Moist Kentucky Butter Cake Recipe: A Southern Sweet Delight

Rich, velvety butter cake with a Kentucky butter cake recipe that melts in your mouth promises pure indulgence.

Dessert lovers rejoice at this classic Southern treat that whispers comfort with every bite.

The magic begins with simple ingredients blending into a luxurious, tender crumb.

Warm vanilla notes dance through this moist cake, creating an irresistible aroma that fills the kitchen.

Each slice promises a buttery, decadent experience that feels like a sweet embrace.

Drizzled with a luscious butter sauce, this cake turns an ordinary moment into a celebration of flavor.

You’ll want to savor every single crumb of this incredible dessert.

Presenting Kentucky Butter Cake for Dessert

• Elevate Cake Presentation: Dust the cake with powdered sugar for a delicate, elegant finish that adds a touch of sweetness and visual appeal.
• Pair with Creamy Companions: Serve thick slices alongside vanilla bean ice cream or freshly whipped cream to complement the cake's rich buttery flavor.
• Create Breakfast Bliss: Toast a slice and spread a thin layer of strawberry preserves or drizzle honey for a delightful morning treat that transforms the dessert into a breakfast indulgence.
• Enhance with Fruit Accents: Garnish with fresh berries like raspberries or sliced strawberries to add a burst of color and tangy contrast to the cake's sweet profile.

Storage Pointers for Kentucky Butter Cake

• Store Smartly: Keep the Kentucky Butter Cake in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days, ensuring maximum freshness and soft texture.
• Refrigerate for Longevity: Extend the cake's life by storing it in the refrigerator for up to a week. Cover tightly with plastic wrap or place in a sealed container to prevent drying out.
• Freeze for Future Enjoyment: Wrap the cake tightly in plastic wrap, then aluminum foil. Freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before serving to maintain its delicate buttery goodness.
• Slice and Separate: When storing, place parchment paper between cake slices to prevent sticking and preserve the cake's delightful texture and appearance.

Quick Recipe Overview

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Cook Time: 70 minutes

Total Time: 1 hour 30 minutes

Calories: 400 kcal

Servings: 13

What’s in a Kentucky Butter Cake

• All-Purpose Flour: Provides sturdy structure and soft texture for classic Southern cake.
• Granulated Sugar: Delivers sweet flavor and helps create tender crumb.
• Butter: Ensures rich, velvety smoothness and deep buttery taste.
• Eggs: Binds ingredients and adds richness and volume to the cake.
• Buttermilk: Creates tender crumb and adds subtle tangy flavor.
• Vanilla Extract: Enhances overall flavor with warm, aromatic notes.
• Baking Powder: Helps cake rise and develop light, airy texture.
• Baking Soda: Assists with browning and helps neutralize buttermilk's acidity.
• Salt: Balances sweetness and amplifies other flavor profiles.

• Butter: Creates silky, decadent coating with rich, luxurious finish.
• Granulated Sugar: Provides sweet, glossy consistency to glaze.
• Water: Helps dissolve sugar and create smooth glaze texture.
• Vanilla Extract: Adds depth and warmth to glaze's flavor profile.

• Bundt Pan: Provides distinctive ring shape and even baking surface.

Tools for Baking Kentucky Butter Cake Easily

• Bundt pan: Large, fluted cake pan essential for the signature shape.
• Large mixing bowl: Perfect for creaming butter and sugar, mixing batter.
• Electric mixer: Helps cream butter, sugar, and mix ingredients smoothly.
• Sifter: Ensures dry ingredients are lump-free and evenly distributed.
• Spatula: Great for smoothing batter and scraping bowl edges.
• Saucepan: Needed for preparing the delicious butter glaze.
• Skewer or fork: Used to poke holes in warm cake for glaze absorption.
• Wire rack: Helps cake cool evenly after baking.
• Measuring cups and spoons: Precise ingredient measurements are key.
• Toothpick: Checks cake doneness by testing center.

Steps for a Moist & Buttery Kentucky Cake

• Oven Warmup

Set the oven temperature to a cozy 325°F. Generously coat a bundt pan with butter and flour to prevent sticking.

• Silky Batter Base

Whip softened butter and sugar until they transform into a fluffy cloud-like mixture. Gently fold in eggs one by one, creating a smooth, creamy texture.

• Ingredient Symphony

Softly combine dry ingredients in a separate bowl. Slowly merge the flour mixture with the butter blend, alternating with buttermilk to create a luxurious batter.

• Cake Transformation

Pour the velvety batter into the prepared bundt pan, ensuring an even surface. Let the magic happen in the oven for about an hour until a golden perfection emerges.

• Magical Butter Drench

While the cake is still warm, craft a dreamy butter glaze by simmering butter, sugar, water, and vanilla. Poke delicate holes across the cake’s surface and lovingly pour the warm glaze, allowing it to seep deeply into every delectable crevice.

• Serving Delight

Let the cake rest and cool completely. Slice into heavenly portions and savor the Southern comfort of this mouthwatering Kentucky treasure.

Butter Cake Tips & Add-Ins

• Swap buttermilk with sour cream or Greek yogurt for a denser, richer cake crumb that melts in your mouth.
• Enhance the cake's depth by adding a teaspoon of almond extract or a sprinkle of nutmeg alongside the vanilla for complex, unexpected taste notes.
• Wrap the completely cooled cake tightly in plastic wrap or store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days, maintaining its incredible moisture and softness.
• Transform the classic recipe by folding in toasted pecans, dried blueberries, or mini chocolate chips into the batter for delightful textural surprises and added flavor dimensions.
• Dust the finished cake with powdered sugar, drizzle with additional glaze, or top with fresh berries to elevate its visual appeal and create a stunning dessert centerpiece that will impress family and friends.

Sinful Kentucky Butter Cake Recipe

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4.8 from 20 reviews

• Total Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
• Yield: 13 1x

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Description

Rich Kentucky butter cake emerges as a classic Southern dessert that delights with its moist, buttery texture. Glazed with a sweet butter sauce, this cake promises a memorable slice of comfort for anyone craving a traditional treat.

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Ingredients

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• 1 cup (227 grams) unsalted butter, softened
• 2 cups (400 grams) granulated sugar
• 4 large eggs
• 1 cup (240 ml) buttermilk
• 3 cups (375 grams) all-purpose flour
• 1 tsp baking powder
• ½ tsp baking soda
• ½ tsp salt
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• ½ cup (113 grams) unsalted butter
• ¼ cup (50 grams) granulated sugar
• ¼ cup (60 ml) water
• 2 tsps vanilla extract

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Instructions

1. Preparation Setup: Position oven rack centrally and preheat to 325°F. Meticulously grease and flour a 10-inch bundt pan, ensuring comprehensive coverage to prevent sticking.
2. Dry Ingredient Composition: Sift flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt together, creating a homogeneous dry mixture that will contribute to the cake’s delicate crumb.
3. Butter-Sugar Transformation: Cream butter and sugar using an electric mixer until the mixture becomes luminous, pale, and dramatically voluminous, forming the cake’s foundational flavor base.
4. Egg and Flavor Integration: Methodically incorporate eggs one at a time, thoroughly blending after each addition. Introduce vanilla extract, creating a smooth, rich emulsion that promises depth of flavor.
5. Batter Assembly: Gently fold dry ingredients into butter mixture, alternating with buttermilk. Mix cautiously to maintain the batter’s delicate structure, stopping just as ingredients become harmoniously combined.
6. Baking Process: Pour batter into prepared bundt pan, using a silicone spatula to distribute evenly. Bake for 60-70 minutes, rotating midway to ensure uniform golden-brown coloration. Confirm doneness with a clean skewer test.
7. Glaze Creation and Application: Craft butter glaze by simmering butter, sugar, water, and vanilla for 5 minutes. While cake remains warm, perforate multiple holes and gradually pour glaze, allowing it to penetrate deeply and infuse rich, buttery moisture.
8. Cooling and Presentation: Allow cake to rest in pan for 15 minutes, then carefully invert onto a wire rack. Let cool completely before serving this quintessential Southern confection, revealing its tender, succulent interior.

Notes

• Master Pan Preparation: Meticulously coat bundt pan with butter and flour to ensure cake releases perfectly without sticking or breaking.
• Temperature Precision: Maintain exact 325°F oven temperature for even baking and achieving golden, tender cake texture.
• Mixing Technique Matters: Cream butter and sugar until pale and fluffy, incorporating eggs individually to create smooth, stable batter structure.
• Glaze Absorption Trick: Puncture warm cake with multiple holes, allowing butter glaze to penetrate deeply for maximum moisture and flavor infusion.

• Prep Time: 20 minutes
• Cook Time: 70 minutes
• Category: Desserts
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 13
• Calories: 400
• Sugar: 36 g
• Sodium: 180 mg
• Fat: 22 g
• Saturated Fat: 14 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 6 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 47 g
• Fiber: 0 g
• Protein: 4 g
• Cholesterol: 100 mg