Kentucky Butter Cake

Ingredients

  • 3 cups all-purpose flour
  • 2 cups granulated sugar
  • 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
  • 1 cup buttermilk (or milk with 1 tbsp vinegar or lemon juice)
  • 4 large eggs
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon baking soda
  • ½ teaspoon salt

For the Butter Sauce:

  • ¾ cup granulated sugar
  • ⅓ cup unsalted butter
  • 3 tablespoons water
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Instructions

  1. Preheat Oven:
    Preheat your oven to 325°F (160°C). Grease and flour a Bundt pan very well.
  2. Make the Cake Batter:
    In a large mixing bowl, cream the softened butter and sugar together until light and fluffy.
    Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition.
    Mix in the vanilla extract.
  3. Combine Dry Ingredients:
    In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
  4. Combine Wet & Dry:
    Add the dry ingredients to the butter mixture alternately with buttermilk, beginning and ending with flour mixture. Mix until just combined.
  5. Bake:
    Pour the batter evenly into the prepared Bundt pan.
    Bake for 60–70 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
  6. Make the Butter Sauce:
    While the cake is baking, combine sugar, butter, and water in a small saucepan over medium heat.
    Stir until the butter melts and sugar dissolves. Do not boil.
    Remove from heat and stir in vanilla.
  7. Add the Sauce:
    When the cake is done, remove it from the oven but keep it in the pan.
    Use a skewer or toothpick to poke holes all over the cake. Slowly pour the warm butter sauce over the cake so it soaks in.
  8. Cool & Serve:
    Let the cake cool completely in the pan to soak up the sauce.
    Once cool, invert onto a serving plate. Dust with powdered sugar if you like!

Tip: This cake gets even better the next day when the butter sauce has fully soaked in!

If you’d like, I can help you tweak it for salted caramel or other flavor twists — just ask!

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