Butter Gooey Cake with Variations

This is very rich. Below the recipe are nine delicious variations of the basic cake.

Ingredients

Cake

• 1 (18.25 ounce) box yellow cake mix*
• 1 egg
• 1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, melted

Topping

• 8 ounces cream cheese softened
• 2 eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 (16 ounce) box confectioners'' sugar
• 1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, melted

Instructions

1. Heat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease a 9 x 13-inch pan.
2. In a bowl blend the cake mix, egg and butter. Mix well. Pat into the bottom of the 9 x 13-inch pan. Using an electric mixer beat the cream cheese until smooth; add the eggs and vanilla extract. Pour in the confectioners'' sugar and beat well. Slowly add the butter and mix well. Pour topping over the dough, and spread evenly.
3. Bake for 40 to 50 minutes. DO NOT OVER-BAKE THIS CAKE! You want the center to be gooey.
4. Cool completely and cut into SMALL squares.

Notes

* 18.25 ounce boxes of cake mix have been replaced by 16.5 ounce and 15.25 ounce boxes. To compensate for the volume loss in a 16 ounce box, whisk 6 tablespoons all-purpose flour into the dry cake mix before proceeding with the recipe. To compensate for the volume loss in a 15.25 ounce box, add 1/2 cup + 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour and 1/4 teaspoon baking powder.

Variations

Pumpkin Gooey Cake: Follow the original recipe, adding a 15 ounce can of pumpkin pie filling and an extra egg to the cream cheese filling. Bake as usual, remove from oven, and allow to cool. Cut into squares and top each square with a pecan half. Serve with a dollop of fresh whipped cream.

Pineapple Gooey Cake: Add a 20 ounce can of drained crushed pineapple and an extra egg to the cream cheese filling. Proceed as directed above.

Lemon Gooey Cake: Use a lemon cake mix in place of the yellow cake. Add the juice (approximately 1/4 cup) and zest of 2 lemons to the cream cheese filling. Proceed as directed above.

Carrot Gooey Cake: Use a spice cake mix, and add 1 cup chopped nuts and 1 1/2 cups finely grated carrots to the cream cheese filling. Proceed as directed above.

Peanut Butter Gooey Cake: Use a chocolate cake mix. Add 1 cup creamy peanut butter and an extra egg to cream cheese filling. You can sprinkle the top of batter with 1 cup chopped peanuts if you like. Proceed as directed above.

Chocolate Chip Gooey Cake: Use either yellow or chocolate cake mix. Sprinkle 1 cup chocolate chips and 1 cup chopped nuts on top of filling. Proceed as directed above.

Banana Gooey Cake: Use a yellow cake mix. Prepare cream cheese filling as directed, beating in 2 ripe bananas and an extra egg. Proceed as directed above.

Nutty Gooey Cake: Use a yellow cake mix, and add 1 cup chopped nuts to the cake mixture. Proceed as directed above.

Chippy Gooey Cake: Stir 1 cup white chocolate chips, peanut butter chocolate chips, butterscotch morsels, Heath Almond Toffee Bits or Heath Milk Chocolate Toffee Bits into filling. Proceed as directed above.