These easy St. Louis-style gooey butter cake bars are the kind of treat that disappears fast at potlucks, holidays, and family movie nights. With just five simple ingredients, they give you that classic sweet Midwest bakery flavor with a buttery cake base and a rich, creamy top that bakes up crackly on the surface and soft in the middle.
Serve these bars with hot coffee, cold milk, or a scoop of vanilla ice cream if you want to dress them up for dessert. They also fit right in on a brunch table with fresh fruit, or tucked onto a cookie tray for parties and church suppers when you want something a little different from the usual brownies.
Oven Baked 5-Ingredient St. Louis Gooey Butter Cake Bars
Servings: 16 squares
Ingredients
1 box yellow cake mix
Directions
1. Preheat the oven to 350°F and lightly grease a 9x13-inch baking dish.
2. In a medium bowl, stir together the yellow cake mix, melted butter, and 1 egg until a thick dough forms. Press the mixture evenly into the bottom of the prepared baking dish to make the crust.
3. In a large bowl, beat the softened cream cheese, remaining 2 eggs, and powdered sugar until smooth and creamy.
4. Pour the filling over the crust and spread it gently into an even layer.
5. Bake for 40 to 50 minutes, until the edges are golden and the center still has a slight jiggle. Do not overbake, because the bars will firm up as they cool.
6. Cool completely before cutting into squares and serving.
Variations & Tips
For extra neat squares: Line the baking dish with parchment paper before pressing in the crust. Once the bars are fully cool, you can lift the whole slab out and slice cleaner pieces.
For picky eaters: Keep the recipe just as written the first time. The simple yellow cake and cream cheese flavor is classic, sweet, and familiar, which makes it a great dessert for sharing with kids and guests who do not like anything too fancy.
For a holiday touch: Add a light dusting of powdered sugar right before serving for a pretty finish. You can also set out berries alongside the bars to brighten up a dessert tray without changing the recipe itself.
Storage tip: Cover the cooled bars tightly and keep them in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Let them sit at room temperature for a few minutes before serving if you want the center extra soft and creamy.
