Bobby Lightens It Up
Bobby’s Lighter Gooey Butter Cake
by Bobby Deen
Bobby Deen loves his mom's cooking and loves a well balanced healthy lifestyle. So he can have both, he takes some of his favorite recipes of his moms and lightens them up! Cutting the fat and calories without cutting the flavor! Keep checking in as each week he adds another of his favorites...lightened up!
Gooey Butter Cake
665 Fewer Calories
90g Less Carbohydrates
71g Less Sugar
Ingredients:
1 (18 1/4-ounce) package yellow cake mix
1/2 cup reduced-fat buttermilk
1 egg, lightly beaten
1 tablespoon canola oil
Filling
1 (8-ounce) package reduced-fat cream cheese (Neufchatel)
3/4 cup confectioners’ sugar
1/4 cup plain low-fat (2%) Greek-style yogurt
1 large egg, at room temperature
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon melted butter
Directions:
Preheat the oven to 350°F. Spray a 9 x 9-inch baking dish with nonstick spray.
Place the cake mix in a large bowl. Whisk together the buttermilk, egg, and oil in a small bowl until blended. Add the buttermilk mixture to the cake mix, stirring just until blended. Pour the mixture into the baking dish.
Beat the cream cheese until smooth. Beat in the sugar, yogurt, egg, vanilla, and butter. Spread over the cake mixture. Bake 40 – 50 minutes. You want the center to be a little gooey, so do not over bake.
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 45 minutes
Difficulty: Easy
Yield: 16 servings
Per Serving: 279 Cal; 4 g Protein; 9 g Tot Fat; 4 g Sat Fat; 2 g Mono Fat; 47 g Carb; 0 g Fiber; 28 g Sugar; 106 mg Calcium; 0 mg Iron; 406 mg Sodium; 12 mg Cholesterol
Original Recipe courtesy Paula Deen
Lightened Up recipe courtesy Bobby Deen and the Paula Deen test kitchen
More From Bobby Lightens It Up.
Bobby’s Lighter Baked French Toast Casserole
New Year's brunch is lighter with Bobby's version.
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Bobby’s Lighter Green Bean Casserole
Bobby cuts 54g of fat from every serving in this new recipe.
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Bobby takes on a classic, Cheesy Mac!
Bobby keeps this classic recipe creamy and rich like The Lady's, but less calories and cholesterol!
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Reader Comments:
these recipes are amazing!!!! Paula’s food, which is absolutely incredibly good.. with a few dozen less calories.. how perfect!!!
Any chance Bobby will publish a cookbook????
Ilene Weiser of Allentown PA on May 29, 2010 04:45 PM
I have bought Greek yogurt at Wal Mart.
Rebecca of Myrtle Beach, S.C. on May 26, 2010 06:02 PM
To Mary A.G. (re: greek yogurt) I just asked my coworkers the same thing, and was told it’s Activia! LOVE just about anything Paula and Sons make - and have been to the restaurant as well. Best iced tea I’ve ever had!
Margaret of Chesapeake, VA on May 26, 2010 11:42 AM
Bobby, thank you so much for lighter recipes. My whole family is trying to drop some weight and I had a gastric sleeve surgery and cannot eat some of the wonderful recipes your mama came up with (very sad). I would love to host your family to my lighter Mexican food (no lard ever). If you are ever in the southwest contact me and your family and my family will eat together, I hope! Give mama a kiss from this mama.
Patty Welsh of Tucson, AZ on May 25, 2010 03:52 PM
I have tried almost every flavor cake mix for this and eac time it was a hit, now that I have your version of it, I will definitely have to try it. No offense Paula, I still love you
Kris Fredlaw of Hamden,Ct on May 25, 2010 03:45 PM
my family and I simply adore paula’s recipes! Actually all of the dean family recipes. can’t wait to try this light gooey butter cake… so tell me…is ther a light version to her cheesy mac??
Debbie Davis of Las Vegas, NV on May 25, 2010 03:06 PM
Uh-oh, move over, Mom! I love my gooey butter cake, but I will try your recipe, Bobby. And I think you should get started on your lightened-up cookbook and magazine!! Thank you. A great combination of your mom’s great recipes and health.
Carol O'Brocki of Glen Burnie, Maryland on May 25, 2010 02:34 PM
Where in the world do you find Greek Yogurt? Is there anything can be substituted if we can’t find Greek yogurt??
Thank you.
Mary A. G. of Belvidere, Illinois on May 10, 2010 12:00 PM
This whole idea is a dream come true! I am printing out recipes right now and cannot wait to try them! Bobby, you rock!
Eileen of Greer, SC on April 29, 2010 01:46 PM
Hi I love that you are lightening up your Mama’s wonderful recipes.. Just wondering if you can use a sugar substitute in this recipe.. Love the gooey butter cake but am pre diabetic and trying to really watch carbs.
Also how do you make it with Pumpkin and other flavors?
Thank you so much,
Julie
Julia Graff of Florida City, Fl on March 20, 2010 08:50 PM
Thank you so much for the “Lighten Up” recipes!! I also appreciate the nutrional information. It makes following my Weight Watchers a lot easier with some great food. The recipes also help me figure out how to lighten my own recipes. Thanks so much!
Rebecca of Richmond Hill, GA on March 04, 2010 03:04 PM
Thank so much Bobby for your “Lightening Up” I am a Diabetic and am so thankful for your version of your mama’s fabulous family receipes. Your mama is an inspiration to all. You and your whole family are the best, keep your versions coming. Thank you!
Barbara of Westfield, NJ on February 27, 2010 05:59 PM
Finally some of my favorite recipes with calorie counts! Thanks! Greatly appreciated! You made my weekend!
Glynis Maruk of Nashville, TN on February 25, 2010 01:56 PM
Made this cake last night and it was fabulous. We ate it when it was still slightly warm. My hubby could have eaten the whole dish. Thank you for a wonderful lighter version of Paula’s cake.
Jean Ealm of Washington, IL on February 04, 2010 05:51 PM
I am all for lightening up recipes…but messing with the gooey butter cake??? Blasphemy…lol…just kidding!
Denise on February 04, 2010 09:45 AM
Thanks for great ideas. At almost 70 yrs.old I can’t always eat Paula’s food-BUT oh how I love it, her and your whole family. You are all such blessings.
Margaret Wisler of Clearwater, Fl. on January 30, 2010 04:17 PM
HEy - Bobby - Thank you so much for “Lightening Up” my “Aunt” Paula’s recipies! I love her cookin’ but need to be healthier, and I can’t aiwt to tyr these out for mycself and my 4 boys!
Beth Ann of Quad Cities, Iowa on January 11, 2010 06:14 PM
I will definitely make this for Christmas.
Jane of Leesburg, FL on December 16, 2009 10:13 PM
I made a pumpkin version of your gooey butter cake and everyone loved it. Thanks so muck for the recipes.
Cindy Greene on December 12, 2009 11:20 PM
We made a Pumpkin version of this at Thanksgiving and it was a big hit. Thanks for making the recipes more health conscious.
Lyndsay of Charleston SC on December 05, 2009 04:07 PM
I made this cake and it was delicious. You would never know the difference except it is not as heavy and still has all the flavors of your Mom’s original receipe. Thanks so much
Kathleen Quinlan-Malmendier of Columbia, SC on November 16, 2009 03:19 PM
Think I’ll give your version a try. When I saw your mama’s on tv, bout died just watching. Couldn’t believe the amount of powdered sugar that went into that baby,Wowzers!
Tell your mama, I still love her. She’s the top banana!!
Lisa Bryant of Laramie, Wy on November 10, 2009 09:08 PM
paula do you ever wonder how many graves you have filled with all your butter and fried food recipes?
trisha of toccoa ga on November 09, 2009 06:15 PM
Finally, lighter recipes!!! I’ve eaten at the Lady and Sons and love your mother’s cooking show, but I’m so glad you’re onboard with healthier meals. Thanks! (by the way I met your brother Jamie while visiting Savannah)
Brenda Creason of Elizabethtown, Ky on November 08, 2009 01:35 PM
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Greek yogurt can be replaced with sour cream—it is very similar in taste and texture. Fage is my favorite brand of Greek yogurt.
karen of new york on June 25, 2010 07:47 PM