Our Favorite Southern Dessert Recipe: the Gooey Butter Cake

Our family went on a trip to Nashville, Tennessee earlier this year. We tried to get in all the touristy things and of course that involved taking the family to the Grand Ole Opry. Before the show we decided to check out Paula Deen’s Family Kitchen restaurant right across the street from the auditorium. Dinner was okay, I am somewhat spoiled as my southern grandma, Hazel, (Cat’s Mom) was gifted in cooking, and that included southern food. If you ever find yourself at Paula Deen’s Family Kitchen, be sure to wear your stretchy britches (no, that isn’t a bad word…that’s a southern term for pants), as they serve you A LOT of food. 

We were in a rush at the end of dinner and almost passed on the dessert offerings. We are so glad we didn’t! I had the most amazing dessert I have ever tasted, the amazing Gooey Butter Cake. If you know me, I am a bit of a connoisseur of sugar and desserts, so believe me when I say…amazing.

After we were back home in California, our family kept talking about how great that dessert was, and how sad we were that there were no places locally to order more. I did a little research online, come to find out, when we were all locked up and miserable during Covid, Paula Deen released her cake recipe for the public to make at home as a way to help people through the closures. 

That very week, (okay, maybe the next day) we made the cake ourselves and I was amazed at how simple it was to make and how delicious it was at home. We thought we would share the recipe with you too to enjoy this summer and share with your friends or family. It would be a hit at a potluck or BBQ. It may even be my requested birthday cake this month! 

If you decide to make it, please let us know if you like it too! We love to hear from you! 

Enjoy! 

Jessica Frank

(P.S. As you will see below, there is a reason why butter is in the name of the cake)

Original Gooey Butter Cake

Ingredients:

 1 (18 1/4 oz) package yellow cake mix

 1 egg

16 tablespoons melted, divided butter

 1 (8 oz) package softened cream cheese

 2 eggs

 1 teaspoon vanilla

 1 (16 oz) box powdered sugar 

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 350 °F. Combine the cake mix, egg and 8 tablespoons butter and mix well with an electric mixer. Pat the mixture into the bottom of a lightly greased 13 by 9-inch baking pan.

In a large bowl, beat the cream cheese until smooth. Add the eggs, vanilla and 8 tablespoons butter and beat together. Next, add the powdered sugar and mix well. Spread over cake batter and bake for 40 to 50 minutes. Make sure not to over bake as the center should be a little gooey.

https://www.pauladeen.com/recipe/gooey-butter-cake-recipe/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0E4qfUX_2uk