Gooey Butter Cake was originally an accident. Although origin stories vary, the cake was supposedly first made in the 1930s by a St. Louis-area German-American baker who was trying to make regular cake batter but reversed the proportions of butter and flour. Whatever its origin, there is no mistaking it is now a well-known St. Louis favorite.

It is a flat, dense cake made with wheat cake flour, butter, sugar, and eggs. It typically is only around an inch tall, dusted with powdered sugar, and able to be cut into pieces similar to those of a brownie. Variations of the cake using commercial yellow cake mix and/or cream cheese are available for simple preparation, but the best version is one using the baker’s style, and served and eaten while fresh and warm.

1. Park Avenue Coffee, St. Louis

Park Avenue Coffee has created over 76 different flavors of Gooey Butter Cake including chocolate, amaretto, banana, blackberry and apple. Available to order online in 9X9 inch and 9X13 inch sizes. They have been featured on the Food Network and were named, "Feud Foods" Winner for Best Gooey Butter Cake.

Location: Lafayette Square, 1919 Park Avenue (featured) and also locations downtown at 417 N. 10th Street, in The Hill Neighborhood at 5105 Columbia Avenue, and at 4240 Duncan Avenue (opening this month)

Hours of Operation (Lafayette Square location): Monday-Thursday 6:30 AM-10:00 PM, Friday 6:30 AM-11:00 PM, Saturday 7:00 AM-11:00 PM, and Sunday 7:30 AM-10:00 PM

Website: www.parkavenuecoffee.com. They also have an online store called Ann & Allens at www.annandallen.com.

2. Waldo Pizza, Kansas City

Although officially a pizza place, Waldo’s also serves wonderful desserts including the original Gooey Butter Cake and a Peach Gooey Butter Cake.

Location: 7433 Broadway in Kansas City and also in Lee’s Summit at 1543 N.E. Douglas Street

Hours of Operation: Sunday-Thursday 11am-10pm, Friday-Saturday 11am-11pm

Website: www.waldopizza.net

3. Missouri Bakery Company, St. Louis

This small bakery offers a variety of delicious baked goods including their original Gooey Butter Cake and Cherry Gooey Butter Cake.

Location: 2027 Edwards Street, St. Louis

Hours of Operation: Tuesday-Friday 7:00 am-5:30 pm, Saturday 7:00 am-5:00 pm, and Sunday 7:30 am-12:00 pm

Yelp page: Missouri Bakery Company

4. The Traveler’s Table Café, Davisville

A seasonal restaurant that opens up each Memorial Day, Traveler’s Table is a little known gem. Their menu varies, including their desserts, but a favorite includes their version of the Gooey Butter Cake.

Location: 126 Dillard Mill Road

Hours of Operation: From Memorial Day Weekend until the second weekend in September, Friday and Saturday from 11am to 8pm, and Sunday from 11am to 6pm.

Website: www.thetravelerstable.com

5. Gooey Louie, St. Louis

So many flavors! Besides the original Gooey Louie, they also offer a Chocolate Chippewa, chocolate raspberry, chocolate peanut butter, blueberry and many many more!

Location: 6483 Chippewa Street

Hours of Operation: Tuesday-Friday 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Closed on Sunday and Monday.

Yelp page: Gooey Louie

6. My Daddy’s Cheesecake, Cape Girardeau

Although mainly known for their cheesecakes (obviously), they also serve other varieties of dessert including delicious Gooey Butter Cake.

Location: 265 S Broadview Street

Hours of Operation: Monday-Thursday 7:00am-8:00pm, Friday & Saturday 7:00am-9:00pm, closed Sunday

Website: www.mydaddyscheesecake.com

7. Little O’s Old Time Soda Fountain, St. Charles

Little O’s is a cute little old-timey soda fountain serving ice cream, sodas and desserts. Taking Gooey Butter Cake to the next level, they offer Gooey Butter milkshakes that have pieces of gooey butter cake in them. In addition, they sell the real thing by the slice or the entire cake.

Location: 125 N Main St, Ste 101

Hours of Operation: Monday-Sunday 11:00 am-9:00 pm

Yelp page: Little O’s Old Time Soda Fountain

8. Lubeley’s, St. Louis

Lubeley’s has so many different varieties of desserts that are even available to order online, including their best-selling Gooey Butter Cake (located under pastries, not cakes).

Location: 7815 Watson Road

Hours of Operation: Tuesday-Friday 7am-7pm, Saturday 7am-6pm, Sunday 8am-1pm

Website: www.lubeleysbakery.com

9. Murry’s, Columbia

Promising "Good Food. Good Jazz." Murry’s also serves a delicious Gooey Butter Cake as one of their many dessert menu options.

Location: 3107 Green Meadows Way

Hours of Operation: Open Monday-Saturday 11am to 1:30am, closed Sunday except for special events.

Website: www.murrysrestaurant.net

Although these bakers have the recipe mastered, if you really want to try to make this at home and don’t have a "family recipe", there are recipes all over the internet including a pretty good one located at tidymom.net. If you can’t make it to any of these locations, no worries. You can order online from both Park Avenue and Lubeley’s.

Have you tried gooey butter cake?  Have a family tradition including the dessert?  Share in the comments below.