Description
This Pumpkin Gooey Butter Cake is a rich, cozy fall dessert with a buttery cake base and a creamy pumpkin spice filling that stays soft, sweet, and gooey in the center. It is an easy recipe for Thanksgiving dessert, fall baking, holiday food ideas, potluck sweets, and simple pumpkin dessert ideas when you want something comforting without complicated steps.
Ingredients
1 box yellow cake mix
1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted
1 large egg
8 ounces cream cheese, softened
1 cup pumpkin puree
3 large eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice
1/4 teaspoon salt
3 3/4 cups powdered sugar
Optional: powdered sugar or whipped cream for serving
Instructions
1. Preheat the oven to 350°F and grease a 9 x 13-inch baking dish. Line it with parchment paper if you want easier slicing.
2. In a large bowl, combine the yellow cake mix, melted butter, and 1 egg until a thick dough forms.
3. Press the dough evenly into the bottom of the prepared baking dish.
4. In another bowl, beat the softened cream cheese until smooth and creamy.
5. Add the pumpkin puree, 3 eggs, vanilla extract, pumpkin pie spice, salt, and powdered sugar. Beat until smooth.
6. Pour the pumpkin filling over the cake base and spread it evenly.
7. Bake for 40 to 45 minutes, until the edges are set and the center still has a slight jiggle.
8. Let the cake cool completely at room temperature.
9. Chill for at least 1 hour for cleaner slices, then cut into squares and serve with powdered sugar or whipped cream if desired.
Notes
Do not overbake the cake. The center should still jiggle slightly when removed from the oven.
Use plain pumpkin puree, not pumpkin pie filling, so the sweetness and spice stay balanced.
Chill before slicing if you want neat squares with a creamy, gooey center.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 square
- Calories: 365
- Sugar: 43g
- Sodium: 310mg
- Fat: 16g
- Saturated Fat: 9g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 54g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 4g
- Cholesterol: 95mg
Keywords: Pumpkin Gooey Butter Cake, pumpkin dessert, fall dessert, Thanksgiving dessert, easy pumpkin cake, holiday dessert, pumpkin spice cake