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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.
“AMAZING and by far the best recipe found so far… Tested it twice and being a huge fan of ‘great butter cake,’ this thing was phenomenal… Follow the instructions exactly, this baker knows what they are doing!”
– Five Star Monkey
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.
Can I add colouring to the batter to make it a rainbow butter cake? If so, do I need to cut down on any of the ingredients?
You can try!
Can I use this recipe for a layered cake and can I bake it in advance freeze it
You can make it as a layered cake, but I do not recommend freezing it. You could wrap in aluminum foil and have in the fridge for up to 3 days.
Tried this recipe and it’s awesome! Cake turned out fluffy and really soft, I think the key is to use yoghurt. First time I’ve added yoghurt to batter mixes and it turns out good! It makes it dense but yet fluffy and soft. I used an entire block of butter (SCS unsalted, 227g), 198g of cake flour in relevance to the recipe. I did cut the sugar by about 30g though. Taste turn out just nice! Wished I could share the picture of the cake! Hubby loves it!
Awesome!?
Hello,
Can i use this recipe with a 9 inch round pan?
If i follow 250g butter is there anything i need to reduce?
Do i still bake it for 40mins with 9 inch round pan?
Thank you!
Christy
It would depend on if you were doubling the recipe or just the butter. You can bake in a 9 inch round pan, but cooking times will need to be adjusted. Start out lower and keep an eye on it.
Followed your instructions and the cake came out perfect.
??
Best butter cake ever
Hi can I ask why my cake turned out dense, tough & dry? I followed exactly to your recipe except I cut the sugar amount in half ie 100g of granulated sugar cuz I’m diabetic. Does granulated sugar make butter creaming process less fluffy & airy?
Yes!
I just made it using the yogurt suggestion. It looked thicker than I like for my purpose. I added a small amount of water to it. I wasn’t real impressed with the end results.
You shouldn’t have added water to the batter. Yogurt would have been fine.
What happens if you freeze this? I did a practice run and the cake was great. I was just about to make it again for my daughters and was planning to freeze it u til her birthday next week but panicking now that it says not to freeze. Thank you. I don’t have time to make it the day before
You can freeze it and how are you going to thaw? Thaw at room temperature? I don’t know I haver never tried so I can’t advice.
How many cups 7 oz flour and 7oz sugar
I would reduce the oven temp to 350 for more even baking.
Yes sure!
Well I just found this one looking for a good yellow cake mix for my pineapple upside down cake well I used this one instead I’ll let you know the outcome ?
Ok just got done with Christmas dinner my turkey was a hit the talk of the table how moist it was white meat tender and juicy ? then I brought out my freshly baked pineapple upside-down butter cake and ? OMG the family had a feeding frenzy.ill never use cake mix again.cake mix gets a little soggy on top witch in most cases is forgiven but this this butter cake flipped it over and wow there was nothing but firm but moist cake no soggyness at all this is my new mix there is so much you can do ty
Amazing!??
How much is 7 ounces of flour in cups? One
Two? How much in cups?
Please measure, cup is not precise for the best results.
Hi the ingredients put 2 (225g) butter, is it a total of 450g butter for this cake?
Hi Bee,
May i know if we were to use powdered sugar in the recipe, does the measurement change? or the measurement still requires 200gm ?
Just use the same amount.