Kentucky Butter Cake is a rich, buttery, and moist pound cake dessert topped with a rich and decadent buttery glaze.
What sets it apart from other cakes is the sweet butter glaze. The glaze, often flavored with a touch of vanilla extract, is poured over the warm cake, allowing it to ooze into the cake and create pockets of sweet, buttery goodness.
The Perfect Cake

It’s one of the best buttery cake recipes you can make from scratch.
The favorite dessert is perfect for everyday, special occasions, and holidays. It is made with simple ingredients and turns out decadent every time.
This is a traditional butter cake recipe that is easy and will be the perfect dessert addition to any party.
It’s such a simple recipe, and I am sure that you will have most, if not all, of the ingredients on hand.
But I promise I won’t tell if you make it at home and keep it for yourself because I know you’ll love this Kentucky Butter Cake.

This cake is one of the easiest recipes to make, too. I love to make pound cakes because everyone loves them (especially me), and they are always a hit. They are moist, dense, rich, and pretty much perfect.
Plus, you can use a butter glaze or any type of frosting, such as cream cheese.
What Do I Need To Make Kentucky Butter Cake?
Full printable recipe with measurements and instructions listed at the bottom of the post
- Butter (softened)
- Sugar
- Eggs
- Vanilla extract
- All-purpose flour
- Salt
- Baking soda
- Baking powder
- Buttermilk
- Water
Rich Butter Cake Recipe
- Add the softened butter, sugar, eggs, vanilla, flour, salt, baking soda, baking powder, and buttermilk to a large bowl and mix together.
- Pour into a greased and floured bundt pan.
- Bake for approximately one hour. Cool and poke holes in the cake.
- Add butter glaze ingredients (butter, sugar, water, and vanilla) to a saucepan and cook over medium heat until sugar dissolves.
- Pour the glaze over the cake and let it cool.
- Invert and sprinkle powdered sugar over the top and enjoy
How To Make Kentucky Butter Cake

Firstly, add the softened butter to the bowl.

Secondly, add the cream and sugar together.

Next, add the eggs and mix them in.

Fourthly, add the vanilla to the batter.

Pour the flour into the bowl and mix it in.

Add the salt and baking soda. Mix everything together.

Pour the baking powder into the bowl and mix it in.

Finally, pour in the buttermilk.
I gotta say, I think this is the best ingredient. It’s going to make the Kentucky Butter Cake so much more moist and rich.

Mix everything together until it is combined and free of lumps.
For this recipe, I used a stand mixer. But you can use a hand mixer, as well. Either one will work.

Grease and flour the pan.
I used a non-stick spray and then floured the pan. Be sure to do this step, or your cake will stick, and it won’t be pretty.
You can still eat it, but you’d have to grab a fork and just eat it out of the bundt pan, which is totally doable. (That’s never stopped me)!

Pour the cake batter into the bundt pan.
If you don’t want to spend a lot of money on a bundt pan, head down to the local second-hand store. I’ve seen quite a few for under a dollar! I got this one for only a few dollars.
You might find some other goodies while you’re down there, too.

Bake the cake for about an hour and let it cool.
Poke a few holes in the bottom of the cake with a knife so that when you drizzle the butter glaze sauce over it, it will run down into the crevices, creating a buttery flavor with each bite.
Butter Glaze

Add the butter to a saucepan and melt it on medium heat.

Next, add the sugar and mix the two ingredients together.

Add the water and vanilla and mix everything together again. Cook the sauce for a few minutes until the sugar dissolves, but don’t let it boil, or it will be overcooked.

Pour the sweet buttery sauce over the cake. It will run down the sides and into the knife holes. This might be the best part and most satisfying step of the entire recipe.
The cake smells amazing, and you know once it sets up, it’s going to be incredible.

Let the glaze cool. Once it cools, it will be crunchy. Invert the cake onto a cake plate and enjoy!

Look at the butter glaze on the side. Seriously, it’s so good. Oh, my goodness gracious.
Sprinkle a little powdered sugar on top, add a dollop of whipped topping, and you are in business.

Optional Additions To The Buttery Cake
You can add a few things to the cake after it bakes, such as some fresh fruit. Blueberries, strawberries, cherries, or even pineapple make a great addition. Cut it up into individual slices and serve it on the side with a little bit of whipped cream.
Add a little bit of vanilla ice cream on the side and drizzle with some more of the butter-sugar sauce.
Kentucky Butter Cake Recipe
Kentucky Butter Cake is a classic Southern treat that’s full of rich, buttery goodness. The moist and dense cake has a special butter glaze that adds a touch of sweetness and a hint of crunch.
Whether eaten by itself or paired with fruits, it’s a delicious dessert that’s always a hit. Simple, sweet, and satisfying – that’s Kentucky Butter Cake for you!
Be sure to print out the recipe and add it to your recipe box today!

Kentucky Butter Cake with a Butter Glaze
Kentucky Butter Cake with sweet butter sauce is a decadent and delicious. The old fashioned pound cake is super easy to make and so delicious.
Ingredients
Kentucky Butter Cake
- 1 cup butter (softened)
- 2 cups sugar
- 4 eggs
- 1 Tablespoon vanilla
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 cup buttermilk
Butter Glaze
- 1/3 cup butter
- 3/4 cup sugar
- 2 Tablespoons water
- 2 teaspoons vanilla
Instructions
Preheat oven to 325-degrees.
Grease and flour a bundt pan.
Kentucky Butter Cake
- Add the butter and sugar to a large bowl and mix together.
- Add the eggs, vanilla, and flour and mix.
- Add the salt, baking soda, and baking powder and mix together.
- Add the buttermilk to the batter and mix together.
- Pour into the greased and floured bundt pan.
- Bake for 60-70 minutes, or until cake tester comes out clean.
- Cool.
- Poke a few holes in the cake with a knife.
Butter Glaze
- Add the butter and sugar to a saucepan and mix together.
- Add the water and vanilla and mix.
- Cook on medium heat until the sugar is dissolved.
- Pour the glaze over the cake.
- Cool, invert the cake, and serve.
Notes
You can store the cake in an airtight container or cover it with some plastic wrap. The cake does not need to be refrigerated.
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Nutrition Information:
Yield: 20 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 305Total Fat: 13gSaturated Fat: 8gTrans Fat: 1gUnsaturated Fat: 4gCholesterol: 70mgSodium: 297mgCarbohydrates: 43gFiber: 1gSugar: 28gProtein: 4g
Nutrition is approximate.
Check out more delicious recipes at: Julia’s Simply Southern, South Your Mouth, and Miz Helen’s Country Cottage
Laura Allen
Sunday 24th of July 2022
When you use butter in your recipes, is it salted or unsalted?
Julie Pollitt
Monday 25th of July 2022
That's a great question. I usually use whatever is on sale. If there's a recipe that specifically needs salted or unsalted I will notate that. But, I am all about saving, so I use the least expensive. ;)
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