Lemon Gooey Butter Cake

This may be one of the simplest recipes I make, but it's probably also the most requested.  The original recipe calls for yellow cake mix, but I think the lemon makes it even better.  Feel free to experiment with other cake mix flavors!

Mix the cake batter, butter and an egg together to form the crust.

Mix the cream cheese filling and spread on top of the crust.

Bake for about 45 minutes and enjoy!

Lemon Gooey Butter Cake

Crust:

1 package (18.25 ounces) lemon cake mix

8 tablespoons (1 stick) butter, melted

1 large egg

Filling:

1 package (8 ounces) cream cheese, room temperature

2 large eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

8 tablespoons (1 stick) butter, melted

3 ¾ cups confectioner’s sugar

1. Preheat oven to 350°F.  Set aside an ungreased 13 by 9 inch cake pan.

2. Prepare the crust by blending the cake mix, melted butter and egg in large mixing bowl with an electric mixer at low speed for 2 minutes.  After blending, scrape the sides of the bowl with a rubber spatula and bring the batter together in a ball.  Pat the batter evenly into the bottom of the cake pan, and set aside.

3. For the filling, beat the cream cheese with the electric mixer on low speed for 30 seconds, until fluffy (it is not necessary to clean the bowl or beaters between mixing the crust and filling).  Add the eggs, vanilla and melted butter and continue beating for 1 minute at medium speed.  Slowly add the confectioner’s sugar, and continue beating until the sugar is completely incorporated, about 1 minute.  Pour the filling into the pan over the crust, and spread evenly with a rubber spatula.

4. Bake the cake at 350°F for 45-47 minutes.  The cake should be well browned, and the center should still jiggle if you shake the pan.  Cool the cake in the pan on a wire rack.  Cake can be kept at room temperature for up to 4 days or refrigerated for up to 1 week.    

Adapted from the recipe for Gooey Butter Cake in The Cake Mix Doctor by Anne Byrn, available for purchase at http://www.amazon.com/Cake-Mix-Doctor-Anne-Byrn/dp/0761117199/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1303430930&sr=8-1

-Posted by Jennifer