St. Louis style gooey butter cake is a unique and decadent dessert that has become a beloved treat in the city of St. Louis and beyond. Its origins can be traced back to the early 1900s, and over the years, it has gained immense popularity due to its gooey, buttery texture, and irresistible flavor. Whether you're a local or a visitor, indulging in a slice of this divine cake is a must. In this article, we'll take you on a journey through the history of gooey butter cake, uncover its secrets, and provide you with a comprehensive guide to creating the perfect St. Louis style gooey butter cake in your own kitchen. So, gather your ingredients, preheat your oven, and get ready to embark on a delightful culinary adventure!
Here are our top 7 tried and tested recipes!
ST. LOUIS GOOEY BUTTER CAKE
Legend has it that the St. Louis gooey butter cake originated by accident in the 1930s, when a baker mixed up the proportion of butter in one of his coffee cakes. Rather than throw it out, he sold it by the square, and the sugary, sticky confection was a hit. Naturally, a slice of gooey cake ends up next to - or in place of - the pumpkin pie at many a Missourian's Thanksgiving table. Some bakers like to add pumpkin and spices to the gooey filling. Not so in this yeast-risen version from Molly Killeen, the St. Louis native behind Made by Molly, a dessert company in Brooklyn. Her recipe is soft-centered, crisp-edged and not too sweet. The leftovers are excellent for breakfast the next morning.
Provided by Melissa Clark
Categories snack, cakes, dessert
Time 4h30m
Yield 16 to 20 servings
Number Of Ingredients 15
Steps:
- In a small bowl, mix milk with 2 tablespoons warm water. Add yeast and whisk gently until it dissolves. Mixture should foam slightly.
- Using an electric mixer with paddle attachment, cream butter, sugar and salt. Scrape down sides of bowl and beat in the egg. Alternately add flour and the milk mixture, scraping down sides of bowl between each addition. Beat dough on medium speed until it forms a smooth mass and pulls away from sides of bowl, 7 to 10 minutes.
- Press dough into an ungreased 9-by 13-inch baking dish at least 2 inches deep. Cover dish with plastic wrap or clean tea towel, put in a warm place, and allow to rise until doubled, 2 1/2 to 3 hours.
- Heat oven to 350 degrees. To prepare topping, in a small bowl, mix corn syrup with 2 tablespoons water and the vanilla. Using an electric mixer with paddle attachment, cream butter, sugar and salt until light and fluffy, 5 to 7 minutes. Scrape down sides of bowl and beat in the egg. Alternately add flour and corn syrup mixture, scraping down sides of bowl between each addition.
- Spoon topping in large dollops over risen cake and use a spatula to gently spread it in an even layer. Bake for 35 to 45 minutes; cake will rise and fall in waves and have a golden brown top, but will still be liquid in center when done. Allow to cool in pan before sprinkling with confectioners' sugar for serving.
Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 307, UnsaturatedFat 4 grams, Carbohydrate 46 grams, Fat 12 grams, Fiber 1 gram, Protein 4 grams, SaturatedFat 8 grams, Sodium 179 milligrams, Sugar 25 grams, TransFat 0 grams
AUTHENTIC ST. LOUIS GOOEY BUTTER CAKE
There are many great gooey butter cake recipes out there but this is different from the cake mix variety because it has a yeast dough bottom. I grew up eating these cakes from a little bakery in Clayton, Mo and this recipe is as close to those as I've ever come across.
Provided by Laura123
Categories Yeast Breads
Time 2h10m
Yield 2 cakes, 16 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 17
Steps:
- For Dough:.
- In large bowl cream sugar, shortening and salt until light and fluffy.
- Add egg and beat well 1 minute until well blended.
- Dissolve yeast in the warm milk.
- Add flour, then milk-yeast mix and the vanilla to the sugar mixture.
- Mix 3 minutes. (Use dough hook if possible).
- Turn dough onto lightly floured board and knead 1 minute.
- Place in a lightly greased bowl and cover with a towel.
- Set in a warm place to rise for 1 hour.
- Than divide dough into 2 equal pieces.
- Pat (or use a rolling pin)each half into a circle about the size of the cake pan. (I usually use two 9" cake pans. Springform pans can also be used.).
- Transfer dough to each pan and pat up the sides so the gooey butter doesn't run underneath.
- Prick a few times with a fork to keep from bubbling up during baking.
- For gooey butter:.
- In large bowl, combine sugar, butter and salt.
- Add egg and corn syrup.
- Mix enough to blend well.
- Add the flour, water and vanilla, mixing well.
- Divide the gooey butter in 2 equal parts.
- Spread over dough in each pan.
- Let stand for 20 minutes.
- While cakes are standing, preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 C).
- Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, until topping starts to turn golden.
- Do not over bake or the topping will not be gooey.
- Let cakes cool completely on wire rack.
- Sprinkle with powdered sugar if desired.
- Serve at room temperature and store uneaten cakes in fridge.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 433.2, Fat 16, SaturatedFat 8.5, Cholesterol 54.8, Sodium 173.3, Carbohydrate 67.6, Fiber 1.1, Sugar 36.1, Protein 5.2
ST. LOUIS STYLE GOOEY BUTTER CAKE
What is Gooey Butter Cake you ask? It is a super-sweet, rich, St.Louis original treat! I have made this recipe hundreds of times to rave reviews. My fiances co workers even go as far as to trade work for Gooey Butter Cake! But what's someone from out-of-town, or in my case, relocated Las Vegas, to do? Follow This Recipe! It's super easy...anyone can make it! ENJOY!
Provided by nmlawrence
Categories Dessert
Time 50m
Yield 10-12 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 6
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 350.
- Lightly grease (or spray with Pam) one deep 9x13 rectangular cake pan. I would suggest a 4 in deep pan, as the cake rises when it is cooking, but a oven-safe disposable coffee cake pan from the grocery store would work fine too.
- Melt butter. I do this by heating the the microwave on low power for 30 seconds.
- Empty cake mix into a large bowl.
- Stir melted butter, along with ONE egg, into the cake mix.
- PRESS mixture into pan. Mixture will have the consistency of sticky dough. Using a spatula works for me, but pressing with clean fingers will do the trick as well.
- In a large bowl, mix cream cheese, almond or vanilla extract, confectioners sugar and the remaining two eggs.
- Beat for three minutes with an electric mixer set on medium high speed, or until smooth with NO lumps.
- Pour evenly over top of the cake mixture in the pan. Use a spatula to spread.
- Place a large cookie sheet on the rack below the cake. Sometimes when you use a cake pan with less depth, the cake bubbles and spills over. The cookie sheet will spare your oven! Bake at 350 for 30-45 minutes until golden brown on top. Cooking time is estimated, you will really have to watch it here! I always take the cake out when it turns a darkish golden brown. Note that there will be a paper thin sugar "crust" that will form while the cake is baking. It the top layer of sugar hardening, and this is what will turn golden brown. It adds great texture!
- Allow cake to cool COMPLETELY. This is very important, as the cake will not cut easily until it is completely cool. You will notice that the cake has sunken and set. This is normal. Refrigeration is optional. I personally like it at room temperature.
- Dust the top with confectioners' sugar.
- Cut cake into bars and serve with or without utensils, but make sure you have plenty of napkins, because this treat will have you licking your fingers! (Cake should be gooey underneath the sugar "crust", so don't over bake!).
GOOEY BUTTER CAKE
This sticky-sweet cake is a St. Louis specialty -- every bakery in Missouri has its own version. Martha made this recipe on episode 703 of Martha Bakes.
Provided by Martha Stewart
Categories Food & Cooking Dessert & Treats Recipes Cake Recipes
Number Of Ingredients 15
Steps:
- Brush a 13-by-9-inch glass baking dish with butter. Line with parchment paper, leaving a 2-inch overhang on each of the long sides, and butter. Set aside.
- Make the cake: In a small bowl, stir together milk and yeast; let stand until slightly foamy, about 5 minutes.
- In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat butter, sugar, and salt until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Add flour in two additions, alternating with the milk mixture. Beat on medium speed until it forms a soft dough, 3 to 5 minutes.
- Press dough into prepared baking dish and cover loosely with plastic wrap. Set aside in a warm place until puffy and full of air, about 1 hour.
- Make the topping: Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream the butter, sugar, and salt on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Add egg, egg yolk, and vanilla and beat to combine, scraping down sides of bowl. Add flour in two additions, alternating with corn syrup. Beat until thoroughly combined.
- Spread topping evenly over risen dough using an offset spatula. Bake until just golden around the edges, about 20 minutes. Let cool completely in baking dish on a wire rack before dusting with confectioners' sugar and serving.
GOOEY BUTTER CAKE (ORIGINAL ST. LOUIS RECIPE)
Moist, decadent and dangerously easy to make, gooey butter cake is like a giant cream cheese danish. You can't eat just one piece.
Provided by Jennifer O
Categories Dessert
Time 40m
Number Of Ingredients 5
Steps:
- Grease 9x13 cake pan and dust with powdered sugar. Or, line cake pan with parchment paper. Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Make base layer of cake Beat one egg in a large mixing bowl. Melt one stick of butter. Add cake mix and melted butter to bowl with beaten egg. Stir until well-combined. You can do this with a spatula or use an electric mixer. Your choice. Cake mix will be thick. Dump this mixture (it will be too thick to pour) into the cake pan and spread with hands until it's an even layer. Run the flat side of a measuring cup over the cake so the top is smooth and doesn't have fingerprints. Unless you're going to be serving people who like fingerprints in their cake. But, no one is going to see the fingerprints because you're going to cover it with a cream cheese layer. Make cream cheese layer. In the same bowl you used to make the base cake layer, beat the remaining two eggs. To the eggs add softened 8-ounce cream cheese and two cups of powdered sugar until smooth. You won't see any tiny lumps of cream cheese if you've beat it enough. For this step, I recommend an electric mixer. It took me about five minutes using my stand mixer to beat all the lumps out of the batter. Pour cream cheese mixture over the base layer of cake. Bake at 325 F for at least 30 minutes but no more than 35 minutes. Start checking at 25 minutes to make sure it isn't over baking. You want to pull the cake out when the middle still has a bit of jiggle. After removing from oven, let cool in the pan on a wire rack. Gild the lily, if you like, by dusting with powdered sugar. Serve with strong coffee or tea or whiskey. Makes 24 servings.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 193 calories, Carbohydrate 28 grams carbohydrates, Cholesterol 43 milligrams cholesterol, Fat 8 grams fat, Fiber 0 grams fiber, Protein 2 grams protein, SaturatedFat 5 grams saturated fat, ServingSize 1, Sodium 228 milligrams sodium, Sugar 19 grams sugar, TransFat 0 grams trans fat, UnsaturatedFat 3 grams unsaturated fat
GOOEY BUTTER CAKE
A friend gave me a quick version of this gooey butter cake recipe using a cake mix, but I prefer baking from scratch, so I made my own version. My family can't get enough! The middle will sink a little; this is normal. This dessert is delicious served warm or cold. -Cheri Foster, Vail, Arizona
Provided by Taste of Home
Categories Desserts
Time 1h
Yield 16 servings.
Number Of Ingredients 10
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 325°. In a large bowl, combine flour, sugar, baking powder and salt. In another bowl, whisk together melted butter, egg and vanilla; add to flour mixture and stir to combine. Press onto bottom of a greased 13x9-in. baking dish., For topping, in a large bowl, beat cream cheese and eggs until smooth. Add confectioners' sugar and stir to combine. Pour over crust. Bake until center is almost set and edges start to brown, 40-45 minutes. Cool 1 hour on a wire rack. Sprinkle with additional confectioners' sugar if desired.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 381 calories, Fat 17g fat (10g saturated fat), Cholesterol 80mg cholesterol, Sodium 299mg sodium, Carbohydrate 53g carbohydrate (37g sugars, Fiber 1g fiber), Protein 4g protein.
GOOEY BUTTER CAKE
The signature dessert of St. Louis is just what its name suggests-a wonderfully gooey butter cake that doesn't quite set when baked.
Provided by Anne Byrn
Yield Makes 16 servings
Number Of Ingredients 17
Steps:
- For the cake, place the milk in a small saucepan over medium heat for about 1 minute, or in the microwave on low power for 45 seconds, and heat until the milk is 100° F. Sprinkle the yeast over the milk, and stir to dissolve. Set aside.
- Place the butter, sugar, and salt in a large bowl, and beat with an electric mixer on medium speed until light and fluffy, 2 to 3 minutes. Add the egg, and beat until incorporated. Stop the mixer, and scrape down the sides of the bowl. Add the flour alternately with the yeast and milk mixture, beginning and ending with the flour. When all the flour has been added, blend on low speed until the dough is smooth and elastic, about 5 minutes.
- Lightly rub butter into the bottom of two 8" square pans. Divide the dough in half, and press one half into the bottom of each pan. Cover each pan loosely with plastic wrap, and place in a warm place to rise until nearly doubled, about 2 hours.
- When the dough has nearly finished rising, make the filling. Place the butter, sugar, salt, and corn syrup in a large mixing bowl, and beat on medium speed until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Scrape down the bowl and add the vanilla and 1 egg. Beat on medium speed until combined, then add the second egg. Add the milk and half the flour, beating until combined. Add the rest of the flour, and beat until smooth. Set aside.
- Place a rack in the center of the oven, and preheat the oven to 350°F. Pour the filling over the rising dough, dividing it evenly between the 2 pans, and spread it to the edges. Place the pans in the oven.
- Bake the cakes until the tops are golden brown, 25 to 30 minutes. Remove from the oven, and let the cakes cool for 20 minutes. Dust with confectioners' sugar, slice, and serve warm.
Tips:
- Use room temperature ingredients. This will help the cake batter come together smoothly and evenly.
- Cream the butter and sugar together until light and fluffy. This will create a smooth, creamy texture in the cake.
- Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. This will help prevent the cake from curdling.
- Sift the flour before measuring it. This will help ensure that the cake is light and airy.
- Do not overmix the batter. Overmixing can make the cake tough.
- Bake the cake in a preheated oven. This will help ensure that the cake bakes evenly.
- Let the cake cool completely before frosting it. This will help prevent the frosting from melting.
Conclusion:
St. Louis-style gooey butter cake is a delicious and decadent dessert that is perfect for any occasion. With its rich, buttery flavor and gooey center, this cake is sure to be a hit with everyone who tries it. If you are looking for a special dessert to make, this cake is definitely worth trying.
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