What city is synonymous with gooey butter cake?

The city synonymous with gooey butter cake is St. Louis, Missouri.

Origin and Characteristics of Gooey Butter Cake

Gooey butter cake is a beloved regional dessert deeply rooted in the culinary traditions of St. Louis. As the reference states: Gooey butter cake is a type of cake traditionally made in St. Louis, Missouri. It's not your typical fluffy layered cake but rather a distinct, dense, and relatively flat confection.

The cake's unique texture comes from its composition. It is a flat and dense cake made with wheat cake flour, butter, sugar, and eggs, typically near an inch tall, and dusted with powdered sugar. This creates a delightful contrast between a slightly firm bottom layer and a wonderfully rich, gooey top layer.

Key characteristics include:

• Origin: St. Louis, Missouri
• Texture: Flat and dense bottom with a gooey top
• Key Ingredients: Wheat cake flour, butter, sugar, eggs
• Appearance: Typically around an inch tall, finished with powdered sugar

Why St. Louis?

While the exact origin story has a few variations, the consensus ties its creation and popularization firmly to St. Louis, likely sometime in the 1930s or 1940s. It's become a local institution, found in bakeries, grocery stores, and home kitchens throughout the metropolitan area.

Its simple yet decadent nature made it a perfect fit for local tastes and traditions, solidifying its status as a St. Louis specialty.

Here is a quick summary table:

To learn more about the city's food scene, you might explore its culinary history [(Learn More About St. Louis Culture)](https://example.com/stlouis-culture-food - Note: This is a placeholder link).