Let’s start with something we can all agree on: This cake, one that’s gooey in the middle and beyond sweet, is magically irresistible. If only we could all align on a name. You may have heard it called Neiman Marcus cake, gooey butter cake, or chess bars. All three of these desserts have identical recipes, and their names have become a matter of regional pride. Gooey butter cake is a St. Louis specialty that can be made with yellow cake mix or from scratch, like this one, which ironically doesn’t use that much butter. Chess bars are a Southern thing, known for their comforting yellow cake mix flavor. Neiman Marcus cake, the name that has repopularized this elusive dessert, is the same thing as the other two, but apparently renamed after the department store because of how “rich” they taste, according to the Kitchn.
Whatever the case, this video from AllRecipes went crazy viral, mostly because the comment section is up in arms about the dessert’s nomenclature. But truthfully, I don’t care what you call it: I’m too stuck on how easy it is make, so I was curious to recreate it for a video. Here’s how I made it, and why it’s become my new favorite dish to bring to a potluck.
Photo by Anna Arriaga
All you need to make a 9×13 pan of decadent, creamy cake is one box of yellow cake mix, four eggs, half a cup of melted butter, an 8 ounce block of cream cheese, 3-and-a-half cups of powdered sugar, and vanilla. If you’re anything like me, my ears perked up at the chance to jazz up a box cake mix because I have so many taking up space in my pantry, and the good news is that I’ve seen people make these gooey bars with all types of cake mix flavors, from fudge to Funfetti.
Basically, the cake has two layers. The first layer is a stiff batter made up of the cake mix, two eggs, and the melted butter. You combine, then spread this stiff batter evenly on the 9×13 pan. This layer makes a sort of crusty, fluffy base for the dessert. Then, you mix the cream cheese, two remaining eggs, vanilla, and powdered sugar. This mixture is a sort of egg-y cream cheese icing that makes the cake especially ooey gooey. Pour that mixture over the first layer, bake it for around 35 minutes in a 350 Fahrenheit degree oven, and you’re good to go. Warning: your house will smell like the inside of a bakery.
Photo by Anna Arriaga
Because of how gooey and moist the bars come out, make sure you let them cool for enough time to stiffen a bit or you wont be able to cut them in clean squares. I wanted to eat them while still warm and made a complete mess (but it was worth it, FYI). This dessert was an instant classic— I’ve already made them twice since first encountering the video. (Pro tip: It’s surprisingly easy to make gluten-free—all you have to substitute is a gluten-free yellow cake mix.)
Regardless of the name, it’s ooey gooey perfection.
Have you ever made this dessert? What do you call it? What other trending recipes do you want to know more about? Let me know below!
