Neiman Marcus Cake Recipe | Easy Gooey Butter Cake with Cream Cheese
Neiman Marcus cake recipe features a rich, buttery, gooey dessert made with yellow cake mix, cream cheese, powdered sugar, eggs, and vanilla.
Why You’ll Love This Neiman Marcus Cake
- It uses a boxed yellow cake mix, so the base comes together quickly.
- The cream cheese layer creates the rich, cheesecake-like topping that makes this dessert gooey and distinctive.
- A 9x13-inch pan makes it practical for potlucks, holidays, parties, bake sales, and family gatherings.
- The center is meant to remain soft and slightly jiggly when the cake comes out of the oven as cooling completely helps it set enough to slice cleanly.
- It needs only a handful of common ingredients and no complicated decorating.
What Is Neiman Marcus Cake?
Neiman Marcus Cake is a cake-mix dessert made with a buttery yellow cake base and a sweet cream cheese topping.
It is often grouped with gooey butter cake, chess squares, gooey butter bars, and similar cream-cheese dessert bars. This version uses yellow cake mix for the bottom layer and a powdered-sugar-and-cream-cheese mixture for the top.
Ingredients You’ll Need
- 1 (15.25-ounce) package yellow cake mix
- 4 large eggs, divided
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
- 3 1/2 cups confectioners’ sugar (powdered sugar)
The four eggs are divided between the two layers as the two go into the cake-mix base and two go into the cream cheese topping. Softened cream cheese helps the topping mix smoothly.
How to Make Neiman Marcus Cake
1. Prepare the Oven and Pan
Heat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Lightly grease a 13x9-inch baking pan.
2. Make the Gooey Cake Base
Combine the yellow cake mix, 2 eggs, melted butter, and vanilla. Mix until a thick, sticky batter forms. Spread it evenly across the pan.
If needed, lightly grease the back of a spatula to make spreading easier.
3. Make the Cream Cheese Topping
Beat the softened cream cheese, confectioners’ sugar, and remaining 2 eggs until smooth and well combined. Scrape the bowl so no large pockets of cream cheese remain.
4. Layer the Cream Cheese Mixture
Pour the cream cheese mixture over the yellow cake base and gently spread it into an even layer.
5. Bake Until the Edges Are Set
Bake at 350°F for about 35 minutes. The edges should look set and may begin to pull slightly away from the sides, while the center should retain a gentle jiggle.
Do not bake until the center is completely firm because it will continue to set as it cools.
6. Cool Completely Before Slicing
Let the cake cool completely in the pan before cutting. Cooling gives the cream cheese layer time to firm enough for cleaner slices while keeping its soft, gooey texture.
Tips for the Best Neiman Marcus Cake
- Use softened cream cheese.
- Measure powdered sugar accurately.
- Expect a very thick base layer.
- Use a lightly greased spatula if the base sticks.
- Do not overbake just to eliminate the center jiggle.
- Cool completely before slicing.
- Use yellow cake mix and vanilla for the classic flavor.
- Keep optional add-ins moderate.
Can Neiman Marcus Cake Be Served Warm?
Yes, but for the cleanest slices and intended layered texture, cooling completely is better. If served warm, expect a softer, gooier center.
What Goes Well With Neiman Marcus Cake?
- Fresh berries for contrast
- Whipped cream
- Vanilla ice cream
- Coffee or tea
- A light dusting of powdered sugar
Can You Make Neiman Marcus Cake Ahead of Time?
Yes. Making it ahead can make slicing easier because the cream cheese layer has more time to set. Bake, cool completely, cover, and refrigerate until needed.
How to Store Neiman Marcus Cake
Because the topping contains cream cheese and eggs, refrigerate leftovers rather than treating the finished dessert like a shelf-stable plain cake.
Store it covered in the refrigerator. For longer storage, individual squares can be wrapped well and frozen.
Can You Freeze Neiman Marcus Cake?
Yes. Cool completely, cut into portions, wrap well, and place in a freezer-safe container or bag. Thaw in the refrigerator before serving. Freezing may slightly change the cream cheese texture.
A Word of Advice from Recipetaa
If you love easy desserts with a buttery base and rich cream cheese topping, this Neiman Marcus Cake is an excellent one-pan recipe to keep in your collection.
The key is resisting the urge to overbake it. Just make sure to set the edges, leaving a softly jiggly center, and the complete cooling will create its signature gooey texture.
FAQs
How Do You Know When Neiman Marcus Cake Is Done?
Look for three cues which are that the edges should be set, the top should look cooked and lightly golden, and the center should retain a slight jiggle.
A slightly jiggly center is part of the intended texture as it does not automatically mean the cake is underbaked.
Cooling is important because cutting it hot can make the center much looser.
Why Is My Neiman Marcus Cake Gooey?
Because it is supposed to be. Neiman Marcus Cake is a gooey butter-style dessert, so the cream cheese topping is intentionally softer than a traditional fully set cake.
The center should be soft and slightly jiggly when it leaves the oven and become more sliceable as it cools.
Why Is My Neiman Marcus Cake Runny or Not Setting?
- It may simply need more cooling time.
- Check that your oven is reaching the intended temperature and that you used the specified 13x9-inch pan.
- Do not judge doneness by the center alone. Always check the edges and overall appearance.
- If it remains unusually liquid after complete cooling, it may have been underbaked.
Why Did My Neiman Marcus Cake Sink?
A slight settling can happen as the soft center cools, and this dessert is not meant to have the structure of a tall sponge cake.
A dramatic collapse or very wet center can indicate that the cake needed more baking time or that the oven temperature was inaccurate.
How Do You Get Clean Slices of Neiman Marcus Cake?
- Cool the cake completely before cutting.
- Use a sharp knife and wipe the blade between cuts.
- For especially neat squares, chill the cooled cake briefly before slicing.
- Cut straight down rather than dragging the knife through the cream cheese layer.
Can You Make Neiman Marcus Cake With Cake Mix?
Yes. The easy version is built around a boxed yellow cake mix. The cake mix provides the foundation for the thick bottom layer, while butter and eggs transform it into a rich, sliceable crust.
What Kind of Cake Mix Do You Use for Neiman Marcus Cake?
Yellow cake mix is the most recognizable choice for this version. It gives the dessert a buttery, vanilla-forward base that pairs naturally with the sweet cream cheese topping.
Can I Use a Different Cake Mix?
Yes, cake-mix variations are possible, but changing the flavor changes the character of the dessert.
Chocolate, lemon, red velvet, and other cake mixes have been used in Neiman Marcus-style variations. For the classic flavor, use yellow cake mix.
Can I Add Pecans, Coconut, or Chocolate Chips?
Yes, these can work as optional additions, but they are not part of the core recipe. Keep additions moderate so the topping remains easy to spread and the dessert still slices cleanly.
Can I Use Salted Butter?
Yes. Salted butter can be used if that is what you have. Avoid adding extra salt unless you have a specific reason to adjust the recipe.
Can I Use Reduced-Fat Cream Cheese?
It can be used, but the texture may not be identical to a version made with regular full-fat cream cheese. For the richest topping, regular block-style cream cheese is the better choice.
Why Is It Called Neiman Marcus Cake?
Despite the name, this dessert is not established as an official Neiman Marcus recipe.
Modern recipe coverage describes it as a cake-mix-and-cream-cheese dessert also associated with names such as chess squares and gooey butter cake.
The origin of the dessert’s specific name is unclear, so it should not be presented as a recipe created by the luxury retailer.
There is also a famous Neiman Marcus recipe legend involving a supposedly expensive cookie recipe. That story has been investigated and debunked as it is separate from establishing an origin for this cake.
Is Neiman Marcus Cake the Same as Gooey Butter Cake?
They are closely related in style, but the names are not necessarily interchangeable in every recipe.
Neiman Marcus Cake is commonly made with boxed cake mix and cream cheese, while gooey butter cake is a broader dessert category with multiple versions.
Chess squares and gooey butter bars are also names used for similar cake-mix-and-cream-cheese desserts.
What Are Chess Squares?
Chess squares are Southern-style dessert bars often made with a cake-mix base and sweet cream cheese topping. Because the structure is similar, the terms can overlap in recipe collections even though individual recipes differ.
What Are Texas Gold Bars?
Texas Gold Bars is another name used for rich cake-mix dessert bars with creamy toppings. Recipes vary, so compare the actual ingredients and method rather than assuming every Texas Gold Bar is identical to Neiman Marcus Cake.
What Is Gooey Butter Cake?
Gooey butter cake is a rich dessert known for a buttery base and a soft, sweet topping. The Neiman Marcus-style version is convenient because boxed cake mix creates the base without requiring a from-scratch cake batter.
Neiman Marcus Cake
A rich, gooey butter-style cake made with a yellow cake mix and buttery crust, topped with a sweet cream-cheese layer. It bakes up with golden edges, a soft gooey center, and a lightly set top.
- Prep
- 15 min
- Cook
- 45 min
- Total
- 60 min
- Servings
- 12
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Cuisine
- American
Ingredients
- 1 (15.25-ounce) box yellow cake mix
- ½ cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, melted
- 2 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
- 2 large eggs
- 3½ cups powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Method
- 1. Prepare the oven and pan
Heat the oven to 350°F (175°C) and grease a 9×13-inch baking dish.
- 2. Make the cake base
Combine the yellow cake mix, melted butter, eggs, and vanilla until a thick dough-like batter forms.
- 3. Press into the pan
Spread and press the base evenly into the prepared 9×13-inch pan.
- 4. Make the cream-cheese topping
Beat the softened cream cheese until smooth, then add the eggs, powdered sugar, and vanilla and beat until combined.
- 5. Add the topping
Spread the cream-cheese mixture evenly over the cake base.
- 6. Bake
Bake until the edges are golden and the center is puffed and lightly set while still slightly soft and jiggly.
- 7. Cool completely
Let the cake cool before slicing so the gooey center can set enough to cut cleanly.
- 8. Serve
Cut into squares and serve at room temperature or chilled.
Estimated nutrition per serving
- calories
- 480 kcal
- protein
- 6g
- carbs
- 64g
- fat
- 23g
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