Paula's Gooey Butter Cakes

Ok, just let me give you ONE MORE recipe from my gal Paula Deen.  I have made this one several times and my family loves it.  In her cookbook Paula Deen says she could write a full chapter on just this one dessert and that it is the number one choice in her restaurant.  So there ya go!  This really is good and the basic recipe can be sorta used as a guide but then there are several elements you can change to turn it into all sorts of different things.

GOOEY BUTTER CAKES

One 18 1/4-ounce package yellow cake mix

1 Egg

8 Tablespoons (1 stick) butter, melted

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Combine ingredients and mix well.  Pat into a lightly greased 13x9-inch baking pan.  Prepare filling.

One 8-ounce package cream cheese, softened

2 eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla

8 tablespoon(1 stick) butter, melted

One 16-ounce box powdered sugar

Beat cream cheese until smooth.  Add eggs and vanilla.  Add butter; beat.  Add powdered sugar and mix well.  Spread over cake mixture.  Bake for 40 to 50 minutes.  You want the center to be a little gooey, so do not overbake.

VARIATIONS:

1.  For the holidays, add a 15-oz can of pumpkin to the filling; add cinnamon and nutmeg.

2.  Add a 20-oz can of drained crushed pineapple to the filling.

3.  Use a lemon cake mix.  Add lemon juice and zest to the filling.

4.  Use a chocolate cake mix with cream cheese filling.  Add chocolate chips and nuts on top.

5.  Use a spiced carrot cake mix.  Add chopped nuts and shredded carrots to the filling.

6.  Use mandarin oranges, bananas, blueberries, or strawberries--just coordinate your extract flavorings.

7.  Use a chocolate cake mix.  Add 3/4 to 1 cup peanut butter and nuts to the filling.

I have made this with the pumpkin and spices added at Thanksgiving and served it with whipped cream.  My family prefers this over traditional pumpkin pie.  Its great! 

I also have made it with the crushed pineapple in it.  Yummy!  Makes a great refreshing treat.  I can't wait to try #3 with the lemon cake mix and lemon juice and zest in the filling. 

Comments

[Lori Lanier]

Your basic recipe is incorrect. In the filling there should be 2 eggs, not 1. I made this today and when I got to that part, it read "1 eggs". I knew either the one was wrong or the s was wrong. It actually took awhile to find the recipe online. For some reason it's not listed on the Food Network website. But in any case, I just wanted to let you know. Thanks. Lori

[Paula Gossman]

Thanks so much Lori, that has been one of my biggest fears since I started this blog. I would so hate to send out a recipe wrong and have someone like you get in the middle of it and possibly waste product by making something wrong. I will correct it ASAP! I'm so very sorry for the inconvenience. How did your cake come out? Hope you enjoyed it.

[Lori Lanier]

Hi Paula, it came out GREAT! Very sweet though, so it doesn't take a large square to satisfy my husbands and my sweet tooth or should that read sweet teeth? lol. I also am a fan of Paula Deen and her sons. I can't make a lot of her recipes often due to the high fat content, but occasionally we'll treat ourselves. Have a great day! Lori

[Debbie Kimbler]

Paula my husband picked up your lemon gooey butter cake at the store today.It was wonderful so I had to look up the recipe and plan on baking it this week. My oldest grandaughter tells me I should have my own show. I can't tell you how many people have told me I look like that lady on tv the cook. I say Paula Deen I have heard that so much. I smile and say I wish. Would love to meet you someday. Debbie

[Jordans Sneakers]

Art originates from life, but higher than life!