Recipe: The Lady and Sons Gooey Butter Cakes with 9 Variations (Paula Deen)

GOOEY BUTTER CAKES

"Butter Gooey Cakes. Ooey Gooey Butter Cakes. Ooey Booey Gooey Cakes. These are just a few of the names I've heard our guests at The Lady & Sons call 'em. These delectable cakes were an instant hit the first day they showed up in The Bag Lady basket and they immediately became one of my most requested items. These little sweeties actually resemble a bar-type dessert instead of what we know as a traditional cake. Over the years, I have made every flavor imaginable, using this basic recipe. I'll give you some of my recommendations but by all means experiment and have fun creating your very own version of our signature Gooey Butter Cakes."

1 (18.25 ounce) box yellow cake mix
3 eggs, divided use
1 cup (2 sticks) butter, melted, divided use
1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese, softened
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1 (16 ounce) box confectioners' sugar

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly grease a 13x9x2-inch baking pan.

In the bowl of an electric mixer, combine cake mix, 1 egg, and 1/2 cup melted butter and mix well. Pat into the bottom of prepared pan and set aside.

Still using an electric mixer, beat cream cheese until smooth; add the 2 remaining eggs and vanilla. Dump in confectioners' sugar and beat well. Reduce speed of mixer and slowly pour in the remaining 1/2 cup melted butter. Mix well. Pour filling onto cake mixture and spread evenly.

Bake for 40 to 50 minutes. Don't be afraid to make a judgment call on the cooking time, because oven temperatures can vary. You want the center to be a little gooey, so don't bake it past that point! Remove from oven and allow to cool completely.

Cut into squares. Just remember that these wonderful little cakes are very, very rich, and a little will go a long way.

VARIATIONS:

PUMPKIN GOOEY:
This variation has to be at the top of my list, especially around Thanksgiving. For the cake part, I sometimes use a spice cake mix. I have even used a chocolate cake mix, but I think my favorite is the basic yellow cake mix. Follow the original recipe, adding a 15-ounce can of pumpkin pie filling and an extra egg to the cream cheese filling. Bake as usual, remove from oven, and allow to cool. Cut into squares and top each square with a pecan half. Serve with a dollop of fresh whipped cream. I promise you'll never want pumpkin pie again!

PINEAPPLE GOOEY:
Add a 20-ounce can of drained crushed pineapple and an extra egg to the cream cheese filling. Proceed as directed above.

LEMON GOOEY:
Use a lemon cake mix in place of the yellow cake. Add the juice (approximately 1/4 cup) and zest of 2 lemons to the cream cheese filling. Proceed: as directed above.

CARROT CAKE GOOEY:
Use a spice cake mix, and add 1 cup chopped nuts and 1 1/2 cup finely grated carrots to the cream cheese filling. Proceed as directed above.

PEANUT BUTTER GOOEY:
Use a chocolate cake mix. Add 1 cup creamy peanut butter and an extra egg to cream cheese filling. You can sprinkle the top of batter with 1 cup chopped peanuts if you like. Proceed as directed above.

CHOCOLATE CHIP GOOEY:
Use either yellow or chocolate cake mix. Sprinkle 1 cup chocolate chips and 1 cup chopped nuts on top of filling. Proceed as directed above.

BANANA GOOEY:
Use a yellow cake mix. Prepare cream cheese filling as directed, beating in 2 ripe bananas and an extra egg. Proceed as directed above.

NUTTY GOOEY:
Use a yellow cake mix, and add 1 cup chopped nuts to the cake mixture. Proceed as directed above.

CHIPPY GOOEY:
Stir 1 cup white chocolate chips, peanut butter chocolate chips, butterscotch morsels, Heath Almond Toffee Bits or Heath Milk Chocolate Toffee Bits into filling. Proceed as directed above.

Makes 1 (13x9-inch) cake
Source: The Lady and Sons Just Desserts by Paula H. Deen