Chocolate Chip (Ooey) Gooey Butter Cake!

                                                Happy Thankgiving!  
  
     Thanksgiving and Christmas are my favorite holidays, because it starts with a time to reflect on the year and be so grateful to God for everything He has given us and then immediately begin to celebrate the birth of our Savior!!  It's such a wonderful Christ centered time of year, which I celebrate like I do any other joyous occasion-- with lots and lots of baking!  My kitchen becomes a cookie shop and sweet treats bakery until the New Year.  Let the flour dust fly and sugar buzz begin!

     We just had a couple of really great friends over for coffee and dessert fireside, and I decided to make these rich, gooey, buttery, sweet bars that are" best loved" in our household!  Just the name says it all: Chocolate Chip. Gooey. Butter (!) Cake.  Yowza!!  These yummy squares are so appropriate for Christmas because you will sing with the angels when you try them!  Yes, so I'm using a lot of explanation points (!!!) for this blog, but I'm so excited to share this recipe! Not only is this dessert a hit everytime, but it's incredibly easy to make!
   
     I would recommend using real butter for this recipe if you want a true buttery flavor.  You will use 2 sticks for this recipe.  Like my chocolate chip cookie recipe, this one has a lot of butter, and is worth every gram of fat. (I would also recommend a renewed gym membership post eating this.)  I used chocolate chip and chunks this time, but I've also made them without anything and they are absolutely amazing, too.  I wanted them to look a little extra decadent, so I drizzled  melted chocolate chips mixed with a bit of clear corn syrup (for shine) over the top after they had been out of the oven for about 20 minutes. When you first take the cake out it will be puffed up (shown in picture) like a cookie, and will then fall a bit.  This is a simple recipe that you will love to make and everybody will LOVE to eat! Please try this Gooey Butter Cake next time to satisfy your sweet tooth.  Enjoy your holiday baking!

Chocolate Chip Gooey Butter Cake


Crust
1 box butter-recipe cake mix
1 egg
1/2 c (1 stick) butter, melted

Filling
1 8 oz. pkg cream cheese, softened
2 eggs
1 tsp. pure vanilla extract
1 16 oz. box powdered sugar
1/2 c. (1 stick) butter, melted
1 c. chocolate chips
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Light grease a 9x13 in. baking pan.
In a bowl, combine cake mix, egg, and butter with an electric mixer.  Mix well.  Pat into the bottom of prepared pan and set aside.  Still using an electric mixer, beat cream cheese until smooth; add eggs and vanilla.  Dump powdered sugar and beat very well.  Reduce the speed of mixer and slowly pour in melted butter.  Mix well.  Stir in the chocolate chips. Pour filling onto cake mixture and spread evenly.  Bake for 40-50  minutes (it took me closer to 50 minutes).  You want to center to be a little gooey, so don't bake it past that point!  Remove from oven and allow to cool completely.  If you want to drizzle melted chocolate over the top allow it to cool for at least 15 minutes and then drizzle over.  Allow to cool for at least another hour and then cut into bars.  Enjoy!