In southern Kentucky we call this Chess Cake. Yes, it’s delicious! My husband’s favorite cake. He fusses when I make it for a potluck ’cause he knows he isn’t going to get the whole thing!
Jessica says
I need to move to the south! LOL! This cake is amazing. Have you tried variations on it? Maybe a different cake mix? Just wondering how versatile it is… 😉
Jenny Rae says
I used lemon cake as a way to add a little flavor. It came out great! A little tang for the sweetness of all the sugar!
Jessica says
Such a GREAT idea!!
Marcia Strode says
Haven’t had a chance to make this variation, but had to comment on being derived from Paula Deen’s recipe. Maybe she never laid claim to originating the recipe, but only the short cut using cake mix; but I can assure you she didn’t think of it originally. Supposedly came about by accident in St. Louis in the 30’s, but I know my great-grandmother was famous for her version that she was baking before Ms. Deen was a glimmer in her Mama’s eye.
Now I’m going to have to track that recipe down & compare to Kentucky Chess Pie. Don’t know where my grandmother’s recipe came from, but my grandfather’s father or grandfather (I keep getting my geneaology levels mixed) came from Kentucky. Makes me wonder of it came from his side of the family & Grandma made it hers by a slight change or two.
Jessica says
Thanks Marcia! Yes, recipes can be like family heirlooms, right?! So fun. I’m still looking for my grandmother’s cookie recipe…
Helga says
This cake is ooey, gooey, chewy deliciousness! Thanks for another great recipe!
Sam says
This cake was delicious and so easy to make. We loved it!