When a simple cake mix meets cream cheese and powdered sugar, magic happens in the form of the iconic Neiman Marcus Cake. Each square delivers a perfect contrast between the dense, buttery base and the silky-smooth topping that bakes into golden perfection.
Rating
4.66 stars (44 reviews)
Keywords
neiman marcus cake
Ingredients
1 15.25 oz box yellow or white cake mix
1/2 cup butter (melted)
2 large eggs
3-1/2 cup powdered sugar (plus more for serving)
8 ounces cream cheese (room temperature)
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Categories
Cakes
Cuisine
American
Steps
Preheat oven to 350°F. Spray a 9x13 cake pan with non-stick spray or line it with foil.
In a large mixing bowl, mix cake mix, melted butter, and eggs with a sturdy spoon until well blended. (It will be thick like a cookie dough.)
Use your fingers or a bench scraper to press dough into the prepared pan.
Make cream cheese topping: In a mixing bowl, beat cream cheese and two cups of powdered sugar on low speed until smooth. Add eggs and vanilla and beat on low speed until blended. Add remaining 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar and beat until blended. Pour over cake bottom and spread to the edges of the pan.
Bake for 35 to 40 minutes or until topping is set and golden brown and it’s pulling away from the sides of the pan. Cool completely in the pan.
To serve, cut into squares and sprinkle top with additional powdered sugar if desired.
Nutitrion
Serving Size: 1 g
Calories: 4266 kcal
Carbohydrates: 574 g
Protein: 54 g
Fat: 200 g
Saturated Fat: 117 g
Trans Fat: 5 g
Cholesterol: 1128 mg
Sodium: 5050 mg
Sugar: 385 g
Unsaturated Fat: 65 g
Reviews
Amelia Barrales on 2025-10-31 (5 stars): I just made this, it's in the oven baking. MY WHOLE HOUSE SMELLS DELICIOUS!! I CAN'T WAIT TO EAT THIS CAKE I'M GOING TO ADD RASPBERRY COMPOTE TO THE TOP
Tom Wilson on 2025-07-14 (5 stars): A very easy recipe to make. As a kid from the sixties I can tell you sugar is our go-to food group! This delicious dessert makes me look like I can bake! 😉
Brenda on 2025-05-23 (4 stars): Like others it was a tad too sweet for me. But acid cuts sweetness so I drizzled lemon juice over it and it was PERFECTION! Glad I finally tried the recipe.
Marie on 2025-02-26 (5 stars): We’ve been making this for decades and we’ve used all different box cake mixes. Lemon is my favorite, but we’ve used spice cake, chocolate, and cherry chip too.
Paula on 2025-02-13 (5 stars): I made the Neiman Marcus cake last night following the recipe. I scooped the powdered sugar into the cups and didn't pack down. It wasnt overly sweet for the people I served. Everyone loved the recipe. The squares were gone in less than 10 mins with several people coming back for more.
Roni OConnell on 2025-02-12 (4 stars): Flavor was great but the bottom layer was dry. I didn't over bake as the top needed to finish. I did cut the powdered sugar way down
Marianne on 2025-02-06 (5 stars): Husband couldn't stop raving about it
Jane on 2024-03-07 (5 stars): Sounds delicious! The ingredients are on my next shopping list.
Noni on 2023-12-10 (5 stars): Yummy cake! I reduced the sugar by 1/2 cup. I wondered if we could add the cream cheese to overcome the extra sweetness.
Glenda on 2023-12-05 (5 stars): A longtime favorite.
