Rich and indulgent butter cake dessert bars with a firm crust and a gooey top layer are an irresistible treat for any occasion.
I stopped by my niece’s house last week and she wanted me to try a dessert she had just made. She raved on about how amazing it was and how much I would love it – and she was right!
These butter cake bars will melt in your mouth.
I had never heard of butter cake before. From what I gather, Paula Deen made this traditional St. Louis recipe famous and people can’t seem to get enough of its ooey gooey deliciousness.
You may be familiar with it by any number of the names it goes by, such as:
Paula Deen’s Ooey Gooey Butter Cake
The Original Neiman Marcus Bars
Texas Gold Bars
Chess Cake Bars
Whatever you know this wonderful dessert recipe as, it is hard to forget once you’ve experienced it. It is that good!
Looking for other great dessert ideas? Check out:
Cream Cheese Brownies
Peanut Butter Chocolate Brownies
Triple Layer Chocolate Cake
Or this fabulous Bundt Pan Banana Bread that is perfect for breakfast, brunch, or dessert.
Butter Cake Bars
This recipe comes together pretty quickly and it only requires a few ingredients. It’s a great, economical recipe made from pantry staples that you most likely already have on hand—just like this recipe for peanut butter cookies that only requires 3 ingredients.
Ingredients:
18.5 oz box yellow cake mix
3 large eggs
1 cup of melted butter, divided
8 oz cream cheese, softened
1 tsp vanilla extract
16 oz powdered sugar
How to Make Ooey Gooey Butter Cake Bars
Preheat the oven to 350°F. Spray a 9″x13″ baking pan with nonstick cooking spray, and set it aside.
In a large bowl, combine the cake mix with one egg and ½ cup of melted butter. You can use a hand mixer or processor set to medium speed.
Press the cake mixture into the bottom of the prepared pan, covering the entire bottom completely.
Add cream cheese to a large bowl and beat with mixer until smooth. Add in the remaining eggs and vanilla extract, and mix well. Slowly add in the remaining butter and powdered sugar, combining until smooth.
Spread evenly over the top of the cake mixture.
Bake for 40-45 minutes or until the center has set slightly. It is important not to overcook.
Cool the cake completely before cutting it into small squares for serving.
Butter Cake Variations
A really great thing about this butter cake recipe is how adaptable it is. You can easily change it up to suit whatever flavor you are in the mood for. Some ideas include:
Lemon: Use a lemon cake mix and lemon extract
Cholocate: Use a devil’s food cake mix and sprinkle mini chocolate chips on top
Pumpkin: Add 1/2 can of pumpkin puree with 1 tsp of cinnamon to the filling mixture
Toppings:
Add any of the following to take this butter ake to a new level:
Powdered sugar
Whipped cream and fresh strawberries
Scoop of vanilla ice cream
A sweet indulgent dessert, these ooey gooey butter cake bars are simple to prepare and even easier to enjoy every last bite of.
Did you give this butter cake recipe a try? Let me know in the comments below or snap a photo and tag @coolbeanliving on Instagram. I’d love to see it!
Butter Cake Bars
Ingredients
- 1 18.5 oz box yellow cake mix
- 3 large eggs
- 1 cup melted butter divided
- 1 8 oz cream cheese softened
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 16 oz powdered sugar
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Spray a 9"x13" baking pan with nonstick cooking spray, and set aside.
- In a large bowl, combine cake mix, one egg, and ½ cup of melted butter with a hand mixer on medium speed. Pat into the bottom of the prepared pan, covering the entire bottom completely.
- Add cream cheese to large bowl and beat with mixer until smooth. Add in the remaining eggs and vanilla extract, and mix well. Slowly add in the remaining butter and powdered sugar, combining until smooth. Spread evenly over cake mixture.
- Bake for 40-45 minutes or until center has set slightly - do not overcook. Cool cake completely, then cut into small squares and serve.