"Can I Have Both" Gooey Butter Cakes

"Can I Have Both" Butter Cakes

Want to know a great way to share without having to really "share" these puppies? Just be truthful and tell them it has two sticks of butter in it. And if that still doesn't work, say it has a pound of powdered sugar in it as well. :-)

I took these to family dinner and everyone thoroughly enjoyed them until I told them what was in it. Then you would have thought it was kryptonite. (I've made these for them several times before and never had that type of reaction. I guess I never disclosed the ingredients. Oops.) My dad, who usually complains that I never leave him leftover desserts, literally told me not to leave any in the house when I went home. So I made my brother take the rest home, who did so reluctantly-- but you know he secretly wanted them!

So, yeah, this is a Paula Deen recipe. The queen of butter herself, so it's fitting these are called gooey butter cakes. Two sticks of butter, no lies. And, seriously, a box of cake mix and a box of powdered sugar. But, it's so worth the tight-fitting pants this week and the extra workouts. Even if I'm trying to be good before my cousin's wedding in two weeks.

I can't really accurately describe this recipe, it's just awesome. It doesn't taste like cake or cookies or dessert bars. You can mix up the flavors for the bottom layer and the top layer, they're all awesome. My favorite it still the original (yellow cake mix and the basic top layer), but these are a close second because you get a little bit of both-- you get the bottom layer of the original and the top layer that tastes similar to a brownie. So if you can't decide between the original and the chocolate version, now you can have both of them in one! You gotta give these a try!

Kind of an ugly dessert, but they're so good!

These are very deceiving!

"Can I Have Both" Gooey Butter Cakes
slightly adapted from Paula Deen

Cake:
1 18.25 oz. package yellow or white cake mix
1 egg
8 Tbs. butter, melted (1 stick)

Filling:
1 8 oz. package cream cheese, softened
2 eggs
4 Tbs. unsweetened cocoa
1 tsp. vanilla
8 Tbs. butter, melted (1 stick)
1 16 oz. box powdered sugar


Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Combine the cake mix, egg, and butter and mix well with an electric mixer.  Pat the mixture into the bottom of a lightly greased 13 by 9-inch baking pan.

In a large bowl, beat the cream cheese until smooth.  Add the eggs, unsweetened cocoa, vanilla, and butter and beat together.

Next, add the powdered sugar and mix well.  Spread over cake batter and bake for 40 to 50 minutes.  Make sure not to over bake as the center should be a little gooey.