The Easiest “Fancy” Dessert: The Neiman Marcus Gooey Butter Cake
Aside from its legendary cookies and classic chicken salad, there’s another famous recipe that carries the Neiman Marcus name: a wonderfully rich, dense, and gooey cake. And here’s the best part—it might just be one of the easiest “from-scratch” tasting desserts you’ll ever make.
Often called the Neiman Marcus Cake, this treat is essentially a version of the beloved St. Louis gooey butter cake. It’s a deliciously decadent dessert bar with two distinct layers: a firm, chewy cake-like crust and a sweet, creamy cheese topping that bakes into a gooey, melt-in-your-mouth layer of perfection.
If you’re looking for a dessert that’s guaranteed to impress everyone but requires minimal effort, this is the recipe for you.
The Secret Weapon: A Box of Cake Mix
Believe it or not, the secret to the incredibly simple base of this cake is a standard box of yellow cake mix. This shortcut is a game-changer, creating a perfect, chewy crust without the hassle of measuring out flour, sugar, and leavening agents. It makes this a fantastic “pantry-staple” dessert that you can whip up on a moment’s notice.
Don’t let the cake mix fool you—the final result tastes completely homemade and incredibly luxurious.
The Delicious Layers, Explained
This dessert is all about the delightful contrast in textures.
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The Crust: The bottom layer is made by mixing yellow cake mix with melted butter and an egg. This forms a thick, dense dough that you press into the bottom of a baking pan. When baked, it creates a firm, chewy foundation.
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The Topping: The top layer is a heavenly mixture of softened cream cheese, confectioners’ sugar, and more eggs. It’s poured over the crust and, as it bakes, it sets into a soft, gooey, custard-like layer that’s utterly irresistible.
How to Make Neiman Marcus Cake
This is one of those “mix and dump” recipes that is almost foolproof.
The Ingredients You’ll Need:
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For the Crust:
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1 box of yellow cake mix
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1/2 cup of melted butter
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1 large egg
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For the Gooey Topping:
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8 ounces of cream cheese, softened
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2 large eggs
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1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
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3-4 cups of confectioners’ sugar (powdered sugar)
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The Simple Steps:
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Make the Crust: In a bowl, combine the dry cake mix, melted butter, and one egg. The mixture will be very thick and dough-like. Don’t worry, this is normal! Press this dough evenly into the bottom of a greased 9×13-inch baking pan.
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Mix the Topping: In a separate, larger bowl, beat the softened cream cheese with a hand mixer until it’s smooth and has no lumps. Add the two eggs and vanilla extract and beat again until everything is combined.
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Add the Sugar: Gradually add the confectioners’ sugar to the cream cheese mixture, beating on low speed until it’s fully incorporated and the topping is smooth.
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Assemble and Bake: Pour the creamy topping over the crust in the pan, spreading it out to cover the base completely. Bake in a preheated oven at 350°F (175°C) for about 30-40 minutes. The cake is done when the edges are golden brown and the center is mostly set (it will still be a little soft).
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Cool Completely: This is a crucial step! Let the cake cool completely in the pan before you even think about cutting into it. This allows the gooey center to set up properly. Once cool, slice into bars and serve.
This cake is a guaranteed crowd-pleaser for potlucks, parties, or any time you need a sweet treat. It’s a little taste of luxury, with a wonderfully simple secret.
