Cinco de Bow Wow

The family schedule for Wednesday read something like this:

J - We drive, carpool picks up
R - Ride to school with Dad
R - Piano 4:30-5:15
All - Cinco de Mayo party at dog park 5:15-6
J+R - Basketball practice 6-8

Hmm.



Well folks, if you guessed "Cinco de Mayo party at dog park", you win!*

 The event was very well attended.

The guests were (in general) very well behaved.

Everyone was very well fed.  

Gotta love a party where a potluck celebration of Mexico's victory over the French militia includes margaritas, fresh strawberries, taquitos, carrot sticks, a "Happy Cinco De Mayo" cake decorated with a giant American flag, little bags of dog treats as party favors, and these delicious gooey butter bars.   Ole!

We were a little late for basketball.

Laurie's Homemade Gooey Butter Cakes

Laurie, mom of Teddy Bear**, baked not one but two types of butter cakes specially for the party.   After I got over feeling bad about my contribution of plastic cups and lemonade, I wolfed them down and begged for the recipe.  This decadent, melt-in-your mouth dessert is apparently a staple of St. Louis baking, but this version is credited to Paula Deen.***  Make them for your dog's next social event, or anytime you want to wow a crowd that is not counting calories.

Cake:
1 18 1/4-ounce package yellow cake mix
1 egg
1/2 c. (1 stick) butter, melted

Filling:
1 8-ounce package cream cheese, softened
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 c. (1 stick) butter, melted
1 16-ounce box powdered sugar

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Combine the cake mix, egg, and butter and mix well with an electric mixer. Pat the mixture into the bottom of a lightly greased 13 by 9-inch baking pan.

In a large bowl, beat the cream cheese until smooth. Add the eggs, vanilla, and butter and beat together. Next, add the powdered sugar and mix well. Spread over cake batter and bake for 40 to 50 minutes. Make sure not to over bake as the center should be a little gooey. Let cake partially cool on a wire rack before cutting into pieces. Dust with powdered sugar, if desired.

Click to Print this recipe!

Double Chocolate Gooey Butter Cakes

Cake:
1/2 c. (1 stick) butter, melted
1 18 1/4 ounce package chocolate cake mix
1 egg

Filling:
1 8-ounce package cream cheese, softened
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 c. (1 stick)butter, melted
3 to 4 tablespoons cocoa powder
1 16-ounce box powdered sugar
1 cup chopped nuts, optional

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly grease a 13 by 9-inch baking pan.

In a large bowl, combine the cake mix, 1 egg, and 1 stick melted butter, and stir until well blended. Pat mixture into prepared pan and set aside.

In a stand mixer, or with a hand mixer, beat the cream cheese until smooth. Add the remaining 2 eggs, vanilla and melted butter. Lower the speed of the mixer, and add the powdered sugar and cocoa powder. Continue beating until ingredients are well mixed. Stir in nuts with a rubber spatula.

Spread filling over cake mixture in pan. Bake for 40 to 50 minutes. Be careful not to overcook the cake; the center should still be a little gooey when finished baking. Let cake partially cool on a wire rack before cutting into pieces. Dust with powdered sugar, if desired.

* If you guessed, "Piano", you get partial credit. Piano is usually on Thursdays.
** aka FG9
*** I know.  It's a shock to find the doyen of butter, cream and sugar associated with this little bite of heaven.