The Irresistible Neiman Marcus Cake Everyone’s Raving About

If you’ve ever craved a dessert that’s just somehow richer, gooier, and plain old louder than a regular cake, neiman marcus cake is probably your new best friend. Seriously, this is the type of sweet you make when you want your guests to remember your name. Forget fancy skills or hours in the kitchen. If you can stir a spoon, you can do this. One of my buddies actually compared it to the chocolate cream cheese cake recipe I made last Easter (the one that disappeared before dinner even started). And hey, if you love fun desserts, you really might want to peek at this funfetti cake recipe too. Spoiler: it’s all about making baking easy for “normal” folks like us.

 

Why You’ll Love This Neiman Marcus Cake

Alright, let me just say it. Neiman Marcus Cake is the showstopper around here. People go wild for it at potlucks, birthdays… or honestly, “just because” days.

What makes it magic? Here’s the thing: the crust on the bottom is buttery and sweet, almost like what you get in a southern pecan praline cake butter sauce recipe, but then that topping! Oh man. It’s gooey, rich, just a little tang from the cream cheese. It’s almost scandalous how easy it is.

One time, my neighbor slipped me an extra bar of cream cheese, practically begging for the recipe after tasting it. Don’t be surprised if you get similar requests.

Plus – and maybe you’ll love this like I do – it’s not fussy. No weird ingredients. No endless steps. Just classic ingredients and a taste that’s kind of like a five-star restaurant (yep, I said it).

I made this Neiman Marcus Cake for my family’s Sunday brunch, and everyone had seconds. Even my picky teenage daughter asked for the recipe! I’ve never baked a cake that got so many compliments. – Jessica T., Dallas

 

Recipe Ingredients

Here’s the best part: you barely need anything fancy for this thing. If you’ve stocked up for a rainy baking day, you probably have it all. Grab these:

1. One box yellow cake mix – I always use the classic kind, but no one will ever know if you swap in butter or even white cake mix.
2. Four large eggs (not “medium,” not “jumbo,” just the normal ones)
3. One stick (that’s half a cup) of butter, melted – trust me, don’t skimp here, go with real butter
4. 8 ounces of cream cheese, softened (don’t try to rush this by nuking it… I learned that the hard way. Just let it sit out!)
5. About 3 1/2 cups powdered sugar (don’t judge, it’s worth it)
6. That’s it. You might have seen some recipes that throw in nuts or coconut, but classic is honestly best.

A quick tip: if you love different flavors, try looking at the chocolate kefir sheet cake recipe for fun ideas to swap up the base.

 

How to Make Neiman Marcus Cake

Ready to get messy? (Although, let’s be real, it’s not that messy.)

First, preheat your oven to 350°F. That’s the perfect not-too-hot, not-too-cold cake temperature. Next, grab a 9×13 baking pan and give it a good greasing (Pam, butter, whatever you like).

Dump the cake mix into a bowl. Pour in two of the eggs and that melted butter. Stir it up. It’s supposed to look like thick, sticky dough. Smoosh that into the pan to make a layer—sometimes I use my hands when the spatula just isn’t cutting it.

Okay, get another bowl. Mix up the cream cheese (really soft now!), remaining two eggs, and all the powdered sugar. Beat it until smooth. Pour this heavenly mixture right over the first layer.

Bake for about 35-40 minutes. Until the top starts turning a little golden and cracks just slightly—you want the middle a bit wobbly still. Don’t freak out if it jiggles. It firms up while it cools.

People say it’s a little like what you get from those red velvet cake recipe sweet shops. Except, you know, so much easier.

 

Expert Tips

Alright, friend to friend—if you want your neiman marcus cake perfect (or dangerously close), here’s what I’ve figured out over the years.

Don’t overbake it. Sounds obvious, but trust me, if it looks just about done in the center, yank it. It finishes outside the oven thanks to the heat.

About cream cheese: let it come to room temp first. If it’s not soft, your top layer will turn out lumpy, and nobody wants that.

For extra zing, toss in a splash of vanilla extract to the cream cheese layer. Not required, but it lifts the flavor in this delightfully sneaky way.

And oh, if you’re the sort who likes surprises, swap that yellow mix for lemon. It’s almost as wild as the lemon kefir cake. Just saying.

Okay, I’ll stop. But you get it. Play around a little!

Storing Your Neiman Marcus Cake

You might wonder how to keep this bad boy fresh – assuming there are leftovers, which is not guaranteed!

I pop mine in the fridge, covered tight with plastic wrap or foil. It actually tastes richer on day two (wild, right?). If you want that warm, gooey middle, take out a slice and zap it for like 10 seconds in the microwave.

Oh, one time I even froze squares—just to see. And guess what, it works. Wrap pieces really well then let them thaw overnight in the fridge when you’re ready to eat. Not quite like fresh, but definitely workable for those late-night cravings.

Honestly, it’s just like how you’d treat a delicious strawberry cheesecake dump cake you can whip up today—all about that tight seal, so the magic stays IN.

Serving Suggestions

When it comes to serving neiman marcus cake, here’s how to get maximum enjoyment:

1. Dust a little powdered sugar on top for that “bakery look.”
2. Serve tiny squares with coffee (don’t skip the coffee… trust me).
3. Wanna get fancy? Add fresh berries on the side.
4. If you’re really going all-out, try it slightly warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.

Again, no judgment if you just eat it right out of the pan. I’ve done it. We’ve all done it. Want a different kind of morning treat? It’s not as weird as you think to serve this with fluffy pancakes recipe for brunch.

You Seriously Need to Try This

If you’ve never tasted or baked a neiman marcus cake, you are missing out on a classic. It’s so simple, so satisfying, and – let’s be honest – unfairly easy. Now, I’m not shy to say this is serious competition for my other favorites, but after one bite, you may not look back. Want more details from a pro? Check the Neiman Marcus Cake Recipe. And the Barbara Bakes gooey butter cake has a great twist, too. Oh, and it’s funny, but while we may call it a different name, we can all agree that this cake … – it’s just that good! So dig out your pan, grab those ingredients, and brag about this one for years. Trust me, your friends will hound you for the recipe.

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