Red Velvet Gooey Butter Cake (Easy Cake Mix Dessert)
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Red Velvet Gooey Butter Cake is a rich, indulgent dessert made with a red velvet cake mix crust and a soft, chocolatey cream cheese filling. These easy dessert bars bake up gooey in the center with slightly crisp edges, creating the perfect balance of fudgy and fluffy.
If you love red velvet desserts, this one is going to be hard to resist.
This Red Velvet Gooey Butter Cake starts with a simple cake mix crust and is topped with a creamy chocolate cream cheese filling that bakes into the most incredible gooey layer. The center stays soft and fudgy while the edges turn slightly crisp.
It’s one of those easy desserts that looks impressive but comes together in just minutes. I love making this for holidays, church potlucks, or anytime we need a simple dessert that feeds a crowd.
Table of contents
Why I Love This Recipe
There are so many reasons this recipe is a favorite:
• Easy cake mix shortcut makes it quick to prepare
• Creamy chocolate cream cheese filling adds incredible flavor
• Perfect gooey texture in the center
• Great for feeding a crowd with 24 servings
• Perfect for holidays and parties
If you enjoy classic gooey butter cake, this red velvet version adds a fun twist with chocolate and rich red velvet flavor.
Ingredients for Red Velvet Gooey Butter Cake Bars
To make this Red Velvet Cream Cheese Butter Cake, you’ll need just a few simple ingredients.
For the Crust
- Red velvet cake mix
- Egg
- Butter, melted
For the Filling
- Cream cheese
- Butter, melted
- Eggs
- Cocoa powder
- Powdered sugar
- Vanilla extract
- Red gel food coloring (optional)
- Semi-sweet chocolate chips
The cake mix crust keeps things simple while the filling creates the classic red velvet ooey gooey butter cake texture everyone loves.
How to Make Red Velvet Gooey Butter Cake
This dessert comes together in just a few easy steps.
Step 1: Prepare the crust
Preheat your oven to 350°F and grease a 9×13-inch baking dish.
In a mixing bowl, beat together the red velvet cake mix, egg, and melted butter until combined.
Press the mixture evenly into the bottom of the prepared baking dish to form the crust.
Step 2: Make the filling
In another mixing bowl, beat together:
- cream cheese
- melted butter
- eggs
- vanilla extract
- cocoa powder
- powdered sugar
Mix until completely smooth.
If you want a deeper red color, add 2–3 drops of red gel food coloring.
Stir in the chocolate chips.
Step 3: Bake
Spread the filling evenly over the crust.
Bake uncovered for 45 minutes.
The edges should be set, but the center should still be slightly jiggly. This is what gives the dessert its classic gooey butter cake texture.
Step 4: Cool and serve
Allow the cake to cool completely before cutting.
For a pretty finishing touch, dust the top lightly with powdered sugar.
Slice into squares and serve.
Tips for Perfect Gooey Butter Cake
• Do not overbake. The center should remain slightly soft.
• Use softened cream cheese for the smoothest filling.
• Let the cake cool completely before cutting for clean slices.
• A light dusting of powdered sugar makes the bars look bakery-style.
When to Serve Red Velvet Gooey Butter Cake
These red velvet gooey butter cake bars are perfect for:
- Valentine’s Day desserts
- Christmas cookie trays
- Church potlucks
- Family gatherings
- Holiday parties
Because the recipe makes 24 servings, it’s a great dessert when you need something easy that feeds a crowd.
Red Velvet Ooey Gooey Butter Cake Variation
You may also see this dessert called Red Velvet Ooey Gooey Butter Cake. The name comes from the soft, slightly underbaked center that gives gooey butter cake its signature texture.
Many people search for ooey gooey butter cake when looking for this type of dessert. No matter what you call it, the result is the same — a rich cake with a buttery crust and a creamy cream cheese filling that stays soft and gooey in the center.
This red velvet ooey gooey butter cake version adds chocolate flavor and red velvet color for a fun twist on the classic St. Louis dessert.
Frequently Asked Questions
Gooey butter cake originated in St. Louis and is known for its rich, buttery base topped with a soft cream cheese filling. The center stays slightly gooey after baking, which is where the name comes from.
Yes. These bars can be made a day in advance and stored covered at room temperature or in the refrigerator. Many people think they taste even better the next day once the layers have set.
Because the filling contains cream cheese, it’s best to store leftovers in the refrigerator. Cover the baking dish tightly or transfer the bars to an airtight container.
The edges should be set and slightly golden while the center still has a small jiggle. It will continue to firm up as it cools.
Yes. Cut the cake into bars and wrap them individually in plastic wrap, then place them in a freezer-safe container. They can be frozen for up to 2 months.
If you love red velvet desserts, this Red Velvet Gooey Butter Cake is one you’ll want to make again and again. The combination of soft cake crust and creamy chocolate filling creates an irresistible dessert that’s perfect for holidays, potlucks, and family gatherings.
If you try this recipe, I’d love to hear how it turned out! Leave a comment below and let me know if you served it for a special occasion or just because you were craving something sweet.
Red Velvet Gooey Butter Cake
Ingredients
For the Crust
- 15 oz box red velvet cake mix
- 1 egg
- ½ cup butter, melted
For the Filling
- 8 oz cream cheese, softened
- ½ cup butter, melted
- 2 eggs
- ⅓ cup cocoa powder
- 3 ½ cups powdered sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 2-3 drops red gel food coloring, optional
- 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
Directions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease a 9×13-inch baking dish.
- In a medium mixing bowl using a hand mixer, beat together red velvet cake mix, 1 egg, and 1/2 cup butter. Press the mixture into greased baking dish.
- In a medium mixing bowl using a hand mixer, beat together cream cheese, 1/2 cup melted butter, 3 eggs, vanilla, cocoa powder, red food coloring (if using), and powdered sugar. Mix until completely smooth. Stir in chocolate chips.
- Spread the cream cheese mixture over the crust. Bake uncovered for 45 minutes. Do not over-bake. The center should still be slightly jiggly.
- Cool completely. Sprinkle slightly cooled bars with powdered sugar, if desired.
Equipment
Nutrition Facts
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More Gooey Butter Cake Recipes to Try
If you love this Red Velvet Gooey Butter Cake, there are plenty of other gooey butter cake variations to try. These easy cake mix desserts are rich, creamy, and perfect for holidays, potlucks, and family gatherings.
Take a look at a few more reader favorites below.
