Pumpkin Gooey Butter Cake Recipe

Jump to Recipe

Fall is in the air, and that means pumpkin season is here! This pumpkin gooey butter cake recipe is one of our favorites. It’s easy to make and so delicious! The vanilla cake batter crust is perfect with the gooey butter filling. It’s a delicious fall dessert and would be great for Thanksgiving!

Gooey pumpkin butter cake with a slice taken out.

IN THIS POST

This cake is a combination of a pumpkin pie and a vanilla cake. It has a creamy, gooey butter texture and a delicious cookie-like crust made from cake batter! It’s really a fun recipe to bring to Thanksgiving or Friendsgiving and perfect for the holiday season.

If you love this Gooey Pumpkin Butter Cake then you have to try our popular pumpkin bread, the best pumpkin donuts and pumpkin chocolate chip cookies! They are both some of the best pumpkin desserts.

What is gooey butter cake?

Gooey butter cake is a type of dessert that originated in St. Louis, Missouri. It consists of a yellow or German chocolate cake mix crust, with a gooey filling made from butter, cream cheese, brown sugar, and eggs.

How to Make Gooey Butter Pumpkin Cake

Tools You’ll Need

Electric Mixer

Large Bowl

9″ Springform Pan or 9×13 Rectangular Pan

Measuring Cups and Spoons

Spatula

melted butter, eggs, cake mix, ground spices, brown sugar and vanilla extract in small bowls on a table.

Ingredient Notes

The full recipe and measurements are in the recipe card at the bottom of the post.

Boxed Yellow Cake Mix – This is the mix that creates a delicious crust for the cake.

Eggs – Use whole, organic eggs when possible. The eggs act as a binding agent in this recipe.

Unsalted Butter – Adds to the gooey butter texture.

Canned Pumpkin – Libby’s canned pumpkin is great for this recipe. You can also use an organic canned pumpkin too.

Cream Cheese – Use full-fat cream cheese. Make sure the cream cheese is completely soft, you can microwave it for 20 seconds to ensure it has a creamy and soft texture.

Vanilla Extract – Use pure vanilla extract to add flavor and also enhance the flavors in the recipe.

Brown Sugar – A type of sugar that is brown in color. It is made by adding molasses to white sugar. You can use light brown sugar or dark brown sugar.

Ground Spices – This recipe uses cinnamon, nutmeg, and ginger to add flavor.

Spreading gooey butter cake mix on the bottom of a spring fold pan.

4 Steps to Making Gooey Pumpkin Butter Cake

Prep a round cake pan, with all of the ingredients and preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
Combine the box cake base and pour it into the prepared pan.
Mix the filling ingredients and pour the pumpkin mixture over the cake mix.
Bake for 40-50 minutes.

How to Properly Prepare a Cake Pan

Prepping your cake pan correctly ensures this recipe comes out perfectly. Make sure to use either a 9-inch round cake pan or a 9×13 rectangular cake pan.

Spray the pan with cooking spray, then line the bottom with parchment paper.

This will help prevent the cake from sticking to the pan and make removing the cake from the pan easier.

Expert Tips For Recipe Success

Make sure all of your ingredients are at room temperature. This includes pumpkin puree, eggs, and cream cheese. Room-temperature ingredients mix together much easier and produce a more consistent cake.

Don’t over-mix the batter. Over-mixing can cause the cake to be dense and tough.

Don’t over-bake this recipe; the cake is supposed to have a gooey texture once it sets.

Let the cake cool completely before cutting into it. The gooey butter filling needs time to set up, so resist the urge to cut into it too soon.

Check our Kitchen Conversion Chart for any measurement questions.

A round gooey butter pumpkin cake with slices on plates.

Variations and Substitutes

You can substitute yellow cake mix for a pumpkin, white, or spice cake mix.

Substitute pumpkin puree for sweet potato puree or butternut squash puree.

Ground spices for pumpkin pie spice. You’ll add 2 tsp pumpkin pie spice instead of the ground spices the recipe calls for.

Make brown butter by melting it on the stovetop until it browns. This brings out a delicious nutty flavor. You can use browned butter in place of regular butter in this recipe.

Use different types of extracts like almond extract or pumpkin extract.

Add chocolate chips, chopped nuts, or dried fruit to the batter before baking.

Slice of a pumpkin cake on a pink plate.

How to Warm Cream Cheese and Butter

If your cream cheese and butter are not at room temperature, place them in the microwave for 20-30 seconds or until they are soft to the touch.

How to Store

This cake can be stored at room temperature, in an airtight container for 2-3 days. If you want to keep it longer, store it in the fridge for up to 5 days.

How to Freeze

Wrap the cake tightly in plastic wrap and then place it in a freezer-safe bag. Freeze for up to 3 months. Let the cake thaw overnight in the fridge before serving.

Pumpkin Gooey Frequently Asked Questions

Why is it called gooey butter cake?

Gooey butter cake gets its name from the gooey filling that is made with butter, cream cheese, and powdered sugar. It has a gooey texture to it and a buttery flavor.

Should you refrigerate gooey butter cake?

You can store pumpkin gooey butter cake at room temperature or in the fridge. If you live in a hot climate, it’s best to store it in the fridge so that the buttercream filling doesn’t melt.

Can you freeze gooey pumpkin butter cake?

Yes, you can freeze pumpkin gooey butter cake. Wrap it tightly in plastic wrap and then place it in a freezer-safe bag. Freeze for up to 3 months. Let the cake thaw overnight in the fridge before serving.

Is gooey butter cake a Midwest thing?

Gooey butter cake is said to have originated in the Midwest, although its exact origins are unknown. The cake is said to be invented in the 1930s and has become popular in the 80s. It’s been a staple in Midwestern cuisine ever since.

Can I bake this cake in a 9×13 pan?

The best part about this cake is that it can be baked in a 9×13 pan. It’s a great way to feed a crowd or take to a potluck. You can also bake it in a square cake pan too. We prefer using a round springform pan for this cake. I love the way the edges look when the sides are removed.

Can I use fresh homemade pumpkin?

Yes, you can use fresh pumpkin puree in this recipe. It will be more work and doesn’t add anything to the flavor, but if you’re passionate about making your own puree, that is fine! You’ll use cup per cup when substituting fresh and canned.

Best Substitutes for Pumpkin

Here are the 2 best substitutes for pumpkin puree:

Butternut Squash Puree – This is our favorite pumpkin substitute. It’s sweet and has a similar texture to pumpkin puree.

Sweet Potato Puree – Another great pumpkin substitute. Sweet potatoes are a little bit sweeter than pumpkin so you might want to add a little less sugar to the recipe.