Gooey Butter Cake without a Cake Mix | Julie Blanner (2024)

Learn how to make gooey butter cake without a cake mix. This easy made from scratch gooey butter cake recipe will leave you craving more! This recipe is always a hit with the whole family!

While many classic gooey butter cake recipes start with a box of cake mix for the easiest shortcut, sometimes you want a cake without a trip to the store. Make one from scratch with very little effort and all the reward!

First off, I LOVE gooey butter cake – being raised in St. Louis a love for gooey butter has been engrained in me. Here we eat it for breakfast and dessert, because why not?

It’s something we’ve always made when hosting out-of-town guests and is always a crowd pleaser.

Christina from Dessert for Two mixed it up and made gooey butter without a cake mix, and I know you’re going to love it, so I’m sharing it with you today! For more of her effortless and delicious recipes, you can find her cookbook here.

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What is Gooey Butter Cake?

Gooey Butter Cake is a St. Louis staple that goes back to the 1930s. It’s said that the dessert was created when a Germanbaker made a mistake while trying to make a coffee cake.

The mistake in ingredients left time with a cake that was completely gooey. To the satisfaction of many, it was a happy accident that left everyone with an amazing new treat.

Ever since then the recipe has traveled from house to house of St. Louis families everywhere. Gooey butter cake really got it’s time to shine when Paula Dean made her own gooey butter cake. Now the dessert is widely known from those all over the country to enjoy as much as us St. Louisans.

Why You’ll Love this Gooey Butter Cake

• Pantry ingredients- it starts with a cake mix!
• Decadent and sweet
• Great for breakfast, brunch, parties and more
• So easy to make

See the full printable recipe card below.

Gooey Butter Cake Ingredients

• Butter – Salted or unsalted, your preference. Learn How to Soften Butter here.
• Sugar
• Eggs
• Salt
• Flour
• Baking Powder
• Cream Cheese – Full fat cream cheese is recommended
• Brown Sugar – Light or dark, your preference.
• Vanilla
• Powdered Sugar – Also known as confectioners sugar or icing sugar, this gives the cake it’s amazing consistency and is perfect for sprinkling on top!

How To Make A Gooey Butter Cake Without A Cake Mix

1. Prep– Preheat and grease baking dish.
2. Crust– Combine crust ingredients and spread into pan.
3. Filling – Combine and top crust with filling.
4. Garnish– Sprinkle with powdered sugar.
5. Bake – It will remain slightly gooey.
6. Enjoy!

Julie's Tips

• Grease baking dish or line baking dish with parchment for easy removal.
• Use an 8×8, 8×8, 9×11 or 9×13 pan. Just adjust baking time – the thicker your gooey butter cake is, the longer it will take to bake.
• It’s done when a crust has formed on the top, yet the cake is slightly gooey and jiggles a bit when you shake the dish.
• Make it ahead or bake and enjoy when it’s warm.

How to Store

• Room Temperature–Store gooey butter cake covered in an air tight container for up to two days at room temp.
• Refrigerate– The cake will last up to a week in an airtight container in the fridge.
• Freeze– You can also freeze the cake for up to a month by wrapping it in plastic wrap or in a large freezer bag.

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