Gooey Butter Nutella Cake {VIDEO}
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Gooey Butter Nutella Cake – doubly delicious with chocolate and hazelnut will satisfy any sweet tooth. This quick and easy dessert takes chocolate cake to a whole new level when cake becomes the crust and holds a gooey cream cheese filling with a hint of hazelnut, thanks to the Nutella. It’s a great addition to parties or potlucks and can be prepared a few days in advance.
If you’re a fan of gooey butter cake recipes like we are, check out our Strawberry Gooey Butter Cake, Carrot Cake Gooey Butter Cake, Pumpkin Gooey Butter Cake, or even Peanut Butter Gooey Butter Cookies!
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Table of Contents
Why We Love Nutella Gooey Butter Cake
Nutella adds a delicious twist to a St. Louis tradition Gooey Butter Cake, where the cake becomes the crust and holds a gooey cream cheese filling. Gooey Butter Nutella Cake is a great addition to parties or potlucks and can be prepared up to three days in advance, getting better with time.
It looks like brownies, but it’s WAY better than any brownie you’ve ever eaten! If you never had Gooey Butter Cake, it’s a flat dense butter cake with a gooey cream cheese filling on top, and a perfect sugary crisp crust forms over the filling, that’s usually garnished with a sprinkling of powdered sugar.
Why You’ll Love This Nutella Cake Too:
- It’s full of rich chocolate flavors with a hint of hazelnut
- Go-to dessert for get-togethers, special occasions, and pot-lucks.
- SUPER SIMPLE to make
- No special, tools, pans or skills needed
- Perfect make-ahead dessert
- You’ll love every bite so much, you won’t want to share.
It’s the dessert I’m always asked to bring to a pot-luck— everyone loves it!
Save this Nutella cake recipe on your list for the next time you need a quick and easy crowd-pleasing dessert or are just craving something sweet, you won’t regret it!
Nutella Cake Variations
If you want to increase the craveability of this simple Nutella gooey butter cake, here are a few ways you can kick the flavor profile a notch.
Capitalize on in-season berries: There is nothing quite like the combination of fresh berries and rich decadent chocolate, especially during peak berry season. If you’re making your Nutella cake when berries are at their peak, snag some mixed berries (raspberries, blueberries, strawberries) and sprinkle across the top of the cake, once cooled.
Add a simple glaze: Have a particularly large sweet tooth? Skip the powdered sugar, and top your gooey butter cake with a simple vanilla glaze.
Swap out the crust: More of a vanilla cake fan? No problem! Replace the dark chocolate cake mix for your favorite vanilla or white cake mix for the perfect vanilla and hazelnut combo. This would also pair perfectly with a strawberry cake mix, especially around valentine’s day.
Tips for a Successful Nutella Cake
Make your cake in advance: The real secret to serving the most incredible gooey butter cake is to serve 24-48 hours after baking. I know it sounds crazy because we’re always told a fresh out of the oven dessert is the best, but trust me, letting all the ingredients really soak into each other for a day or so makes all the difference, and it will be SO worth the wait.
Use room temperature ingredients: Room temperature eggs are softer and easier to blend into the batter to avoid overworking it. Cold cream cheese will also be too hard and will not fully work into the batter, leaving small chunks.
Cool the cake completely before topping: I know we’re eager to put the final touches on our masterpieces as soon as they come out of the oven, but just be patient and let the cake completely cool for at least a few hours before topping with powdered sugar. If the cake is still too warm, the powdered sugar will just dissolve into the cake and disappear from the top.
Ingredients For Nutella Cake
(full printable recipe at the end of this post)
For this recipe, you will need ingredients for the cake/crust as well as ingredients for the gooey filling.
- Dark chocolate fudge cake mix– I use Duncan Hines Dark Chocolate Fudge Cake Mix, but you can use any dark chocolate cake mix you prefer.
- Eggs– Check your eggs for freshness before you use them. If they sink, they are good to use, but if they float to the top, throw them out.
- Butter– unsalted is best, but salted will work too.
- Cream cheese– To soften your cream cheese, leave it out at room temperature for about 30 minutes prior to making this recipe.
- Nutella– You can usually find Nutella next to the peanut butter at your local grocery store.
- Vanilla Extract– this will harmonize the other flavors. Be sure to use vanilla extract as opposed to the less expensive imitation vanilla. Imitation vanilla can often leave a slightly chemical aftertaste, so stick with the pure vanilla extract or vanilla flavoring.
- Powdered sugar– Also known as confectioners’ sugar or Icing sugar. Powdered sugar gives a smoother and denser consistency than granulated sugar.
How to Make Nutella Cake
- Follow the simple instructions below for a dessert that will disappear before you can even go back for seconds.
- Preheat your oven to 325℉. Then, lightly grease a 13×9 inch cake pan.
- Next, combine your cake mix, egg, and melted butter together. Mix the ingredients using an electric mixer. The mixture will be thick.
- Press the mixture into the bottom of the greased pan with your fingers.
- Blend the softened cream cheese, eggs, Nutella, and vanilla using an electric mixer. Then, slowly add in the powdered sugar and beat until it’s smooth and creamy.
- Spread your filling over the first layer.
- Bake your gooey Nutella cake for 40-45 minutes or until the edges are brown.
Let cool and dust: Allow your cake to cool completely then dust it with powdered sugar.
Serve and Enjoy!
Recipe FAQs
What is Nutella?
Nutella is a deliciously sweet hazelnut cocoa spread. It is typically used on breakfast foods like toast and on desserts.
Do I follow the cake box directions?
No, you will not. For this recipe, you are just using the cake mix, but the ingredients and process will be different than preparing it like a normal cake.
How long is Nutella gooey butter cake good for?
Gooey Butter Cake will keep for several days covered and on the counter. We actually enjoy this coffee cake on day two or three. So it’s a great make-ahead breakfast cake or dessert for entertaining. Additionally, you can store it in the fridge for up to a week and in the freezer for about 2 months.
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Originally posted in September 2012. UPDATED January 2022. We spiffed up this post with more info and better pictures! No changes to the original recipe.
Gooey Butter Nutella Cake
Nutella adds a delicious twist to a St. Louis tradition, where the cake becomes the crust and holds a gooey cream cheese and Nutella filling. NUTELLA GOOEY BUTTER CAKE is a great addition to parties or potlucks and can be prepared up to three days in advance, getting better with time.
Ingredients
For the Cake
- 1 (15.25 ounce) Box Duncan Hines Dark Chocolate Fudge Cake Mix
- 1 large Egg
- 1/2 cup butter, melted
For Filling
- 8 oz cream cheese, softened
- 2 large eggs beaten
- 1 cup Nutella
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 cups powdered sugar
Instructions
- Heat oven to 325° F and lightly grease 13x9-inch pan
- Using an electric mixer, combine cake mix, 1 egg and melted butter until well incorporated. Press into bottom of greased pan with fingers.
- For Filling:Using an electric mixer, blend cream cheese, 2 beaten eggs, Nutella and vanilla. Then slowly add powdered sugar and beat until smooth.
- Spread filling over cake batter, and bake for 40-45 minutes, or until edges are brown. (Do not over bake, the center should be a little gooey)
- Dust with powdered sugar on top after cake has cooled.
Notes
This cake is even better the next day and can be prepared up to three days in advance. If you can not find the Duncan Hines Dark Chocolate Fudge Cake mix, any 15-18 ounce chocolate cake mix will do.
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Nutrition Information:
Yield: 12 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 362Total Fat: 23gSaturated Fat: 15gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 6gCholesterol: 88mgSodium: 178mgCarbohydrates: 36gFiber: 1gSugar: 33gProtein: 4g
Nutrition information is estimated based on the ingredients and cooking instructions as described in each recipe and is intended to be used for informational purposes only. Please note that nutrition details may vary based on methods of preparation, origin, and freshness of ingredients used.
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Ummm… yes please. Since you aren’t my neighbor I guess I will be maintop a batch of these and saying I am postponing loosing baby weight a little longer!
Lol I promise it will be worth it!
I don’t know if I should thank you or be mad at you. 😉
haha!
Oh.My.WORD.
I’ve never eaten a gooey butter cake, but NUTELLA gooey butter cake?!?! Well, that’s it. I’m making one. I really can almost smell it through the screen.
{{Love the homecoming pics, too!}}
oh you MUST make it!!! let me know what you think!
Oh this is one of my favorite recipes. I’ve made it so many times. Your pictures are just stunning, Chery! 🙂
for the love of all things holy & nutella. ohmyword.
i think i have everything i need to make this = can’t wait!
your daughter looks just like you! she looks so pretty in her dress!
thanks Kellie!
Love the photos from Homecoming – very sweet. I’ll bet these Nutella Gooey Butter Cakes (love that name) were devoured!
The photos are beautiful! Love that Allison signed up for desserts and then asked you to make something! You certainly came through for her, this cake looks amazing.
Oh I know!!!……her BFF lives with us, and she signed up to bring Fettuccine, and she made it herself! Which was fantastic, by the way, and I’ll be sharing her recipe soon!!
I used to have a co-worker from St. Louis and she would bring butter cake to every office function. It is SO GOOD, but this one looks even better! Wow!
And the best part is, they are SO easy to make, and I like them best on day 2 or 3 – so it’s great to make ahead of time!!
Just yes. Please.
I made a similar Nutella gooey butter cake for a party a couple weekends ago – everyone devoured it!! So rich and chocolaty!! I bumped up the hazelnut aspect by sprinkling finely diced hazelnuts over the cake layer before adding the gooey filling.
Oooh, I bet that was good!!!
Do you think I could swap the cream cheese (not a big fan) with mascarpone? I’ve never made one of these (being from PA), but anything with Nutella can’t be that bad…can it?
Uhhhh, can I have this cake for breakfast? Pretty, pretty please?
Also, your daughter is gorgeous! Glad she had fun at the dance 🙂
Okay, Cheryl, that’s just cruel…that thing is too tempting for diabetic me! 😉 And your daughter is so lovely!
Cheryl this ROCKS!
Oh Cheryl, I just want to kiss your face for this one! No wonder it disappeared so fast.
I know! and I only sampled one tiny piece – so I think I need to make another!
Oh wow – I’m not a nutella fan, but I have to even admit this looks amazing!
this might be the recipe to win you over! 😉
Thanks so much Amanda!
Fun to see those party pics and this cake will get lots of eyeballs! That is for certain ~ looks AMAZING Cheryl 🙂
Oh good Lord- anything with Nutella in it grabs my attention. This looks like I might just need to put the diet on the back burner for a day or two & enjoy this.
Oh my GOODNESS, Cheryl…. I think I could eat this by the pan full! Your daughter’s dress is absolutely adorable, by the way. Great photos 🙂
This look so insanely delicious! I want a huge hunk with coffee!
Holy moly, girl — this looks AMAZING!!! Such adorable homecoming pics too! 🙂
I was wondering what to make for dessert, I have 2 Costco jars of Nutella. Looks delish!
This cake looks absolutely delicious! Beautiful and I love that your daughter requested Nutella!
This is one fiiiine looking cake! Yum!
I was born and raised in STL and then moved away and married a military man…I am so happy to say that as of 3 weeks ago I am now back in STL thanks to my hubby being stationed at Scott Air Force Base. One of the many STL specialties I love is Gooey Butter Cake (others include custard ice cream, toasted raviolis, Lion’s Choice, and Imo’s Pizza!). And oddly enough I’m snacking on a piece of Chocolate Gooey Butter right now. 🙂 We love Nutella and I’m certain this is something my husband and kids will go crazy for! Thanks so much for sharing the recipe.
I think I forgot to breathe!
I was so excited to see the pics of homecoming! And Nutella Gooey Butter Cake? Sinful, Cheryl, but so good.
Genius is right! LOVE this cake! And I love the photos…what a good looking group of kids!
I haven’t eaten dinner yet, but I am fairly certain that nothing will compare to this incredibly genius concoction that you have here! Gorgeous, Cheryl!
The regular version of this is one of my favorite recipes! I definitely have to try this!
Ooh this gooey butter cake looks fantastic! I want to swim in this.
Mmmm…my mouth is watering looking at this cake!!
Holy chocolate that looks good! I love you, Cheryl!!!!
Allison looks stunning. I love the dress.
Holy. Cow. I’m drooling! {And those kids…gorgeous!}
The photography is superb!! It’s as if I can literally grab one of these cake squares off my computer screen. Gorgeous!
WOW! On both Allison and the Cake 🙂 She looked so stunning! And that cake looks extremely good! Yum! I bet it went down super fast!
I am definitely making this!!
oh I am so going to have to try this!
Your daughter looks so beautiful 🙂 This cake looks utterly delicious. I really wish I could smell it through the computer too, but then again it would just make me want it more than I already do, so maybe its a good thing we cant 😉
These are in my oven as I write! They smell divine! Thanks for the recipe!!
Amanda
This is gorgeous. As in who-needs-meals-when-you-have-cake gorgeous. I think I just gained weight.
Yummy!
Any high altitude changes? (I’m in CO, altitude is 6000+)
OMG..I cant even imagine how amazing these must be.
This looks super>>>>>WANT!!!
I wish you could send me some over too!! That looks insanely good!
This looks amazing! All of your photos are fantastic…I think you need to compile all your photos for a coffee table book:)
Should this cake be refrigerated if made in advance? or is keeping it covered on the kitchen counter ok? Thanks!!
No need to refrigerate – we’ve made this my whole life and never have 😉
Any substitute suggestions for someone who hates Nutella.
how about substituting Biscoff?
Even peanut butter might be a good substitute.