Description
Kentucky butter cake is a rich and indulgent Southern dessert soaked in a warm vanilla butter sauce, creating a moist and buttery cake perfect for any occasion, including the Kentucky Derby.
Ingredients
1 cup (226 g or 2 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature
2 cups (400 g) granulated sugar
4 large eggs, room temperature
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
3 cups (375 g) all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
½ teaspoon baking soda
½ teaspoon salt
1 cup (240 ml) buttermilk, room temperature
Confectioners’ sugar for dusting
For the butter sauce:
¾ cup (150 g) granulated sugar
⅓ cup unsalted butter
3 tablespoons water
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour a 12-cup bundt pan.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.
- Using a stand mixer or hand mixer, beat the butter and sugar on medium-high speed until smooth and creamy, about 2 minutes. Add the eggs one at a time, followed by the vanilla extract.
- Gradually add the flour mixture and buttermilk in alternating batches, beginning and ending with the dry ingredients. Mix until just combined.
- Pour the batter into the prepared bundt pan. Bake for 55-65 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the cake comes out clean.
- While the cake is baking, prepare the butter sauce. In a medium saucepan over medium heat, combine sugar, butter, water, and vanilla extract. Stir until the butter melts and the sugar dissolves.
- Once the cake is done, allow it to cool for 10-15 minutes before inverting it onto a wire rack. Poke holes into the cake using a skewer.
- While the cake is still warm, pour the butter sauce evenly over it, making sure the sauce soaks into the holes.
- Let the cake cool in the pan for 30 minutes before transferring it to a wire rack to cool completely.
- Dust with confectioners’ sugar before serving.
Notes
- For a different twist, try adding bourbon or rum to the butter sauce instead of water, or use salted caramel for a deeper flavor.
- You can also bake this cake in a 9×13-inch pan or two 8-inch round pans. Adjust the baking time to 30-35 minutes.
- Feel free to stir in chocolate chips, chopped nuts (pecans, walnuts), or fresh berries to the batter for added flavor and texture.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 55-65 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Southern
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 420
- Sugar: 45g
- Sodium: 230mg
- Fat: 23g
- Saturated Fat: 14g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 55g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 4g
- Cholesterol: 105mg
