🍓 Strawberry Gooey Butter Cake Bars
If you’ve ever had a gooey butter cake, you already know — this is not a shy dessert.
(Paula Deen-Style… With a Pink Spring Twist)
There are some desserts that whisper.
And then there are desserts that walk into the room like they own the place.
Gooey butter cake is not shy.
It’s rich. It’s sweet. It’s unapologetically Southern. And if you’ve ever sat at a church potluck table in Alabama, you know exactly the kind of dessert I’m talking about — the one that’s cut into perfect little squares but somehow disappears before the fried chicken does.
Now take that classic, Paula-style gooey butter base… and give it a strawberry cake mix makeover.
That’s how these Strawberry Gooey Butter Cake Bars were born. I had a box of strawberry cake mix sitting in my pantry, and I thought, “Why not?” What came out of the oven was a pan of soft pink, buttery, cream-cheese-filled goodness that tasted like springtime and baby showers and Valentine’s Day all rolled into one.
Ingredients
Bottom Layer
1 box strawberry cake mix
1 large egg
½ cup (1 stick) butter, melted
Cream Cheese Gooey Layer
8 oz cream cheese, softened
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
½ cup (1 stick) butter, melted
3 cups powdered sugar
2–4 tablespoons crushed freeze-dried strawberries
🍰 Instructions
1️⃣ Preheat
Preheat oven to 350°F.
Lightly grease a 9x13 baking dish.
2️⃣ Make the Bottom Layer
In a bowl, combine:
Strawberry cake mix
1 egg
Melted butter
Mix until thick and dough-like.
Press evenly into the bottom of your prepared pan. It will be thick — that’s exactly what you want.
3️⃣ Make the Gooey Layer
In a separate bowl, beat:
Cream cheese until smooth
Add eggs and vanilla
Add ½ cup (1 stick) butter, melted
Mix until creamy
Gradually add 3 cups powdered sugar, mixing until smooth and fluffy.
If using freeze-dried strawberries, stir them in now.
Pour the cream cheese mixture over the pressed cake layer.
Pulse about this many freeze-dried strawberries in a food processor to get the perfect crushed strawbeirries for your cream cheese gooey layer.
Little pink flecks of strawberries tucked into that cream cheese layer make every bite just a little sweeter.
4️⃣ Bake
Bake for 40–45 minutes.
The edges should be set and lightly golden.
The center should still jiggle slightly — that’s the gooey magic.
Do not overbake.
5️⃣ Cool & Slice
Let cool completely before cutting into squares.
These slice best once fully cooled… but I won’t judge if you sneak one warm with a fork straight from the pan.
🍓 Notes From My Kitchen
Using 3 cups powdered sugar makes these very sweet, but not overpowering.
If you want slightly less sweet, try 2¾ cups.
They’re even better the next day.
Store covered at room temp for 2 days or refrigerate for longer freshness.
🍓 Strawberry Gooey Butter Cake Bars
These Strawberry Gooey Butter Cake Bars are rich, buttery, and perfectly pink with a soft strawberry cake base and a creamy, gooey topping. They’re an easy Southern dessert perfect for spring or Valentine’s Day.
Ingredients
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Lightly grease a 9x13 baking dish.
- In a bowl, combine, strawberry cake mix, 1 egg, 1/2 cup (1 stick) melted butter, and mix until thick and dough-like.
- Press evenly into the bottom of your prepared pan. It will be thick — that’s exactly what you want.
- In a separate bowl, beat cream cheese until smooth.
- Add 2 eggs, vanilla and ½ cup (1 stick) butter, melted, and mix until creamy.
- Gradually add 3 cups powdered sugar, mixing until smooth and fluffy.
- If using crushed freeze-dried strawberries, stir them in now.
- Pour the cream cheese mixture over the pressed cake layer.
- Bake for 40–45 minutes or until edges are set and lightly golden.
- The center should still jiggle slightly — that’s the gooey magic.
- Do not overbake.
Nutrition Facts
Calories
373Fat
19 gSat. Fat
11 gCarbs
47 gFiber
0 gNet carbs
47 gSugar
37 gProtein
3 gSodium
332 mgCholesterol
80 mg
🧁 Serving Ideas
Dust lightly with powdered sugar.
Add fresh sliced strawberries on top.
Serve with whipped cream.
Or warm slightly and add vanilla ice cream.
Closing Thoughts
Happy Baking, my friends. May your home be warm, your table full, and your heart full of love this spring.
