Cream Cheese Yellow Cake Bake

8 servings Prep: 10 m Cook: 40 m Total: 50 m Beginner
5.0/5 (2)
Cream Cheese Yellow Cake Bake
This easy cream cheese yellow cake bake uses a boxed cake mix for a quick shortcut dessert with a rich, gooey cream cheese layer that firms up beautifully as it bakes. Perfect when you need a simple dessert that looks and tastes impressive with minimal effort.

Ingredients

8 servings
  • 1 stick of butter, melted
  • 1 box yellow cake mix
  • 1 (8 oz) package cream cheese, softened to room temperature
  • 1 box powdered sugar
  • 4 eggs

Step-by-Step Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 9x13 pan or 8x8 pan.
  2. In a small saucepan, melt the butter and let cool slightly. Add one egg and beat well. Combine the butter-egg mixture with the box of cake mix until well blended. Pour the mixture into the prepared pan and spread evenly.
  3. In a bowl, beat the cream cheese until smooth. Add the powdered sugar and 3 eggs, mixing until well combined. The mixture will be slightly watery but will firm up after baking. Pour the cream cheese mixture over the cake layer in the pan.
  4. Bake for 40 minutes at 350 degrees until the top is golden and the center is set but still slightly gooey. Cool before cutting into squares.

Common Problems and Solutions

Q: Why is my cream cheese layer lumpy?

A: Make sure your cream cheese is fully softened to room temperature before mixing. Beat it smooth before adding the other ingredients, and mix until completely combined with no lumps.

Q: Can I tell when it's done baking?

A: The top should be golden brown and the center should be set but still have a slight jiggle. It will firm up as it cools. Don't overbake or it will lose its gooey texture.

Q: Why did my layers mix together?

A: Make sure to spread the cake layer evenly in the pan first, then gently pour the cream cheese mixture over top. The cream cheese mixture is thin but will stay mostly on top during baking.

Tips and Techniques

Use room temperature eggs in the cream cheese layer for smoother mixing. This dessert is even better the next day after the flavors meld and it’s easier to cut clean squares. Store covered in the refrigerator.

Ingredient Substitutions

  • yellow cake mix: white cake mix or butter cake mix
  • cream cheese: Neufchâtel cheese (1/3 less fat cream cheese)

Equipment Needed

  • 9x13 inch baking pan or 8x8 inch pan
  • small saucepan
  • mixing bowls
  • hand mixer or whisk

Historical Context

Gooey butter cake-style desserts became popular across the South when boxed cake mixes made home baking easier in the post-war era. This version uses a simplified two-layer approach that’s become a potluck favorite.