Lemon Gooey Butter Cake (Print)
A luscious, tangy dessert featuring soft buttery base and creamy lemony topping with irresistible gooey texture. Ready in just 1 hour.
# Ingredient List:
→ Base Layer
01 - 1 box (15.25 oz) yellow cake mix
02 - ½ cup unsalted butter, melted
03 - 1 large egg
→ Gooey Lemon Topping
04 - 8 oz cream cheese, softened
05 - 2 large eggs
06 - 3½ cups powdered sugar
07 - ¼ cup fresh lemon juice
08 - 1 tablespoon grated lemon zest
09 - 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
# How-To Steps:
01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a 9x13-inch baking pan with parchment paper or grease lightly.
02 - Combine yellow cake mix, melted butter, and egg in a mixing bowl. Mix until soft dough forms.
03 - Press dough evenly across bottom of prepared pan to form crust layer.
04 - Beat cream cheese until smooth. Add eggs one at a time, mixing well. Blend in powdered sugar, lemon juice, lemon zest, and vanilla extract until fluffy and smooth.
05 - Pour lemon mixture over base layer. Spread evenly. Bake 35-40 minutes until edges are set but center remains slightly jiggly. Avoid overbaking.
06 - Let cake cool completely before cutting into squares. Dust with additional powdered sugar if desired.
# Expert Suggestions:
01 -
- The texture is impossibly gooey and rich, like eating lemon curd in cake form
- It uses a cake mix hack that makes it foolproof even on busy weeknights
- That perfect balance of tart and sweet makes everyone ask for seconds
02 -
- The center should still jiggle when you remove it from the oven, this is how you get that perfect gooey texture
- Room temperature ingredients blend together smoothly and prevent lumps in your lemon layer
03 -
- Grate your lemon zest before juicing to get every last bit of fragrant oil
- A light dusting of powdered sugar right before serving makes it look bakery beautiful