I got an interesting call early this week. It was my husband. He called at approximately 5:00 PM and asked me to bake something a coworker’s birthday.
For the next day.
No big deal, I live for requests like these!
Disclaimer: I fully realize that requests such as this would cause hostile feelings in some households. Husbands – if there are any out there – it’s probably not the best idea to spring things like this on your wife. It could be considered as bad as calling on your way home for dinner and letting her know that you have invited 5 of your buddies over for dinner.
So, I asked him if they all had anything in mind. He told me to make my specialty.
Uh, whatever that is.
Really, I can only aspire to have a “specialty”. You know, the thing that everyone asks you to bring to the next potluck.
Not that we are frequent potluck-ers. I don’t think we’ve been to a potluck in ages.
In case you were wondering.
Anyway, since I don’t consider anything (except maybe these cookies) to be my specialty, I decided to see what Jessica had up her sleeve. I just knew she would have *something* in her recipe archives that would include ingredients that I always have on hand (helloooo butter + bacon) and be quick and easy to whip up at 8:00 PM. Plus, I’m pretty sure we could be baking soul mates.
Except that she has absolutely no idea who I am. That’s probably a little creepy, huh?
…
Don’t answer that.
Anyway…I was right. I came across this post and happened to have everything in my kitchen at that very moment.
That, and I’m pretty sure you can’t go wrong with two sticks of butter.
It was baking fate! Don’t you just love when that happens?
Gooey Butter Cake
Recipe from How Sweet it Is and The Newlywed Chefs
Ingredients:
For the “crust”–
2 cups sugar
2 1/2 cups all purpose flour
2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 c milk
1 stick unsalted butter, melted
1 egg
For the topping –
8 oz. cream cheese, at room temperature
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
1 stick unsalted butter , melted
3 1/2 cups powdered sugar
Directions:
Preheat oven to 350°.
To prepare crust, mix the sugar, flour, baking powder and salt together. Stir in melted butter and then egg. Add milk and mix until moist. Press into bottom of greased pan. Set aside.
Next, prepare the filling. Beat softened cream cheese in mixer until fluffy. Add eggs, vanilla and melted butter and mix until smooth. Add the powdered sugar slowly until it is all combined. Pour filling on top of crust. Bake for 40-45 minutes until golden brown.
Center may still be jiggly – that’s okay. A little jiggle never hurt anyone.
I would know!
