Lemon Ooey Gooey Cake

This Lemon Ooey Gooey Cake is a bright twist on the classic dessert, featuring a buttery cake base and rich, creamy lemon topping. Sweet, tangy, and perfectly gooey, it’s an easy lemon dessert that’s perfect for spring, holidays, or any time you’re craving citrus.

Course Dessert

Cuisine American

Prep Time 15

Cook Time 40

Total Time 55

Servings

Calories 149kcal

Author Leigh Anne Wilkes

Equipment

Ingredients

Cake Layer

1 1/4 cups all purpose flour
3/4 cup granulated sugar
2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 cup butter salted and melted
1 egg
1 tsp lemon extract
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 Tbsp lemon zest

Cream Cheese Layer

8 oz cream cheese softened
2 eggs
1 tsp lemon extract
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 Tbsp lemon zest

Instructions

Cake Layer

Grease a 9 x 13 inch pan.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
Mix together flour, sugar, baking powder, salt in a bowl.
In a small bowl, in the microwave, melt butter.
Add melted butter to flour mixture and then add in egg, lemon extract, vanilla extract, lemon zest and lemon juice.P
Pat mixture into prepared pan.
In another bowl, mix together softened cream cheese, eggs, lemon extract, vanilla extract, lemon zest and powdered sugar. Mix until smooth ( a few lumps are fine.)
Pour mixture over top of base layer in pan.
Bake at 350 degrees F for 35-40 minutes or until set and top is beginning to turn golden brown.
Cool and sprinkle with powdered sugar.
Cut into squares, keep leftover cake refrigerated.

Notes

1. Don’t Overbake The center should still have a slight jiggle when you take it out of the oven. It will continue to set as it cools. Overbaking is the fastest way to lose that signature gooey texture.
2. Use Room Temperature Ingredients Softened cream cheese and room temperature eggs blend more smoothly, giving you a creamy, lump-free lemon layer.
4. Line Your Pan Parchment paper (with a little overhang) makes it much easier to lift the cake out cleanly for slicing.
5. Let It Cool Completely As tempting as it is to cut in right away, this cake slices best once fully cooled. For super clean cuts, chill it for 30–60 minutes before serving.
6. Dust Right Before Serving If you’re adding powdered sugar on top, wait until just before serving so it stays pretty and doesn’t melt into the cake.

Nutrition