The cake was first made by accident in the 1930s by a St. Louis-area German American baker who was trying to make regular cake batter but reversed the proportions of sugar and flour, hence the Gooey Butter Cake was born!! Gooey Butter Cake has been a staple in my home since I was a little girl. This tasty treat started in St. Louis in the 1930’s and there is a variety of ways to make it, but I prefer my grandma’s recipe.
This Gooey Butter Cake has been taken to many potlucks, meetings, and is the perfect sweet treat after dinner. I love that it is super easy and a hit with guests.
No need to drive to St. Louis when you’re craving St Louis Gooey Butter Cake – a flat, dense cake with gooey, buttery center topped with a touch of powdered sugar. Grab your fork and dig it!
A true St. Louis original!
Ingredients
Cake:
2 cups flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup sugar
1/2 cup butter, melted
1 extra large egg
Topping:
8-oz package cream cheese
2 extra large eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla
16 ounces confectioner’s sugar
1/2 cup butter, melted
Instructions
Heat over to 350 degrees. Grease a 9 x 13-inch baking pan
For the cake, combine the flour, baking powder and salt in a medium bowl. In another mixing bowl whisk together the sugar, melted butter and egg. Add in flour mixture then spread on bottom of the baking dish.
For the topping, beat the cream cheese with an electric mixer until smooth and fluffy. Beat in the eggs and vanilla. Reserve two tablespoons of confectioners sugar for finishing. Add remaining confectioners sugar to cream cheese mixture along with melted butter. Pour over top of cake dough, spreading evenly over the entire surface of cake. Bake for 40 – 45 minutes or until top is set and obtains a golden brown crust but is still gooey and soft. Remove from the oven and cool. Sprinkle top of cake with reserved confectioners sugar. Cut cake into 16 squares.