Strawberries and Cream Gooey Butter Cake

This oh-so-pretty Strawberries and Cream Gooey Butter Cake is a sheet cake with sass.  This particular version of a gooey butter cake begins with a strawberry cake mix.  The mix is combined with butter and an egg then topped with a strawberry cream cheese filling with more butter and eggs and a few fresh berries for texture.  Gooey butter cakes should be baked until they still have a little jiggle in the middle that is afterall, how it earned it’s name. To serve, top with a dusting of powdered sugar and a dollop of whipped cream and fresh strawberries.  If you think that’s magical just wait until you serve it, not a crumb will be left behind.

Contrary to popular thought, gooey butter cakes didn’t originate in the South nor did a famous cooking personality invent them.  The original St Louis gooey is very different from this cake mix version that does seem to have it’s roots in the South.  I can remember seeing all sorts of flavors and versions show-up at church potlucks as a litle girl.  They were often called chess bars or gooey chess cake or the name we all know best, gooey butter cake. They’re a fun cake to make and are easy to transport which undoubtedly had an effect on it’s potluck popularity.

I have several flavors and versions here on my website and even won a National Baking Contest 6 years ago in the early days of my blog, with my Caramel, Chocolate Almond Gooey Butter Cake which features dulce de leche in the filling.  It’s amazing!  Make this cake in advance and chill then dust with powdered sugar and garnish with whipped cream and strawberries just before serving.  It’ll wow your family and friends.

You may also like: Orange Creamsicle Gooey Butter Cake, Mocha Molten Lava Gooey Butter Cake, Banana Pudding Gooey Butter Cake, Original Gooey Butter Cake, The Best Gooey Butter Cake Bars, Lemon Chiffon Chess Bars. 

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Strawberries and Cream Gooey Butter Cake

Servings 12

Author Melissa Sperka

Ingredients

• 1 15.25 oz box strawberry cake mix
• 4 large eggs divided
• 1 cup 2 sticks butter, melted separately
• 1 8 oz strawberry cream cheese, softened
• 1 tsp pure strawberry extract
• 1/2 tsp pure almond extract
• 1 16 oz powdered sugar
• Few drops red food coloring optional
• 1/3 cup finely diced firm strawberries
• Whipped cream and additional cubed strawberries for garnishing

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Srpay a 9 x 13-inch baking dish with cooking spray. Set aside.
2. Using an electric mixer, beat together the cake mix, 1 large egg and 1 stick melted butter. Mix until fully moistened then press evenly into the bottom of the baking dish.
3. In the same mixing bowl cream together the cream cheese, strawberry and almond extracts.
4. Add 3 eggs one at a time beating well after each addition. Whip until the mixture is smooth and slightly thickened, this may take several minutes.
5. Once smooth, whip in the remaining 1 stick (1/2 cup) melted butter.
6. Lower the speed of the mixer and gradually add the powdered sugar. After all has been added, add 2-3 drops red food coloring. Increase to medium-high beating for 1 minute or until completely smooth.
7. Mix the diced strawberries in by hand.
8. Pour the filling over the cake mix layer. Spread evenly.
9. Bake for 40 minutes or until puffed and the center still moves when gently shaken. Do not over bake.
10. Cool completely and chill. Serve dusted with powdered sugar and a dollop of whipped cream and additional berries, if desired.
11. Store leftovers chilled.

Recipe Notes

1 plain 8-oz cream cheese may be used in place of the strawberry cream cheese. In that case increase the strawberry extract to 2 tsp.