Description

Neiman Marcus Cake is a rich, buttery dessert featuring a moist yellow cake base topped with a creamy, sweetened cream cheese layer. Baked to perfection, this cake offers a distinct two-layer texture — a tender cake bottom with a luscious, slightly tangy cream cheese topping. Perfect for holiday gatherings, potlucks, or any special occasion, it’s a classic crowd-pleaser that combines simplicity with indulgent flavor.

Ingredients

Scale

Cake Base

1 (15.25 ounce) package yellow cake mix
2 large eggs
1/2 cup butter, melted
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Cream Cheese Topping

3 ½ cups confectioners’ sugar
8 ounces cream cheese, softened
2 large eggs

Instructions

Preheat Oven and Prepare Pan: Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) and grease a 13×9-inch baking pan to ensure the cake does not stick.
Mix Cake Batter: In a large bowl, blend the yellow cake mix, 2 eggs, melted butter, and vanilla extract until fully combined. The batter will be stiff. Pour the batter into the prepared pan, spreading it evenly. For easier spreading, spray the back of your spatula with cooking spray.
Prepare Cream Cheese Topping: In a separate bowl, beat together the confectioners’ sugar, softened cream cheese, and the remaining 2 eggs until smooth and well combined. Pour this mixture evenly over the cake batter layer in the pan.
Bake the Cake: Place the pan in the preheated oven and bake for about 35 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the cake layer comes out clean. The topping will be creamy and slightly gooey.
Cool and Serve: Let the cake cool completely to room temperature before cutting. This helps the layers set and makes slicing easier. Serve in squares and enjoy the rich flavor combination.

Notes

For easier spreading of the cake batter, spray the spatula with cooking spray.
You can adjust the sweetness by reducing the confectioners’ sugar in the topping if desired.
To store, cover and refrigerate to maintain freshness, especially if made a day ahead.
This cake freezes well when cut into squares and wrapped tightly.
Variations include adding almond extract to the cream cheese topping or incorporating fruit toppings such as cherries for extra flavor.
Using reduced sugar substitutions like powdered Stevia can make it diabetic-friendly.

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 35 minutes
Category: Dessert
Method: Baking
Cuisine: American

Keywords: Neiman Marcus cake, cream cheese cake, yellow cake, layered cake dessert, gooey butter cake, holiday dessert, potluck cake