Red Velvet Gooey Butter Cake Bars (The Easiest Valentine’s Dessert!)

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There are two kinds of Valentine’s desserts.

The kind that take three mixing bowls, a candy thermometer, and a prayer…

And the kind that start with a cake mix and make you look like you run a bakery.

This one?

It’s the second kind. And it’s GOOOOOD.

I took Paula Deen’s classic gooey butter cake and gave it a little Southern Valentine twist using a red velvet cake mix. What came out of my oven might be the prettiest, easiest, most crowd-pleasing February dessert ever to grace a dessert plate.

That crackly golden top.

That fudgy red velvet base.

That rich, gooey cream cheese layer in the middle.

If you need a Valentine’s treat for church, school, your sweetheart, or just a Tuesday night on the couch — this is it.

Why You’ll Love These Red Velvet Gooey Butter Cake Bars

• Starts with a boxed cake mix (no shame in this game 😉)

• Only a handful of ingredients

• Perfectly gooey center

• Beautiful red velvet color for Valentine’s Day

• Make-ahead friendly

• Tastes like you worked way harder than you did

Around here at Crooked Creek Ranch, we like recipes that work hard and don’t make a mess of the kitchen. This one checks both boxes.

Ingredients

Bottom Layer:

• 1 box red velvet cake mix

• 1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, melted

• 1 egg

Gooey Cream Cheese Layer:

• 8 oz cream cheese, softened

• 2 eggs

• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

• 1/2 cup butter, melted

• 3 to 4 cups powdered sugar (depending on how sweet you want them)

How to Make Red Velvet Gooey Butter Cake Bars

Step 1: Preheat & Prep

Preheat your oven to 350°F.

Lightly grease a 9×13 baking dish.

Step 2: Make the Red Velvet Base

In a bowl, combine:

• Red velvet cake mix

• 1 egg

• 1/2 cup melted butter

Mix until combined. The dough will be thick.

Press evenly into the bottom of your prepared baking dish.

Step 3: Make the Gooey Layer

In another bowl, beat:

• Softened cream cheese

• 2 eggs

• Vanilla

• 1/2 cup melted butter

Once smooth, slowly mix in powdered sugar until fully incorporated.

Pour over the red velvet base and spread evenly.

Step 4: Bake

Bake for 40–45 minutes.

The edges should be set, but the center should still be slightly soft and gooey. Don’t overbake — that gooey middle is what makes this cake famous.

Let cool completely before cutting into squares.

What Makes It So Good?

It’s the texture.

The bottom layer bakes into a dense, slightly fudgy red velvet crust.

The top forms that thin, crackly golden layer.

And right in the middle? Creamy, sweet, buttery goodness.

It’s like red velvet met cheesecake and decided to settle down together.

Make It Extra Valentine’s Cute 💕

If you want to dress it up:

• Dust with powdered sugar

• Sprinkle with heart-shaped sprinkles

• Serve on a pretty cake stand with strawberries

But honestly? It’s perfect just the way it is.

gooey butter cake recipe, Paula Deen gooey butter cake recipe, red velvet cake, cream cheese desserts, easy dessert, boxed cake mix dessert

desser

American

Yield: 16

Author: Erin Glover

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Red Velvet Gooey Butter Cake Bars (The Easiest Valentine’s Dessert!)

Easy red velvet gooey butter cake bars made with cake mix and a creamy cheesecake layer--the perfect Valentine's Day dessert.

Prep time: 15 MinCook time: 45 MinTotal time: 1 Hour

Cook modePrevent screen from turning off

Ingredients

• 1 box red velvet cake mix
• 1 cup (2 sticks) butter, melted
• 3 large eggs
• 8 oz cream cheese, softened
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 3 to 4 cups powdered sugar (depending on how sweet you want them)

Instructions

1. Preheat your oven to 350°F, and lightly grease a 9×13 baking dish.
2. In a bowl, combine red velvet cake mix, 1 egg, 1/2 cup melted butter (1 stick). Mix until combined. The dough will be thick.
3. Press evenly into the bottom of your prepared baking dish.
4. In another bowl, beat softened cream cheese, 2 eggs, vanilla, 1/2 cup melted butter (1 stick). Once smooth, slowly mix in powdered sugar until fully incorporated.
5. Pour over the red velvet base and spread evenly with a rubber spatula.
6. Bake for 40–45 minutes. The edges should be set, but the center should still be slightly soft and gooey. Don’t overbake — that gooey middle is what makes this cake famous.
7. Let cool completely before cutting into squares.

Recommended Products

Pyrex Deep 9x13-Inch Glass Baking Dish with Lid, Deep Casserole Dish, Glass Food Container

KitchenAid Classic Series 4.5 Quart Tilt-Head Stand Mixer K45SS, White

COOK WITH COLOR Stainless Steel Mixing Bowls Set - Nesting Bowls, 6 Pieces

Nutrition Facts

Calories

382

Fat

21 g

Sat. Fat

11 g

Carbs

47 g

Fiber

1 g

Net carbs

46 g

Sugar

37 g

Protein

4 g

Sodium

371 mg

Cholesterol

76 mg

Similar Recipes

Old-Fashioned Southern Chocolate Cobbler (with browned butter and a hint of espresso)

Pumpkin Cobbler Recipe

🍓 Strawberry Gooey Butter Cake Bars

https://www.crookedcreekranchlife.com/blog/red-velvet-gooey-butter-cake-bars-the-easiest-valentines-dessert

Storage Tips

• Store covered at room temperature for up to 2 days.

• Refrigerate up to 5 days (it gets even fudgier cold!).

• Freezes beautifully — just wrap individual bars tightly.

The Perfect Easy Valentine’s Dessert

This is the kind of dessert you make when:

• You forgot you signed up to bring something.

• You want something festive but not complicated.

• You need a chocolate fix.

• You love Paula Deen-style Southern sweets.

Simple ingredients. Big flavor.

And if you make this for your people this Valentine’s season, don’t be surprised if they ask for it again in July.

Because good butter cake doesn’t care what month it is.

Happy baking, friends.

And as always…

Eat dessert. Support local beef.

And keep that kitchen warm. 💕