Gooey butter cake is the dessert St. Louis claims as its own. It is a flat, sugary square with a soft, rich center and a dusting of powdered sugar on top.
You will not find it at most bakeries outside Missouri, which makes the places still baking it a real treat. Here are seven shops across the state, from old neighborhood favorites to newer spots, that keep this classic going.
1. Missouri Baking Co, St. Louis, MO
The Hill is famous for Italian food, so it fits that one of its best-known bakeries mixes cannoli with a St. Louis classic. Missouri Baking Co sits at 2027 Edwards St and turns out Italian sweets and European desserts, from cannoli to napoleons.
Gooey butter cake is a big draw here, and the menu even includes a cherry version. The case also holds custard puffs, ricotta cannoli, spumoni cupcakes, pies, breads, and a wide spread of Italian cookies, including amaretti.
Plan ahead before you go. The shop is cash only and open Tuesday through Saturday, 8 AM to 4 PM.
Saturdays get busy, so a Wednesday visit is the calmer choice. It is a takeout spot with coffee, so grab a box and enjoy it down the street.
2. Federhofer’s Bakery, St. Louis, MO
Fifty years and still family owned. Federhofer’s on Gravois Road is the kind of old-fashioned German bakery that south St. Louis once had on many corners.
The selection is huge. Gooey butter cake shares space with cheesecake, chocolate meringue pie, big cupcakes, and custard puffs that have a loyal following.
Here is a fun detail for planning: coconut toast shows up on Tuesdays. Donut and pastry boxes, sugar cookies, and butter cookies round out the everyday lineup.
Hours are generous, too. The shop opens at 6 AM Monday through Saturday and 7 AM on Sunday, which makes it an easy breakfast stop with coffee and free parking on site.
3. Jowin’s Kitchen Gooey Butter Bakery, Columbia, MO
Mid-Missouri finally has a bakery with gooey butter cake right in its name. Jowin’s Kitchen got its start selling the cake at the Columbia Farmers Market before opening a shop on Business Loop 70 W.
The bakery is built around the St. Louis style, and transplants from the city treat it as a taste of home. The storefront also brought an expanded menu beyond the market table.
Prices are friendly, mostly in the $1 to $10 range. The catch is the schedule, since the shop is open only Tuesday through Friday, 10 AM to 6 PM.
I would save this one for a weekday trip through Columbia. There is a free parking lot, and coffee is available too.
4. Oh My Gooey KC, Kansas City, MO
Kansas City is a barbecue town, but one shop up north brought a St. Louis recipe across the state. Oh My Gooey KC says its recipe is generations old and made the trip when the owners moved from Saint Louis.
The Original Gooey Butter Cake is the anchor. From there, the shop branches into 25-plus flavors, plus gooey butter cookies.
It is a veteran-owned small business at 11119 N Oak Trafficway. Service is built around takeout and in-store pickup, so ordering ahead is the smart move.
Prices run about $1 to $20, which makes it easy to try a couple of flavors side by side with the original.
5. Sucrose Bakery, St Charles, MO
Want a seat with your slice? Sucrose Bakery is one of the few stops on this list with dine-in space, which makes it handy after a stroll around historic St. Charles.
The shop leans creative, with unique pastries, custom cakes, and espresso drinks. Gooey butter cake sits alongside turtle cheesecake, sticky buns, macarons, muffins, and lavender and lemon poppy seed cakes.
Gluten-free shoppers get options here, too, which is not common at traditional bakeries. Quiches, tarts, and cinnamon rolls also turn up.
Hours are Tuesday through Friday 7 AM to 3 PM and Saturday 8 AM to 3 PM. Saturday mornings are the busiest window.
6. Helfer’s Pastries, Florissant, MO
Lunch and dessert under one roof is the Helfer’s advantage. The Florissant shop pairs a long-running bakery with a deli serving sandwiches, soups, and salads.
On the sweet side, gooey butter cake is a highlight, along with buttery crumb cake, butter cookies, and florentines. Paczki and custom cakes are part of the mix as well.
The deli menu includes breakfast sandwiches and French dip. Heavenly Hash also makes an appearance.
Doors open at 6 AM Tuesday through Saturday. There is a free lot and a restroom, which is a nice bonus on a longer outing.
7. Harter Bakery, Arnold, MO
Heading south out of St. Louis on Jeffco Boulevard? Harter Bakery in Arnold is a solid reason to stop.
Custom wedding and birthday cakes are the main specialty, along with fresh donuts and pastries. Gooey butter cake has a strong reputation here, and so does the Black Forest cake.
The prices are a big part of the appeal. Bread is reasonably priced, and the cupcake lineup includes white cake with raspberry filling.
The shop opens Monday through Saturday, with Friday running 7 AM to 6 PM. Mornings early in the week are the quietest time to visit.
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