Name: Neiman Marcus Cake with Gooey Butter Topping - Sweet Easy Recipes Style
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 40 min
Total time: 50 min
Ingredients: 1 box yellow cake mix; 1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, melted; 1 egg; 1 package (8 oz) cream cheese, softened; 2 eggs; 1 teaspoon vanilla extract; 4 cups powdered sugar

Jump to Recipe

This Neiman Marcus Cake? Oh, it’s that dessert your cousin brings to every potluck—the one that disappears in about five minutes flat. I’ve baked it for birthdays, lazy Sundays, and once for a neighbor just because she lent me her ladder. Every time, it gets the same reaction: wide eyes, second slices, and zero leftovers. It starts with a yellow cake mix. Yep, the humble box. But don’t be fooled. With a few pantry basics like butter, eggs, cream cheese, and powdered sugar, this cake transforms into a rich, gooey masterpiece that tastes like it took hours to make. Spoiler: it doesn’t. It’s sweet, dense, and buttery—like someone wrapped a cheesecake inside a cookie bar and blessed it with a golden crust. If you’ve got a sweet tooth and a love for shortcuts, you’ll fall hard for this one. It’s low-fuss, high-reward, and perfect for anyone craving something warm, melty, and just a little bit indulgent. Trust me, this cake isn’t just dessert—it’s a love letter to sugar.

1) Key Takeaways
2) Easy Neiman Marcus Cake Recipe
3) Ingredients for Neiman Marcus Cake
4) How to Make Neiman Marcus Cake
5) Tips for Making Neiman Marcus Cake
6) Making Neiman Marcus Cake Ahead of Time
7) Storing Leftover Neiman Marcus Cake
8) Try these Desserts next!
9) Neiman Marcus Cake
10) Nutrition

1) Key Takeaways

This gooey butter cake starts with a boxed mix but tastes like it came from a fancy bakery.
The soft center and golden edges are pure comfort food magic.
You’ll only need pantry basics like eggs, butter, cream cheese, and powdered sugar.
It stores beautifully and even tastes better the next day.

2) Easy Neiman Marcus Cake Recipe

The Neiman Marcus Cake might sound like it belongs in a department store, but trust me—it feels right at home on your kitchen counter. This sweet easy recipe skips the bells and whistles. We’re talking boxed cake mix, cream cheese, butter, and sugar. That’s it. No secret handshake required.

I’ve made this cake more times than I care to admit, and every time I do, someone insists on the recipe. It’s the kind of dessert that makes people lean over and whisper, “Wait, what’s in this?” It’s soft in the middle, golden at the edges, and has that perfect gooey top that makes forks pause mid-air.

If you’re looking for sweet easy recipes that don’t leave you elbow-deep in dishes or questioning life choices mid-bake, this one’s it. You’ll end up with a buttery, rich bar that plays well with coffee, celebrations, or even just a quiet Tuesday night.

3) Ingredients for Neiman Marcus Cake

1 box yellow cake mix — It’s your base. No need to reinvent the wheel when this shortcut does the job and then some.

1/2 cup butter, melted — Rich, golden, and straight-up necessary. Melted butter is the glue and the soul here.

1 egg — For binding and adding that slight fluff to the base. Just one. No egg-cellent pun here. Moving on.

8 oz cream cheese, softened — Soft is key, unless you enjoy fighting with your mixer. Cream cheese brings the tang and the melt-in-your-mouth vibe.

2 eggs — These round out the creamy top layer and give it body. They pull the sweet layer together like a charm.

1 teaspoon vanilla extract — Just a splash for warmth and depth. You’ll miss it if you skip it, trust me.

4 cups powdered sugar — The sweet stuff. Clouds of it. You’ll think it’s too much. It’s not.

4) How to Make Neiman Marcus Cake

Step 1. Preheat your oven to 350°F and grease a 9×13-inch baking dish. You’ll want that ready before you get sticky hands.

Step 2. In one bowl, mix the cake mix, melted butter, and one egg. Stir until combined. It’ll be thick, kind of like cookie dough. That’s what you want.

Step 3. Press that mix into your prepared pan. Spread it into the corners. This is your cake’s base.

Step 4. In another bowl, beat your cream cheese until smooth. Add the two eggs and vanilla. Whip until creamy and silky.

Step 5. Add powdered sugar in batches unless you enjoy dust storms. Mix until you get a pourable, luscious batter.

Step 6. Pour the cream cheese mixture over the base and smooth the top. Admire it. Then pop it in the oven.

Step 7. Bake for 35 to 40 minutes. The edges will be golden. The middle? Still a little jiggly. That’s perfect.

5) Tips for Making Neiman Marcus Cake

Let the cream cheese come to room temp before mixing. Trust me, your mixer and your wrist will thank you. Cold cream cheese = clumps and frustration.

Don’t overbake. The middle should stay soft. That’s the magic of this sweet easy recipe. It firms up as it cools and gets gooier by the hour.

Want a twist? Add a handful of pecans or a sprinkle of cinnamon to the top before baking. I tried it once on a whim. No regrets.

6) Making Neiman Marcus Cake Ahead of Time

This cake is a make-ahead dream. You can whip it up the night before, let it cool, and cover it overnight. The sweet, buttery flavor deepens and becomes even better the next day.

It’s the kind of thing I throw together when I know tomorrow is going to be hectic. Prep tonight, serve tomorrow. The rich texture and gooey top layer stay perfect.

If you’re planning ahead for a party or potluck, this sweet easy recipe holds up well on the counter and even better in the fridge. It’s one of those air fryer dessert easy recipes that doesn’t even need the air fryer. Bonus.

7) Storing Leftover Neiman Marcus Cake

Got leftovers? Great. Wrap the pan in foil or transfer squares to an airtight container. Store in the fridge up to a week. They won’t last that long though.

The texture actually improves a little after a day. That gooey top layer firms up slightly, making each bite dense and rich—basically bakery level.

You can freeze individual squares too. Wrap each piece in plastic wrap and stash them in a freezer bag. When sweet cravings strike, you’re just a microwave minute away from happy.

8) Try these Desserts next!

9) Neiman Marcus Cake