History of Gooey Butter Cake

History of Gooey Butter Cake

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Photo from Diana Baker Woodall's website Diana's Desserts

This cake consists of a dry, flat base covered with a "goo" mixture. It is sticky and chewy and very delicious. This ultra-sweet treat is a St. Louis tradition and available in local bakeries all around the city of St. Louis.

The Gooey Butter Cake originated in the 1930s. According to legend, a German baker added the wrong proportions of ingredients in the coffee cake batter he was making. It turned into a gooey, pudding-like filling.

Information from Richard Danzer (November 22, 2006):

Saw your web site and thought you may want the real story on gooey butter cake:

In late 1942 or early 1943, Johnny Hoffman of St. Louis Pastries Bakery was working on a Saturday and made what eventually turned out to be Gooey Butter Cake. You're right, it was a mistake! He subsequently called Herman Danzer, my dad, and told him he thought he may have something and asked to come to my dad's shop on Spring & Gravois to see if they could duplicate it.

They worked all Saturday, and through many trials and errors got it pretty good. The final batch they made, my dad suggested they add glycerin to get it really gooey. It worked - whereupon my mom, Melba Danzer, came into the shop from the store to see what these two guys were doing. When she tried it she said "this sure is gooey" subsequently, the name.

My mom is still alive and, although the Baker's Co-operative is now disbanded, most of the former members get together twice a year for a dinner. I had the privilege of attending the last one while I was in town. The oldest active baker is, if I recall correctly, 96. Also, I believe the Master Retail Baker's Assn. has disbanded.

I trust this will help clarify the origin of Gooey Butter Cake. The information above is the extent of what I have - having grown up in my fathers' (Danzer's Bakery) bakery - both on Spring & Gravois and later on Taft & Gravois across from the Granada Theatre. Shortly after a near fatal illness in '56/'57 my father went with PVO/Blanton rising to National Sales Manager and ultimately had as his customer base McDonalds, Burger King, Entenmens, etc. and, co-authored a recipe book utilized by Baker's across the nation.

The information I have is from my mother who worked with him all those years from 1939 to 1957. My father, Herman Danzer, passed in 1997. My mother, approaching 89, does not have his recipes nor would she have any way of proving the "Gooey Butter Cake" origin. Until it's disbanding a few years ago, she remained a member of the Master Retail Baker's Association of Greater St. Louis as they were vested members and stock holders.

This is the best I can do for you, so, the true story will remain a matter of conjecture.