Apple Butter Gooey Butter Cake

When you’re looking for an easy make and take dessert for your next get together, look no further than this Apple Butter Gooey Butter Cake with a homemade yellow cake base and an apple butter cream cheese layer.

What is Gooey Butter Cake? It is a super-sweet, rich, St. Louis original treat! The gooey part of the name comes from the gooeyness between the cake and cream cheese layers, as if it’s slightly under baked. It’s more prominent if you serve the cake the same day you baked it while either still warm or at room temperature. If you do refrigerate any leftovers, let the cake sit 15-30 minutes at room temperature before eating. It may not be as gooey at this point, but it’s still a worthy dessert.

There are many versions of Gooey Butter Cake, this version is made with Graves Mountain Apple Butter made from their own apples.

Ingredients
Cake:
1 cup all-purpose flour, sifted
¾ cup granulated sugar
1 ½ teaspoons baking soda
½ teaspoon salt
1 egg
¼ cup (2 ounces or 4 tablespoons) unsalted butter, melted
1 tablespoons whole milk
½ teaspoons vanilla extract

Filling:
4 ounces cream cheese, softened
1 cup Graves Mountain Apple Butter
1 egg
¼ cup (2 ounces or 4 tablespoons) unsalted  butter, melted
½ teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup powdered sugar
½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
½ teaspoon ground nutmeg

Whipped Cream and ground cinnamon, for serving

Instructions:

1.    Preheat oven to 350F. Lightly grease an 8x8 square pan.

2.    Make the cake layer: In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt. Whisk in the egg, melted butter, milk, and vanilla until moistened. Spread evenly in the pan (mixture will be slightly sticky).

3.    Make the filling: In a large bowl with an electric mixer, beat together the cream cheese and apple butter until smooth. Beat in the egg then beat in the melted butter and vanilla. Scrape down the bowl then beat in the powdered sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg.

4.    Spread the filling over the cake layer then bake 45-50 minutes or until the center is set (do not overbake as the center should be slightly gooey). Cool completely before serving. Garnish with whipped cream and dust with cinnamon. Refrigerate any leftovers in an airtight container for up to 4 days. For best results, let cake sit at room temperature for 15-30 minutes before serving.