Dessert Competition, day 2

Gooey Butter Cake

AKA Butter Bars

My sister and I discovered this recipe when we were next door neighbors in college. The hotel where I worked mailed recipe postcards to clients and this was one of the recipes featured. They became an immediate favorite (or shall I say, unhealthy obsession). I recently noticed the exact recipe in a Paula Deen cookbook. She said they serve this at her restaurant, THE LADY AND SONS. In her words, "I could write a full chapter on this dessert. It is the number-one choice in our restaurant."

Butter Bars

Crust:

1 yellow cake mix

1 egg

1/2 cup butter (1 cube), melted

Filling:

1 8 ounce package cream cheese, softened

2 eggs

2 teaspoons vanilla

1 stick butter, melted

3 cups powdered sugar

Combine crust ingredients and pat into a 9 X 13 pan. Beat cream cheese, eggs, and vanilla until smooth. Add butter and sugar. Mix well. Pour over crust. Bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes.

Variations: use lemon cake mix and add lemon juice and zest to filling, use chocolate cake mix and add 3/4 cup peanut butter to the filling. I have never tried any of these, if you do, let me know how you like it!