The Kentucky Butter Cake Recipe is an absolute classic that brings buttery, tender, and moist perfection right to your table. This Southern-inspired dessert is famous for its rich texture and that irresistibly sweet butter glaze that soaks in, creating a dreamy finish you simply cannot resist. Whether you’re baking for a special occasion or just craving a slice of comforting homemade cake, this recipe is a must-try. The balance of simple ingredients resulting in such a decadent treat is exactly why the Kentucky Butter Cake Recipe remains a beloved favorite for generations.
Ingredients You’ll Need
Every ingredient in this Kentucky Butter Cake Recipe plays a crucial role in building its rich flavor, dense texture, and golden color. While the list looks straightforward, the quality and combination of these essentials come together to create something truly spectacular.
- 1 cup butter, softened: Provides the rich, creamy base and moisture crucial for that tender crumb.
- 2 cups sugar: Sweetens the cake perfectly and helps create the caramelized glaze later.
- 4 large eggs (room temperature): Adds structure and richness while contributing to the cake’s delicate rise.
- 2 tsp vanilla extract: Infuses warm, aromatic flavor complementing the buttery goodness.
- 3 cups all-purpose flour: Forms the sturdy base of the cake’s texture without being too heavy.
- 1 tsp baking powder: Provides lift, ensuring the cake is light yet dense — just right.
- ½ tsp baking soda: Works with the acidic buttermilk to help the cake rise and adds slight tanginess.
- ½ tsp salt: Balances sweetness and enhances all the other flavors.
- 1 cup buttermilk: Adds moisture and a subtle tang, balancing the cake’s buttery sweetness.
- 1 cup sugar (for sauce): Creates the luscious, sticky glaze that soaks into the cake.
- ½ cup butter, cubed (for sauce): Melts into the sauce adding decadence and shine.
- ¼ cup water (for sauce): Helps dissolve sugar and thin the glaze perfectly.
- 1½ tsp almond extract: Adds a lovely nutty depth to the sauce, layering flavor beautifully.
- 1½ tsp vanilla extract (for sauce): Enhances sweetness and rounds out the glaze’s aroma.
How to Make Kentucky Butter Cake Recipe
Step 1: Preparing and Baking the Cake
Start by preheating your oven to 350°F (175°C) and greasing a 10-inch tube pan, then lightly flouring it to prevent sticking. Cream together the softened butter and sugar in a large bowl until the mixture is light and fluffy—this is key to a tender cake. Add the eggs one at a time, making sure to beat well after each addition, so everything folds in smoothly. Mix in the vanilla extract for that aromatic lift. In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Gradually incorporate these dry ingredients into the butter mixture, alternately adding buttermilk to keep the batter moist and smooth. Pour your batter evenly into the prepared pan and bake for 55 to 70 minutes. You’ll know it’s done when a toothpick inserted into the center emerges clean. Once baked, let the cake cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then carefully run a knife along the edges and center before turning it out onto a wire rack.
Step 2: Making the Signature Butter Sauce
While the cake rests, it’s time to make the heavenly sauce that sets this cake apart. In a saucepan, gently combine the sugar, cubed butter, and water. Heat slowly until the butter melts completely and the sugar dissolves into a glossy liquid. Remove the pan from heat and stir in the almond and vanilla extracts, giving the sauce its signature fragrant and nutty character. This sauce is what soaks into the warm cake, creating that irresistible sticky texture and extra indulgence.
Step 3: Infusing the Cake with Sauce
Using a fork or skewer, poke holes all over the warm cake’s top. Spoon about a quarter cup of the sauce over the surface, allowing it to seep deeply into those little holes. Repeat this process two more times to ensure the cake absorbs every bit of that luscious glaze. The cake will become incredibly moist and even more flavorful with each application.
Step 4: Final Touches
Finally, poke holes into the sides of the cake and brush the remaining buttery sauce around the outside. This step adds an extra layer of shine and flavor. Let the entire cake cool completely before slicing so the sauce sets beautifully, giving you those rich, gooey slices that make this cake unforgettable.
How to Serve Kentucky Butter Cake Recipe
Garnishes
While the Kentucky Butter Cake Recipe is decadently delicious on its own, adding a garnish can elevate the experience. Dust a light sprinkle of powdered sugar over the top for a delicate wintery touch or garnish with slivered toasted almonds to complement the almond extract in the glaze. Fresh berries or a dollop of whipped cream can add a fresh contrast to the sweetness and richness.
Side Dishes
This cake pairs wonderfully with a simple scoop of vanilla ice cream or even a mellow crème fraîche to balance the sweetness. For an afternoon treat, pair each slice with a cup of strong coffee or black tea; the bitterness cuts through the buttery richness and rounds out every bite perfectly.
Creative Ways to Present
To impress guests, try serving the Kentucky Butter Cake Recipe as a layered dessert by slicing it horizontally and filling with fresh fruit preserves or pastry cream before reassembling. You can also plate it with a drizzle of caramel or a sprinkle of chopped pecans for added crunch and visual appeal. Mini portions served in ramekins topped with sauce and berries offer a charming, personal-sized dessert option.
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
Leftover Kentucky Butter Cake is best stored at room temperature, covered tightly with plastic wrap or kept in an airtight container to maintain its moisture and freshness. It will stay soft and delicious for up to three days, perfect if you want to savor a slice later.
Freezing
If you want to keep the cake longer, wrap individual slices or the whole cake tightly in plastic wrap and then place it inside a freezer-safe bag or container. Kentucky Butter Cake freezes well for up to three months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before serving for best results.
Reheating
To bring back that fresh-baked warmth, gently reheat slices in the microwave for about 15 to 20 seconds or warm in the oven at 300°F (150°C) for 10 minutes wrapped in foil. This helps the buttery glaze soften and the cake regain its tender, moist texture just like it was freshly made.
FAQs
Can I use regular milk instead of buttermilk?
Regular milk can replace buttermilk in a pinch, but adding 1 tablespoon of lemon juice or vinegar per cup of milk helps mimic buttermilk’s acidity, which is crucial for the cake’s tender crumb and rise.
What makes this Kentucky Butter Cake so moist?
The secret lies in the combination of buttermilk in the batter and the buttery sugar sauce that seeps into the cake while it’s still warm, resulting in deep, rich moisture throughout every slice.
Can I make this cake without an almond extract?
Absolutely. While the almond extract adds a lovely nutty flavor to the sauce, you can omit it or substitute with an equal amount of vanilla extract if preferred. The cake will still be deliciously rich.
Is this cake suitable for a tube pan only?
A tube pan helps the cake bake evenly and creates its signature shape, but if you don’t have one, a bundt pan or even a regular round pan will work. Just adjust baking time and test for doneness carefully.
How long does the sauce take to absorb into the cake?
When you spoon the sauce over the warm cake in intervals, it absorbs almost immediately, but letting the cake rest for at least an hour helps the flavors meld and the glaze set perfectly before serving.
Final Thoughts
If you’ve never experienced the buttery bliss of the Kentucky Butter Cake Recipe, now is the perfect time to dive in. Its combination of simple ingredients and straightforward steps brings out a cake so moist, flavorful, and irresistibly decadent, you’ll find yourself reaching for seconds without hesitation. Baking this is not just about making dessert—it’s about creating a moment of pure Southern comfort and joy to share with the people you love.
Print
Kentucky Butter Cake Recipe
- Prep Time: 25 minutes
- Cook Time: 55-70 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 20 minutes to 1 hour 35 minutes
- Yield: 12 rich slices
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Southern American
Description
Kentucky Butter Cake is a rich, moist, and buttery dessert featuring a tender yellow cake soaked in a luscious buttery syrup flavored with vanilla and almond extracts. This Southern classic is perfect for gatherings and serves 12 generous slices of decadence.
Ingredients
Cake:
- 1 cup butter, softened
- 2 cups sugar
- 4 large eggs (room temperature)
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp baking powder
- ½ tsp baking soda
- ½ tsp salt
- 1 cup buttermilk
Sauce:
- 1 cup sugar
- ½ cup butter, cubed
- ¼ cup water
- 1½ tsp almond extract
- 1½ tsp vanilla extract
Instructions
- Prepare and bake the cake: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour a 10-inch tube pan to prevent sticking. In a large bowl, cream together 1 cup of softened butter and 2 cups of sugar until the mixture is light and fluffy. Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition to ensure incorporation. Stir in 2 teaspoons of vanilla extract for flavor. In a separate bowl, whisk together 3 cups of all-purpose flour, 1 teaspoon of baking powder, ½ teaspoon baking soda, and ½ teaspoon salt. Gradually alternate adding these dry ingredients and 1 cup of buttermilk into the creamed mixture, mixing well after each addition to create a smooth batter. Pour this batter into the prepared pan and bake for 55 to 70 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Allow the cake to cool in the pan for 10 minutes before running a knife around the edges and center to loosen. Invert the cake onto a wire rack to cool further.
- Make the sauce: While the cake is baking or cooling, combine 1 cup sugar, ½ cup cubed butter, and ¼ cup water in a saucepan. Heat gently over medium heat, stirring until the butter has melted and the sugar has dissolved fully. Remove the saucepan from heat and stir in 1½ teaspoons almond extract and 1½ teaspoons vanilla extract to infuse the sauce with aromatic flavors.
- Apply the sauce to the cake: While the cake is still warm, poke holes all over the top using a skewer or the back of a spoon to help the sauce absorb deeply. Spoon ¼ cup of the prepared sauce over the top of the cake and let it soak in. Repeat this process two additional times so a total of ¾ cup sauce is absorbed into the cake.
- Finish and serve: Poke holes into the sides of the cake as well, and use a pastry brush to apply the remaining sauce evenly around the edges. Allow the cake to cool completely so the sauce sets and the flavors meld beautifully. Serve each slice generously to enjoy the moist and flavorful Kentucky Butter Cake at its best.
Notes
- For best results, use room temperature eggs to help create a light and fluffy batter.
- If you don’t have buttermilk, you can make a substitute by adding 1 tablespoon of lemon juice or white vinegar to 1 cup of milk and letting it sit for 5 minutes.
- Ensure the cake is warm when adding the butter sauce to allow maximum absorption.
- Use a fine skewer or fork to poke holes evenly to avoid breaking the cake.
- Store leftover cake tightly covered at room temperature for up to 3 days or refrigerate for up to 5 days.
