Instructions:

The Lady and Sons Gooey Butter Cake

Cake
1 (18 1/4 ounce) box yellow cake mix
1 egg
8 tablespoons (1 stick) butter, melted

Filling
8 ounces cream cheese, softened
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
8 tablespoons (1 stick) butter, melted
1 (16 ounce) box powdered sugar

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Combine first three ingredients and mix well. Pat into a lightly greased 13 x 9-inch baking pan.

Prepare filling: Beat cream cheese until smooth. Add eggs and vanilla extract. Add butter; beat. Add powdered sugar and mix well. Spread over cake mixture. Bake 40 to 50 minutes. You want the center to be a little gooey, so do not overbake.

(Tip: "Dip your fingers into the pan that you melted the butter in to grease your hands before patting bottom layer into pan. This will keep your hands from sticking to the dough.")

Variations

For the holidays, add a 15 ounce can of pumpkin to the filling; add cinnamon and nutmeg.

Add a 20-ounce can of drained crushed pineapple to the filling.

Use a lemon cake mix. Add lemon juice and zest to the filling.

Use a chocolate cake mix with cream cheese filling. Add chocolate chips and nuts on top.

Use a spiced carrot cake mix. Add chopped nuts and shredded carrots to the filling.

Use mandarin oranges, bananas, blueberries or strawberries, just coordinate your extract flavorings.

Use a chocolate cake mix. Add 1/2 to 1 cup peanut butter and nuts to the filling.