Lemon Gooey Butter Cake (Printable Version)
A luscious, tangy dessert with soft buttery base and creamy lemon topping for irresistible gooey texture.
# What You Need:
→ Base
01 - 1 box (15.25 oz) yellow cake mix
02 - ½ cup unsalted butter, melted
03 - 1 large egg
→ Gooey Lemon Layer
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 Make It:
01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a 9x13-inch baking pan with parchment paper or lightly grease with butter.
02 - Combine cake mix, melted butter, and egg in a mixing bowl. Mix until soft dough forms.
03 - Press dough evenly into bottom of prepared pan to form uniform base layer.
04 - Beat cream cheese until smooth. Add eggs one at a time, mixing well. Incorporate powdered sugar, lemon juice, lemon zest, and vanilla until fluffy and smooth.
05 - Pour lemon mixture over base and spread evenly. Bake 35-40 minutes until edges are set and center remains slightly jiggly.
06 - Let cool completely before cutting into squares. Dust with additional powdered sugar if desired.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- The texture is absolutely incredible with a cakey bottom supporting a velvety, almost custard like lemon layer that feels like eating sunshine on a spoon
- It uses a yellow cake mix as a shortcut but tastes completely homemade, perfect for when you need something impressive without spending hours in the kitchen
02 -
- The center of this cake should remain slightly jiggly when you remove it from the oven, and trying to bake it until completely set will result in a dry, disappointing texture
- This dessert needs to cool completely to achieve its characteristic gooey texture, as the lemon layer continues to set as it cools
03 -
- Room temperature ingredients are absolutely non negotiable for this recipe, so take everything out of the refrigerator at least an hour before you start baking
- A microplane grater will give you the finest, most aromatic lemon zest without any bitter white pith, so avoid using a regular box grater if possible