Chocolate Gooey Butter Cake

Name: Chocolate Gooey Butter Cake with Pecan Crust
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 50 min
Total time: 1 h 5 min
Yield: 12 servings
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 1 (15.25 oz) box dark chocolate fudge cake mix; 1/4 cup salted butter, melted; 1/2 cup pecans, chopped; 1 large egg; 8 oz cream cheese, softened; 2 large eggs; 4 cups powdered sugar; 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder; 1/4 cup salted butter, melted; 1 tsp vanilla extract; Butter, for greasing pan; Powdered sugar, for dusting

This Chocolate Gooey Butter Cake combines a simple chocolate-pecan cake mix crust with a decadent cream cheese filling, delivering bakery-style texture in a home kitchen without special equipment or technique.

🌍American 🏷️Chocolate cake 🏷️Gooey butter cake 🏷️Butter cake 🏷️Dessert Easy dessert

🏷️

🏷️Cake mix recipe

-0:00

dinnerin321onTikTok

Total

1h 5m

Servings

12

Difficulty

Easy

Est. Cost

$23–$38

Recipe Source

View original recipe

From TikTok · by dinnerin321

-0:00

dinnerin321onTikTok

Ingredients

1 (15.25 oz) box dark chocolate fudge cake mix
1/4 cup salted butter, melted
1/2 cup pecans, chopped
1 large egg
8 oz cream cheese, softened
2 large eggs
4 cups powdered sugar
1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1/4 cup salted butter, melted
1 tsp vanilla extract
Butter, for greasing pan
Powdered sugar, for dustingoptional

12 Ingredients

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Instructions

1
Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
2
To make the crust, combine the dark chocolate fudge cake mix, 1/4 cup of melted salted butter, chopped pecans, and 1 large egg in a mixing bowl.
3
Using a hand mixer, beat the ingredients until a thick dough forms.
4
Grease a 13x9 inch baking dish with butter.
5
Press the crust mixture evenly into the bottom of the prepared baking dish. Set aside.
6
In a separate large bowl, beat the softened cream cheese with a hand mixer until smooth.
7
Add 2 large eggs and beat until well combined.
8
Add the powdered sugar and cocoa powder to the bowl.
9
Beat again until the mixture is smooth.
10
Mix in the remaining 1/4 cup of melted salted butter and the vanilla extract. Beat until fully incorporated.
11
Pour the filling mixture evenly over the prepared crust and spread it out with a spatula.
12
Bake for 45-50 minutes, or until the sides are set and the center is still slightly jiggly.
13
Let the cake cool completely in the pan before slicing and serving.
14
Optionally, dust with powdered sugar before serving.

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Tips & Notes

Pro tips

Don't overbake—the filling should have a slight jiggle in the center when removed from the oven; it sets completely as it cools and chills.
Ensure cream cheese is fully softened before mixing to avoid lumps in the filling.
Chill for at least 2 hours before serving to achieve the signature gooey-but-sliceable texture.
Press the crust mixture firmly into the pan with the bottom of a measuring cup for even baking and structure.

Substitutions

Dark chocolate fudge cake mix → chocolate devil's food cake mix (flavor will be slightly less intense)
Pecans → walnuts or omit entirely (nuts add crunch; omitting creates a smoother crust)
Cream cheese → mascarpone (will be slightly less tangy and more custardy)
Unsweetened cocoa powder → Dutch-process cocoa powder (will taste slightly less bitter)

Storage & make-ahead

Cover and refrigerate up to 3 days; freeze up to 1 month wrapped tightly. Thaw in refrigerator overnight before serving.

Common Questions

Can I make this cake ahead of time?

Yes. Bake completely, cool, cover, and refrigerate up to 3 days. Serve chilled or at room temperature.

What's the difference between this and regular chocolate cake?

The cream cheese filling and butter create a gooey, fudgy center layer—more like a brownie-cake hybrid than a traditional cake.

Can I skip the pecans in the crust?

Yes. Use the same amount of cake mix without pecans, or substitute with chopped walnuts or omit nuts entirely for a chocolate-only crust.

How do I know when it's done baking?

The top should be set but the center still slightly jiggles when gently shaken—it continues to cook as it cools and will firm up as it chills.

Can I use milk chocolate or white chocolate instead?

The cake mix requires dark chocolate fudge flavor for structure. Cocoa powder can be swapped for Dutch-process or unsweetened, but cake mix should stay as written.