Here’s the classic Neiman Marcus Cake recipe — the rich, gooey one people also call Neiman Marcus Bars or Gooey Butter Cake–style. It’s super popular because it’s easy and very indulgent. 🍰
Neiman Marcus Cake (Classic Recipe)
Yield: 9×13 pan
Texture: Buttery crust + creamy, gooey top
Ingredients
Bottom Layer
- 1 box yellow cake mix
- 1 large egg
- ½ cup (1 stick) butter, melted
Top Layer
- 8 oz cream cheese, softened
- 2 large eggs
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- ½ cup (1 stick) butter, melted
- 4 cups powdered sugar
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9×13 baking dish.
- Make the crust
Mix cake mix, egg, and melted butter until thick.
Press evenly into the bottom of the pan. - Make the filling
Beat cream cheese until smooth.
Add eggs and vanilla, then melted butter.
Slowly mix in powdered sugar until creamy. - Assemble
Pour filling over the crust and spread evenly. - Bake
Bake 40–45 minutes.
The center should still be slightly gooey — don’t overbake. - Cool & Serve
Let cool completely before cutting.
Tips for Best Results
- For extra gooey texture, pull it out when the center still jiggles slightly.
- Chill before slicing for cleaner pieces.
- Sprinkle powdered sugar on top if you want it pretty.
Popular Variations
- Chocolate: Use chocolate cake mix
- Lemon: Use lemon cake mix + lemon zest
- Pumpkin: Add ½ cup pumpkin purée + pumpkin spice to the filling
- Pecan: Sprinkle chopped pecans on top before baking
If you want, I can give you:
- A smaller batch
- A from-scratch (no cake mix) version
- Or help you turn it into holiday flavors
Just say the word 😊
