Neiman Marcus Cake (Easy Gooey Butter Cake)

Neiman Marcus cake is a rich, gooey butter cake with a chewy yellow cake mix crust and a sweet, custardy cream cheese topping that bakes up golden and crackly on top. It takes just 15 minutes of prep, uses ingredients you probably already have, and disappears fast at every potluck, holiday table and bake sale.

If you have never had one, think of it as the love child of a blondie and a cheesecake. The bottom layer is dense and buttery, the top is soft and almost fudgy in the middle, and the whole thing gets a snowy dusting of powdered sugar right before serving. Because it starts with a box of cake mix, it is about as foolproof as baking gets.

Why Is It Called Neiman Marcus Cake?

Nobody knows for certain, and the luxury department store has never claimed it. The most common explanation is that the name is a nod to how rich and indulgent this dessert tastes, borrowing a little glamour from the famous Neiman Marcus cookie legend: the story of a shopper who was supposedly charged $250 for the store's chocolate chip cookie recipe. That tale has long been debunked (Neiman Marcus even shares its cookie recipe for free), but the name stuck to other decadent home-baked treats, including this one.

The cake itself is really a version of the classic St. Louis gooey butter cake, a Midwestern favorite with roots in the 1930s. Depending on where you live, you may also know it as ooey gooey butter cake, chess squares, or simply Neiman Marcus bars. Whatever you call it, the formula is the same: a cake mix crust topped with a sweet cream cheese layer that stays soft and gooey in the center.

Key Ingredients & Substitutions

• Yellow cake mix. A standard box of yellow cake mix forms the chewy, buttery crust. Most boxes are now 13.25 to 15.25 ounces, and either size works; the crust is just a little thinner with the smaller box. Butter golden, white or French vanilla cake mix are all easy swaps, and a gluten-free yellow cake mix works too.
• Unsalted butter. Melted butter goes into both layers and gives this gooey butter cake its name. If you only have salted butter, go ahead and use it; the topping will just taste a touch saltier, which many people like.
• Eggs. Two large eggs bind the crust into a thick dough, and two more set the cream cheese layer into that soft, custardy texture. Use large eggs so the ratios stay right.
• Cream cheese. One 8-ounce block of full-fat cream cheese makes the topping rich and tangy. Let it soften to room temperature so it beats up smooth. Reduced-fat (Neufchatel) works in a pinch, but skip the whipped tub kind, which is too airy.
• Powdered sugar. Four cups of powdered sugar sweeten and thicken the topping, plus a little extra for dusting. Sift it first so the topping stays silky and lump-free.
• Vanilla extract. A teaspoon of pure vanilla extract rounds out the sweetness. Almond extract is a fun change if you use just ½ teaspoon.

Helpful Tips

Line the pan with parchment. A sheet of parchment paper with some overhang on the long sides turns into handles, so you can lift the whole cake out of your 9x13-inch baking pan once it has cooled and cut perfectly even squares on a board instead of in the pan.

Expect a very thick crust dough. The cake mix, butter and eggs come together into something closer to cookie dough than cake batter. That is exactly right. Press it into the pan with lightly greased fingers or the back of a spatula, working it into the corners so the base bakes evenly.

Beat the cream cheese first. Beat the softened cream cheese on its own with a hand mixer until it is smooth, then add the butter, eggs and vanilla, and finally the powdered sugar about a cup at a time. Adding everything at once is how you end up with little lumps of cream cheese in the topping.

Pull it while it still jiggles. This is the most important tip for any Neiman Marcus cake. Take it out when the edges are golden brown and set but the center still wobbles slightly when you nudge the pan, usually around 35 minutes. It will look underdone, but the topping keeps setting as it cools. If the whole top is firm in the oven, the gooey center is already gone.

Be patient before slicing. Let the cake cool completely on a wire rack, then chill it for 30 to 60 minutes. A cold cake cuts into clean, sharp-edged squares, especially if you wipe the knife between cuts. A little cracking on top is completely normal and gets hidden under the powdered sugar anyway.

How to Cut Neiman Marcus Bars

Because it bakes in a 9x13 pan, this cake is already halfway to being a bar cookie. For dessert plates, cut it into 16 large squares (4 rows by 4). For parties, cookie trays and bake sales, cut it into 24 or even 32 smaller Neiman Marcus bars. They are rich, so bite-sized pieces go a long way, and they hold their shape well on a platter once chilled.

Serving a crowd? These bars sit nicely on a dessert table next to cake mix cookie bars and cheesecake brownies, which are just as easy to make ahead.

Variations

• Chocolate Neiman Marcus cake. Use chocolate cake mix for the crust. The dark base against the pale cream cheese topping looks beautiful when sliced.
• Lemon. Swap in lemon cake mix and add 1 tablespoon of fresh lemon zest to the cream cheese topping for a bright, lemon-bar-style twist.
• Strawberry. Use strawberry cake mix for the bottom layer and beat a couple of tablespoons of freeze-dried strawberry powder into the topping.
• Pumpkin spice. Beat ½ cup canned pumpkin and 1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice into the topping for a fall version that pairs perfectly with our easy pumpkin bars. Add 5 minutes to the bake time.
• Coconut. Fold 1 cup of sweetened shredded coconut into the cream cheese topping before spreading it over the crust.
• Extra gooey. Bake toward the low end of the time range and pull the cake as soon as the edges are golden and the center has a noticeable jiggle.

Serving Ideas

Neiman Marcus cake is best at room temperature or slightly chilled, when the topping is soft and creamy but still holds its shape. Dust it with powdered sugar just before serving so the sugar doesn't melt into the top. A cup of hot coffee or a glass of cold milk is all it really needs.

To dress it up for a party, top each square with a few fresh raspberries or sliced strawberries, which cut through the sweetness beautifully. A spoonful of whipped cream or a small scoop of vanilla ice cream turns a square into a plated dessert, and a drizzle of melted chocolate is never a bad idea.

It is also a great make-ahead dessert for holidays and potlucks. Bake it the day before, chill it overnight, and cut and dust it right before guests arrive. If you are putting together a dessert spread, it pairs well with a chocolate option like Heath bar cake.

Storing & Freezing

Because of the cream cheese topping, store leftover Neiman Marcus cake covered in the refrigerator. It keeps well for up to 5 days in an airtight container or with the pan tightly wrapped. If you like the center soft and gooey, let individual pieces sit at room temperature for 15 to 20 minutes before serving.

This gooey butter cake freezes very well. Cut the completely cooled cake into squares or bars, wrap each piece tightly in plastic wrap, and place them in a freezer bag or container for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator, then dust with fresh powdered sugar before serving. Individually wrapped pieces are handy for lunchboxes or a quick treat whenever the craving hits.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is my Neiman Marcus cake gooey in the middle?

That is exactly how it should be. The cream cheese layer is meant to stay soft and rich in the center, and it firms up considerably as it cools and chills.

Can I serve it warm?

You can, but it will be very soft and hard to cut neatly. For the best texture and cleanest squares, let it cool completely first.

Why did the topping crack?

A few cracks are normal as the topping cools and sets. They don't affect the flavor, and a dusting of powdered sugar covers them up.

Is gooey butter cake the same as Neiman Marcus cake?

They are close cousins. Traditional St. Louis gooey butter cake is sometimes made with a yeasted base, while Neiman Marcus cake uses the cake mix shortcut. The gooey, buttery cream cheese topping is the same idea.

More Easy Bar Desserts

If you loved this recipe, here are a few more you might enjoy:

• Cake Mix Cookie Bars
• Cheesecake Brownies
• Blueberry Lemon Crumble Bars
• Banana Pudding Brownies

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