An Engagement and Gooey Butter Cake Recipe

By Lorraine

I speak often about my dear niece, Toni and what a sweetheart she is.

She met her Prince and they are planing a wedding.

From the moment I met Joe I knew they were a perfect match for one another. He is an awesome guy and I am excited to see what the future holds for them.

Toni and Joe came over Sunday afternoon and I took some engagement photos.

We really enjoyed talking with them and catching up with this dear couple over an easy dinner.

For dessert I made a treat that I knew would remind Toni of her time in Missouri where she attended the University of Missouri while studying for her Masters degree.

I researched recipes and information about this regional favorite called

St. Louis Gooey Butter Cake.

from Wikipedia:

Gooey butter cake is a type of cake traditionally made in the U.S. city of St. Louis, Missouri. It is generally served as a type of coffee cake and not as a dessert cake. There are two distinct variants of the gooey butter. There is a bakers gooey butter and a cream cheese and yellow cake mix variant. It is believed to have originated in the 1930s.

The St. Louis Convention & Visitors Commission includes a recipe for the cake on its website, calling it “one of St. Louis’ popular, quirky foods”; the recipe calls for a bottom layer of butter and yellow cake, and a top layer made from eggs, cream cheese, and in this case almond extract. The cake is dusted with confectioner’s sugar before being served.

The following recipe is one very similar to the cake Toni enjoyed in Missouri.

It is very sweet and very good!

Gooey Butter Cake Recipe

1 (18-ounce) package yellow cake mix
1 large egg
1/2 cup butter, melted
1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese, room temperature
2 eggs
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
4 cups powdered (confectioners’) sugar
Powdered (confectioners’) sugar for dusting top

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly grease a 13- x 9-inch baking dish.

In a large mixing bowl, combine yellow cake mix, egg, and butter. Press mixture onto bottom of prepared baking dish; set aside.

In a medium bowl, beat cream cheese until creamy; add the 2 eggs and vanilla extract. Blend in powdered sugar until well mixed. Pour batter into the crust-lined baking pan.

Bake 30 to 40 minutes or until cake is nearly firm when you shake if (you want the center to be a little gooey, so do not over cook the cake). Remove from oven and let cake cool in the cake pan on a wire rack.When cool, remove to a serving plate and sprinkle with powdered sugar.

If making ahead of time, refrigerate in an airtight container up to one day.

Makes 9 servings.

Comments

Christina says
July 11, 2011 at 1:10 am
I made this recipe today and it came out yummy. I think next time I make it I'm going to add lemon to the top layer and cut back the powdered sugar. Make it more like a lemon bar gooey cake. Mmm.
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Just a little something from Judy says
June 26, 2011 at 9:59 am
Congratulations to the dear couple! I am sure they were blessed by the fact that you took pictures of them that they can treasure for the memories, and the fact that you baked a gooey butter cake shows how thoughtful you are.
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happeningswithLana says
June 26, 2011 at 4:12 am
Great pictures! Congrats to the couple! Gooey Butter Cakes are pretty well liked around here. There are several different recipes for them. That one I think is the original and then other flavors came. They go fast when I make it.
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Amy says
June 24, 2011 at 9:02 pm
You did a wonderful job on their engagement pictures. What a lovely couple. 🙂 Thanks for sharing their sweet moments. The Butter cake recipe sounds delicious. 🙂 Your photography is stunning.
Please take care and have a wonderful weekend.
Amy
https://utry.it
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Our Italian Kitchen says
June 24, 2011 at 3:50 pm
Cute photos! COngrats to your niece! Love that cake!!
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Cha Cha says
June 24, 2011 at 10:53 am
The picture are beautiful and the cake sounds amazing ( I will be trying it) but my favorite part is how your love for these two people just pours through your words. My heart swells as I read this, how blessed they are to so love by you. I am going to go love on my niece today.
Hope you have a beautiful weekend,
Cha Cha
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Allison @ Alli 'n Son says
June 24, 2011 at 2:13 am
Those photos are so sweet, and your recipe sounds delicious!
I'm hosting a weekly link-up, Sweet Tooth Friday, I hope you'll stop by and share your recipe. https://alli-n-son.com/2011/06/23/maple-bacon-cupcakes/
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The Fajdich Times says
June 23, 2011 at 10:45 pm
Congrats to Toni & Joe…..cute pictures! Your Gooey Butter Cake looks wonderful:)
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Renegades says
June 23, 2011 at 2:28 am
Congratulations to your niece! We just got done celebrating my brothers wedding and it was so fun and exciting to be a part of!
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Penned Pebbles says
June 21, 2011 at 12:02 am
You capture people with your camera, and not just pictures.
Congratulations to Toni and Joe!
And blessings to you!
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Maggie Ann says
June 20, 2011 at 7:35 pm
How nice …you went over to visit Nan and see her flowers first-hand. I think you would be a good flower creator too! =)
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George the Lad says
June 20, 2011 at 6:49 pm
Congratulations to Toni and Joe, that first photo is beautiful, and well as for the cake!!! that looks beautiful to, thanks for the recipe.
Hugs to Raider
Have a good week
See Yea George xxx
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Personalized Sketches and Sentiments says
June 20, 2011 at 4:52 pm
Congratulations to your niece and her sweetheart. What wonderful photos you took of them! … and a yummy dessert! This is like the Paula Deen's Gooey Butter Cake, I've made. sooo yummy!
Blessings & Aloha!
…unexpectedly, I dont have to be in at work until the afternoon today…so catching up on some blog reading :o) Please do stop by if you have time…I have a super dooper easy-peasy recipe on my post. Hugs to you my friend!
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corners of my life says
June 20, 2011 at 4:36 pm
What a cute couple!
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Kristen says
June 20, 2011 at 3:07 pm
What a cute couple! You are such a great photographer. How wonderful for them to have such great times documented in beautiful photos.
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black eyed susans kitchen says
June 20, 2011 at 2:24 pm
Lovely pictures! Can't thank you enough for this recipe…a friend from St Louis now transplanted in NJ was just telling me about this last week. I would love to surprise her with it.
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Traci says
June 20, 2011 at 1:34 am
Great pics! That is one of my favorite desserts! We call them ooey gooey bars but it's the same thing.
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bakerbyNature says
June 19, 2011 at 10:23 pm
I want this with my coffee tomorrow morning; it looks like the perfect Monday morning treat.
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Adelina Priddis says
June 19, 2011 at 8:57 pm
What a cute couple. That recipe looks yummy!
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Janice says
June 19, 2011 at 7:11 pm
Congrats to Toni and her Prince! They look very happy.
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Ann from On Sutton Place says
June 19, 2011 at 6:11 pm
Any recipe with butter and cream cheese is a winner in my book! Thanks for visiting my blog…I'm now a new follower of yours. Love the pics of your schnauzer. We have one too…her name is Kelly. Aren't they wonderful?
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marie says
June 19, 2011 at 4:13 pm
Congratulations to Toni and her prince! Their photos are wonderful ~ they look so in love!
Your yard is a perfect spot for a photo shoot!!
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Tracy says
June 19, 2011 at 5:09 pm
Congrats to Toni and her prince; ahhh, isn't it fun to find the love of your life? Good for both of them! I love the engagement photos; adore the one with their hands o the post…
oh my gosh, Lorraine, that cake looks divine…I'll have a piece of that for certin!
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Carol @ There's Always Thyme to Cook says
June 19, 2011 at 1:25 pm
Congrats to the beautiful couple. Super shots! And that gooey cake, I would love a very big piece, looks amazing!
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Beth says
June 19, 2011 at 1:11 pm
Congratulations to your niece! I love the sound of that cake!
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Julie says
June 19, 2011 at 1:34 am
Congratulations to your niece and her fiancee! Your pictures are beautiful!
My son's an MU grad !!
We love, love, love Gooey Butter Cake. I can eat waaaaaaayyyyyy to much of it.
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Mildred says
June 19, 2011 at 1:14 am
They are an adorable couple and the photos are just great, Lorraine. What a special, happy time! I love the looks of this dessert! Happy Father's Day weekend to & John and the family.
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Garden Lady says
June 19, 2011 at 12:50 am
How sweet of you to do engagement pictures for them. Congrats to them both.
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Olga says
June 18, 2011 at 11:39 pm
Lorraine, you did a wonderful job on those engagement photos. Beautiful! All the best to the happy couple.
Oh, and that cake is mouthwatering.
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Ann says
June 18, 2011 at 10:35 pm
gorgeous engagement pictures. Congratulations to the happy couple.
That cake looks scrumptious.
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Linda C says
June 18, 2011 at 10:21 pm
mmm- and congrats to your niece and soon to be nephew!
How special for you to research such a great dessert for the occasion! But that's just how sweet you are Lorraine.:)
Hope you are enjoying your summer!
Hugs,Linda
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Maggie Ann says
June 18, 2011 at 6:53 pm
Congratulations to Toni & Joe! They will certainlly treasure these engagement pictures you took. (love them) I'm glad your neice met her prince…he looks like a gem! Wishing them a lifetime of happiness…
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Sandy says
June 18, 2011 at 7:26 pm
Congratulations to both of them!
They make a darling couple. I
wish them God's richest blessings.
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Pam says
June 18, 2011 at 6:35 pm
Congratulations to your niece and fiance! What a cute couple! 🙂 You did a fantastic job on the pictures, too! I'm on a new health kick (diet) and boy oh boy! I am ready to fall off the wagon looking at that cake! Yum!
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Debbie says
June 18, 2011 at 6:08 pm
Such cute pics! Congrats to them both….Oh my…does that cake every sound yummy….I will keep it in mind for sure…Have a wonderful week-end! HUGS
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