Description
This Chocolate Pecan Ooey Gooey Butter Cake is a rich, decadent dessert featuring a fudgy chocolate cake crust topped with a creamy, buttery filling studded with crunchy pecans. Baked to perfection with a gooey center, this American classic dessert is perfect for satisfying chocolate lovers and festive gatherings.
Ingredients
Scale
For the crust:
- 1 box chocolate cake mix (15.25 oz)
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter (melted)
- 1 large egg
For the filling:
- 1 package (8 ounces) cream cheese (softened)
- 2 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter (melted)
- 3 3/4 cups powdered sugar
- 1 cup chopped pecans
Instructions
- Preheat and prepare: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and grease a 9×13-inch baking dish to prevent sticking.
- Make the crust: In a medium bowl, combine the chocolate cake mix, melted butter, and one egg. Mix well until a thick dough forms. Press this dough evenly into the bottom of the prepared baking dish to create the cake crust.
- Mix the filling: In a large bowl, beat the softened cream cheese until smooth. Add in the two eggs, vanilla extract, and melted butter, mixing thoroughly until fully combined. Gradually add the powdered sugar while mixing until the filling is smooth and creamy.
- Add pecans: Gently fold in the chopped pecans into the filling mixture to incorporate even nutty texture throughout.
- Assemble: Pour the creamy pecan filling evenly over the prepared chocolate crust and spread smoothly using a spatula.
- Bake: Bake in the preheated oven for 40 to 45 minutes, or until the edges are set but the center remains slightly jiggly for a perfect ooey gooey texture. Avoid overbaking to retain gooey goodness.
- Cool and serve: Allow the cake to cool completely at room temperature before cutting into 16 squares. This cooling step helps the filling set slightly for clean slices.
Notes
- For enhanced flavor, toast pecans lightly in a dry skillet before folding them into the filling.
- This dessert is very rich; serve in small squares to satisfy without overwhelming.
- Store leftover cake covered at room temperature up to 2 days, or refrigerate to maintain freshness for longer.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
