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Rich, soft, moist, and fluffy, this easy butter cake recipe is a classic dessert you'll want to make again and again. It's simple yet irresistibly delicious, so you can enjoy it on special occasions or on a lazy afternoon with a cup of tea.
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Traditional Butter Cake Recipe
Most people have had some form of butter cake in their lives. It can be that homemade treat from grandma’s, a slice from the local bakery, or even a boxed mix from the grocery store.
But making it homemade from scratch is a whole different experience. And this is probably the best butter cake recipe you’ll ever come across online! It has been tried, tested, and loved by thousands of readers worldwide with over 900 votes and an average rating of 4.5.
What Is The Difference Between Butter Cake And Pound Cake
Think of butter cake as a close cousin to pound cake. They have a rich, buttery flavor and dense texture, perfect for serving with a cup of coffee or tea.
Both use similar ingredients, including baking powder as a leavening agent and sometimes milk. The main difference between them is the ratio of the main ingredients.
Pound cake gets its name from the traditional recipe that calls for one pound each of butter, flour, and sugar. Butter cake, on the other hand, has more butter and sugar, giving it a richer flavor and fluffier texture than pound cake.
Read more about these two types of cake from Tasting Table.
Butter Cake Ingredients
- butter – I like to use unsalted butter to control the amount of salt.
- flour – you can use all-purpose flour if that’s what you have on hand. But you can also use cake flour, which has a lower protein content, for a lighter and more tender texture.
- sugar – granulated sugar is my go-to as it creams well with the butter. But you can also add brown sugar for a deep, caramel-like flavor.
- eggs – bring eggs to room temperature to ensure even mixing with butter and sugar.
- yogurt or milk – adds a lot of moisture that helps to make the cake tender. I like to use plain yogurt, but you can also use milk, buttermilk, or sour cream.
- baking powder – helps the cake rise, giving it a light, fluffy texture.
- vanilla extract – a must for adding flavor so use a good quality one. You can either use pure extract or vanilla bean paste for a more intense flavor.
Want something rich and chocolatey? Make a batch of my Marble Cake recipe.
See the recipe card for full information on ingredients.
Recipe Variations
- Fudgy and chocolatey. Make a Brownie Butter Cake by topping a rich, dense brownie bottom with a light, moist butter cake.
- Nutty. Mix ground walnuts into the batter and sprinkle some whole ones on top for a Walnut Butter Cake.
- Raisins. Load up your cake with sweet raisins with this Raisin Butter Cake recipe.
- Blueberry. Bake some Blueberry Butter Cake and enjoy a nice pop of color and flavor in every bite.
- Brandy-flavored with prunes. Bake a delicious Brandy Butter Cake with Prunes with a splash of brandy and some dried prunes.
How To Make Butter Cake
If you’re thinking of making a homemade cake, you can’t go wrong with this simple butter cake recipe. Perfect for novice bakers, everything from prep to baking is done in just an hour!
This traditional butter cake recipe gives you a soft, buttery cake that tastes wonderful even without frosting or glaze. So it’s perfect for those who prefer a cake with just the right amount of sweetness.
Here’s how you can make a super moist butter cake loaf at home:
Step 1. Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C). Lightly grease the pan with some butter. Mix the flour and the baking powder together and sieve. Add in the salt and mix well. Set aside.
Pro tip: You can either use an 8×8-inch (20×20-cm) loaf pan or a 9×9-inch (23×23-cm) square or round pan.
Step 2. Use an electronic hand mixer or stand mixer to beat the butter and sugar until well combined or pale yellow in color, about 3 minutes.
Step 3. Add in the first egg. Beat well after each addition of egg until creamy, about 1 to 2 minutes after adding each egg. Scrape down the sides for even mixing. Add in the vanilla extract and mix well. Fold in the flour and mix well. Add in the plain yogurt or whole milk.
Step 4. Pour the batter into the greased baking pan. Shake it lightly to distribute the cake batter evenly. Bake until golden brown and cooked, about 40 – 50 minutes. To prevent the top of the cake from over browning, cover the top of the baking pan with a sheet of aluminum foil once the cake top is set. Use a cake tester to test doneness.
Pro tip: If you don’t have a cake tester, you can use a toothpick or a skewer to check the doneness of your cake. If it comes out clean, your cake is ready!
Step 5. Remove it from the oven and let it cool on the wire rack for 5 minutes. Cut into pieces and serve warm.
Butter cake is best served warm or at room temperature. If you have leftovers, wrap them with aluminum foil or plastic wrap to keep them from drying out. You can also keep them in an airtight container.
To serve the leftovers, warm it up in the microwave for a few seconds. You can also heat the cake in a toaster oven.
Helpful Tips For Home Bakers
- Always bring your ingredients to room temperature, so they all blend smoothly and evenly. It helps achieve that soft, light, and fluffy texture we all want. And trust me, I’ve seen how much difference it makes!
- Use high-quality butter to achieve the best flavor and texture. I love using Challenge unsalted butter in the U.S. In Asia, I recommend the Anchor brand.
- For a smoother batter, use a hand mixer or stand mixer to cream the butter and sugar.
- Don’t forget to sift the dry ingredients (flour and baking powder) to prevent any lumps.
- Don’t overmix the batter after adding the flour so you don’t end up with a dense cake.
- I prefer yogurt over milk as it makes the cake extra soft and moist.
- To avoid over browning on the top of the cake, cover it with a sheet of aluminum foil halfway through baking. Make sure NOT TO COVER from the start (or when the batter goes into the oven) or it won’t rise properly.
- If you’re covering with foil, make sure it doesn’t touch the batter so you don’t ruin the smooth top once it’s fully baked.
Frequently Asked Questions
No, butter cake keeps well at room temperature for up to 3 days. Make sure to keep it in an airtight container to prevent it from drying out. DO NOT freeze the cake as it won’t retain its texture and flavor after thawing.
Yes, you can use sour cream as a substitute for yogurt in this recipe. It’s less tangy than yogurt, but it still has a lot of moisture and richness that makes the cake extra light and fluffy.
Yes, you can! Adding fresh berries like blueberries or raspberries to the batter will give your plain cake a burst of fruity flavor. You can also add dried fruits such as raisins and prunes.
This recipe has only 287 calories per slice.
What To Serve With Plain Butter Cake
I love having a slice of this moist butter cake with a cup of coffee or tea as a mid-day treat. And sometimes, I even have a little bite after dinner to satisfy my sweet tooth.
If you’re having an afternoon tea party, I recommend the following recipes.
I hope you enjoy this post as much as I do. If you try my recipe, please leave a comment and consider giving it a 5-star rating. For more easy and delicious recipes, explore my Recipe Index, and stay updated by subscribing to my newsletter and following me on Facebook, Pinterest, and Instagram for new updates.
Other Recipes You Might Like
Butter Cake (The Best!)
Ingredients
- 7 oz. (200g) cake flour , or all purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 2 sticks (225g) unsalted butter, room temperature
- 7 oz. (200g) sugar
- 4 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 4 tablespoons plain yogurt , preferred or full milk
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C). Lightly grease the pan with some butter. Mix the flour and the baking powder together and sieve. Add in the salt and mix well. Set aside.Pro tip: You can either use an 8×8-inch (20×20-cm) loaf pan or a 9×9-inch (23×23-cm) square or round pan.
- Use an electronic hand mixer or stand mixer to beat the butter and sugar until well combined or pale yellow in color, about 3 minutes.
- Add in the first egg. Beat well after each addition of egg until creamy, about 1 to 2 minutes after adding each egg. Scrape down the sides for even mixing. Add in the vanilla extract and mix well. Fold in the flour and mix well. Add in the plain yogurt or whole milk.
- Pour the batter into the greased baking pan. Shake it lightly to distribute the cake batter evenly. Bake until golden brown and cooked, about 40 – 50 minutes. To prevent the top of the cake from over browning, cover the top of the baking pan with a sheet of aluminum foil once the cake top is set. Use a cake tester to test doneness.Pro tip: If you don’t have a cake tester, you can use a toothpick or a skewer to check the doneness of your cake. If it comes out clean, your cake is ready!
- Remove it from the oven and let it cool on the wire rack for 5 minutes. Cut into pieces and serve warm.
Video
Notes
- Always bring your ingredients to room temperature, so they all blend smoothly and evenly. It helps achieve that soft, light, and fluffy texture we all want. And trust me, I’ve seen how much difference it makes!
- Use high-quality butter to achieve the best flavor and texture. I love using Challenge unsalted butter in the U.S. In Asia, I recommend the Anchor brand.
- For a smoother batter, use a hand mixer or stand mixer to cream the butter and sugar.
- Don’t forget to sift the dry ingredients (flour and baking powder) to prevent any lumps.
- Don’t overmix the batter after adding the flour so you don’t end up with a dense cake.
- I prefer yogurt over milk as it makes the cake extra soft and moist.
- To avoid over browning on the top of the cake, cover it with a sheet of aluminum foil halfway through baking. Make sure NOT TO COVER from the start (or when the batter goes into the oven) or it won’t rise properly.
- If you’re covering with foil, make sure it doesn’t touch the batter so you don’t ruin the smooth top once it’s fully baked.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Just tried this recipe today and the cake turned out perfect – moist and buttery! I halved the recipe, used a round 8″ pan and baked it for 25 mins at 190C. Thank you for the recipe! :)
Hi Mandy, awesome, so glad that you love my butter cake recipe. Please try more baking recipes on my site: https://rasamalaysia.com/recipes/baking-recipes/
Tried this recipe but dunno y my cake was half cooked n outside was as hard as a rock! ?
Hi Jules, sounds so strange. You must have done something wrong. What size of pan did you use?
Hi, Bee. I tried your recipe but the cake turnout dense at the bottom. I baked using bottom heat only at the lower rack of my oven with fan force at 170C for 60 minutes using a 8×8 square inch fan. Kindly advise on this. Thanks.
I don’t know what to say. I never had dense cake at the bottom. You should use all around heat to bake cake evenly.
Hi I just made this. The taste is nice we love it, and the cake texture came out good. But mine burnt at the bottom and on the sides. The top part is fine as I covered it with aluminium foil. I cook it as per instructed, 190 C for 50 minutes and check it constantly.
Also if I were to reduce the egg to 3, how will it affect the end product? Cos one of my family members said itโs โegg-yโ for a lack of a better word. Sorry Iโm such a noob at baking.
You can use 3 eggs but I am not sure about the result.
The best butter cake I have ever made. My family loved it too.
Awesome thanks for trying my butter cake. Please try more recipes on my site: https://rasamalaysia.com/recipe-index-gallery/
Can I use cake flour ?
I haven’t tried with cake flour, it might be too oily using cake flour.
OMG ~ canโt take how amazing this looks!! Drooling over here.
Excellent. I used self raising flour. The cake turn out to be very soft and the sweetness is just nice.
Yay so happy that you tried this butter cake.
Hi RM! For the baking time of the butter cake, you said that if it takes more than 40 minutes, we should cover the cake with aluminum foil. My oven tends to always require more time than called for in recipes. So I was wondering if I should put the aluminum foil on before baking or after 40 minutes.
Yes, you should. Actually as soon as the cake rises and puffs up and the top is set (and not runny), you can cover it with the foil. You don’t want to cover it before it’s fully risen or else it will stick to the foil. Good luck!
Totally awesome. My cake turned out great!!My kids love it so much. Thank you so much for the wonderful recipe.
Awesome, I am glad you love this butter cake.
Hi Bee
I baked this cake again as a gift. This time round, I added a tsp of orange extract n zest of 1 orange. I also used yoghurt instead of milk. The batter before sent into oven already smelled good n even more fragrant aft cake is baked. So I just wanted to share my joy with u, thanks!
Grace
Hi Grace, sounds so yummy. I love your butter cake idea. I will have to try the orange extract and zest. Thanks for telling me!!
Hi Bee
Try it, u wonโt regret!
My whole house smelled so good n all my family members gave big thumbs up just basing on the smell alone! ??
Grace
Thanks Grace for trying this butter cake.