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Two golden, flaky Neiman Marcus cake bars are served on a white plate with fresh strawberries and raspberries in the background, placed on a folded white napkin.
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4.66 from 44 votes

Neiman Marcus Cake

Neiman Marcus Cake combines a cookie-like base with a rich cream cheese layer that turns golden in the oven. This easy gooey butter cake has become a potluck staple for good reason!
Prep Time20 minutes
Cook Time35 minutes
Total Time55 minutes
Servings: 12
Calories: 425kcal
Author: Melissa Griffiths

Equipment

  • Stainless-Steel Mixing Bowl Set, White
  • Stainless Steel Measuring Spoons, Set of 6
  • KitchenAid 6-Quart Bowl-Lift Professional Stand Mixer, Onyx Black

Ingredients 

Cake Bottom Layer

  • 15.25 ounces yellow or white cake mix (1 box)
  • ½ cup butter melted
  • 2 large eggs

Cream Cheese Top Layer

  • 3 ½ cup powdered sugar plus more for serving
  • 8 ounces cream cheese room temperature
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Instructions

Make cake base:

  • Preheat oven to 350°F. Spray a 9x13 cake pan with non-stick spray or line it with parchment paper.
  • In a large mixing bowl, mix cake mix, melted butter, and eggs with a sturdy spoon until well blended. (It will be thick like a cookie dough.)
    15.25 ounces yellow or white cake mix, ½ cup butter, 2 large eggs
  • Use your fingers or a bench scraper to press dough into the prepared pan. 

Make cream cheese topping:

  • In a mixing bowl, beat cream cheese and two cups of powdered sugar on low speed until smooth. Add eggs and vanilla and beat on low speed until blended. Add remaining 1 ½ cups powdered sugar and beat until blended. Pour over cake bottom and spread to the edges of the pan.
    3 ½ cup powdered sugar, 8 ounces cream cheese, 2 large eggs, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Bake the cake:

  • Bake for 35 to 40 minutes or until topping is set and golden brown and it’s pulling away from the sides of the pan. Cool completely in the pan.
  • To serve, cut into squares and sprinkle top with additional powdered sugar if desired.

Notes

Temperature Matters: Use room-temperature cream cheese for the smoothest, lump-free topping.
Easy Removal Trick: Line your pan with parchment paper for easier cake removal.
Cooling is Key: Let the cake cool completely before cutting into squares.
Gluten-Free Option: Use a gluten-free yellow cake mix. The recipe works exactly the same way.
For a Chocolate Version: Use chocolate cake mix instead of yellow or white. The cream cheese topping complements chocolate beautifully.

Nutrition

Serving: 1piece | Calories: 425kcal | Carbohydrates: 66g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 17g | Saturated Fat: 10g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4g | Trans Fat: 0.4g | Cholesterol: 94mg | Sodium: 404mg | Potassium: 66mg | Fiber: 0.4g | Sugar: 51g | Vitamin A: 569IU | Calcium: 105mg | Iron: 1mg