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The Best Gooey Chocolate Butter Cake Recipe

The Best Gooey Chocolate Butter Cake

A rich chocolate cake-mix base is topped with a sweet cream-cheese layer and baked until the edges are set while the center remains soft and gooey. This easy dessert makes about 16 generous servings.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 40 minutes
Total Time 1 minute
Servings: 16 servings
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Cake Base
  • 1 box, about 15.25-18.25 ounces Chocolate cake mix, preferably devil’s-food or chocolate fudge
  • 1/2 cup Butter, unsalted or salted, melted
  • 1 egg Large egg
Cream-Cheese Topping
  • 1 8-ounce package Full-fat cream cheese, softened
  • 1/2 cup Butter, melted
  • 3 eggs Large eggs
  • 1 teaspoon Pure vanilla extract
  • 3 3/4 cups Confectioners’ sugar, sifted if lumpy
Optional
  • 1 cup Chopped pecans or walnuts
  • As needed Confectioners’ sugar for dusting

Method
 

Step-by-Step
  1. Heat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 13 x 9-inch baking pan or line it with parchment paper, leaving enough overhang to lift the cooled cake from the pan.
  2. Stir the dry chocolate cake mix, 1/2 cup melted butter, and 1 large egg together until a thick dough forms. Press the dough evenly into the bottom of the prepared pan using lightly greased or damp fingers.
  3. Beat the softened cream cheese until smooth. Add 1/2 cup melted butter, 3 large eggs, and vanilla extract, then beat until the mixture is well combined.
  4. Gradually beat in the confectioners’ sugar until the topping is smooth. Stir in the chopped pecans or walnuts if you are using them.
  5. Spread the cream-cheese mixture evenly over the chocolate cake-mix base. Bake for approximately 40–50 minutes, until the edges look set and lightly puffed while the center remains soft and slightly jiggly.
  6. Cool the cake in the pan for at least 30 minutes before slicing. Dust with additional confectioners’ sugar if desired, and serve warm or chilled.

Notes

Do not overbake because the soft, gooey center is the defining feature of this cake. Use room-temperature cream cheese for a smooth topping, and cool completely or refrigerate briefly for cleaner slices.