St Louis Style Gooey Butter Cake
Indulge in the irresistible charm of St. Louis Style Gooey Butter Cake, a Midwest classic that combines a rich, buttery crust with a decadent, cream cheese topping. This dessert is famous for its signature "gooey" center, achieved by carefully baking until the edges are golden while keeping the middle wonderfully soft. Made with pantry staples like all-purpose flour, sugar, and vanilla, and elevated by cream cheese and powdered sugar, this cake is both simple and indulgent. Whether you're treating yourself or serving a crowd, its melt-in-your-mouth texture and balance of sweetness make it perfect for any occasion. Dust it with powdered sugar for a finishing touch, and enjoy a slice of this iconic, crowd-pleasing dessert!
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Recipe Information
Ingredients
- 2.5 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 cups granulated sugar
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 0.5 teaspoons salt
- 0.5 cups unsalted butter, melted
- 2 large eggs
- 0.5 cups milk
- 1 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
- 3.75 cups powdered sugar
- 2 large eggs (for topping)
- 1 teaspoons vanilla extract (for topping)
- 1 tablespoon butter (for greasing pan)
Instructions
Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9x13-inch baking dish with 1 tablespoon of butter and set it aside.
In a medium bowl, whisk together 2.5 cups of flour, 2 teaspoons of baking powder, 0.5 teaspoons of salt, and 2 cups of granulated sugar.
Add 0.5 cups of melted butter, 2 eggs, 0.5 cups of milk, and 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract to the dry ingredients. Mix until thoroughly combined and smooth.
Press the dough evenly into the bottom of the greased baking dish to form the base layer.
In a large mixing bowl, beat 8 ounces of softened cream cheese until smooth. Gradually add 3.75 cups of powdered sugar and continue to beat until fully incorporated.
Add 2 additional eggs and 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract to the cream cheese mixture. Beat until smooth and fluffy.
Pour the cream cheese mixture over the dough base in the baking dish. Spread it evenly using a spatula.
Place the dish in the oven and bake for 35-40 minutes, or until the edges are golden brown but the center is still slightly gooey. Do not overbake.
Remove the cake from the oven and let it cool completely in the pan on a wire rack.
Dust the top with additional powdered sugar, if desired, before slicing into squares and serving.
Nutrition Facts
Calories |
6496 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
% Daily Value* |
|||
| Total Fat | 212.6 g | 273% | |
| Saturated Fat | 123.9 g | 620% | |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 0.1 g | ||
| Cholesterol | 1294 mg | 431% | |
| Sodium | 3166 mg | 138% | |
| Total Carbohydrate | 1105.2 g | 402% | |
| Dietary Fiber | 8.2 g | 29% | |
| Total Sugars | 856.8 g | ||
| Protein | 74.7 g | 149% | |
| Vitamin D | 5.6 mcg | 28% | |
| Calcium | 559 mg | 43% | |
| Iron | 18.8 mg | 104% | |
| Potassium | 1063 mg | 23% | |
*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
