• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Chef Dennis
  • Recipe Index
  • On the Road
  • About
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Recipe Index
  • About
  • Contact
    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • Recipe Index
    • About
    • Contact
    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
  • ×
    Home » Recipes » Cake Recipes

    Kentucky Butter Cake

    Published: May 22, 2023 by Chef Dennis Littley

    928 shares
    • Facebook310
    • Email
    5 from 68 votes
    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe
    Pinterest image for Kentucky butter cake.

    Kentucky Butter Cake is a classic dessert that has been enjoyed by generations of Southerners. This rich, buttery cake is made with simple ingredients but packs a delicious punch. It’s perfect for special occasions, potlucks, or simply as a treat to enjoy at home.

    Kentucky butter cake sliced showing inside of cake.

    After one bite of this old-fashioned vanilla butter cake, you’ll understand how it won the 1963 winner of Pillsbury Bake-Off Contest. Of course, it didn’t have anything to do with the fact that this Kentucky butter cake was drenched in a butter-rum sauce.

    Kentucky butter cake sliced showing inside of cake.

    With my step-by-step images and easy-to-follow instructions, I know you’ll agree that my Kentucky Butter Cake recipe is the best on the internet!

    If you love buttery cakes, make sure to try my Pineapple Butter Cake.

    Table of Contents:

    • Ingredients to make Kentucky Butter Cake
    • How to make Kentucky Butter Cake
    • How to make Butter Rum Syrup
    • Recipe FAQ’s
    • More Recipes You’ll Love!
    • Kentucky Butter Cake
      • Equipment
      • Ingredients
        • Cake
        • Butter Rum Syrup
      • Instructions
        • Cake
        • Butter Rum Syrup
      • Nutrition

    Ingredients to make Kentucky Butter Cake

    ingredients to make recipe.

    Let’s start by gathering the ingredients we need to make Kentucky Butter Cake. In Chef Speak, this is called the “Mise en Place,” which translates to “Everything in its Place.”

    Not only does setting up your ingredients ahead of time speed up the cooking process, it also helps ensure you have everything you need to make the dish.

    Chef's Choice
    Nordic Ware Pro Bundt Pan
    Nordic Ware Pro Bundt Pan
    $25.97

    You're going to love this 12-cup bundt pan. Properly taken care of it will last a lifetime.

    Buy On Amazon
    This post includes affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
    09/24/2023 03:23 am GMT
    Chef's Choice
    11-inch Heat Resistant Silicone Spatulas (4-piece)
    11-inch Heat Resistant Silicone Spatulas (4-piece)
    $14.99

    These are the spatulas I use in my kitchen. They are durable, heat resistant and easy to keep clean.

    Buy On Amazon
    This post includes affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
    09/24/2023 09:08 pm GMT
    Chef's Choice
    Measuring Cups & Spoons Set
    Measuring Cups & Spoons Set
    $22.99

    Perfect for measuring all of the ingredients for your baking and cooking recipes.

    Buy On Amazon
    This post includes affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
    09/24/2023 10:53 pm GMT
    Chef's Choice
    6 Piece Stainless Steel Mixing Bowls
    6 Piece Stainless Steel Mixing Bowls
    $19.99

    This is a great set of bowls for all your baking and cooking needs.

    Buy On Amazon
    This post includes affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
    09/24/2023 11:03 pm GMT

    How to make Kentucky Butter Cake

    • Preheat the oven to 325 F and place the oven rack in the center of the oven.
    • Grease and flour a bundt pan. Set aside until needed.
    collage of images showing how to make recipe.
    • Add the all-purpose flour, granulated sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt to the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment (or an electric hand mixer with a large bowl).
    • Add the buttermilk, eggs, and vanilla to a large bowl and mix together until well combined.
    • Add the butter and half of the buttermilk mixture to the dry ingredients.
    • Mix on low speed for one minute, just enough to mix the ingredients together. Scrape down the sides and bottom of the bowl as needed.
    • Turn the mixer on low and slowly add the rest of the buttermilk mixture. Scrape down the bottom and sides of the bowl as needed.
    • Increase the mixer speed to medium and continue whipping the mixture for 3 minutes. The finished batter will be creamy and pale. Scrape down the sides and bottom of the bowl as needed.

    How to make Butter Rum Syrup

    collage showing how to make butter rum syrup.
    • Add the butter, granulated sugar, water, vanilla, and rum (or rum extract) to a small saucepan over medium-high heat.
    • Bring the mixture to a light boil, then reduce the heat to low and simmer until the sugar is dissolved (1-2 minutes).

    *I prefer dark rum to make this glaze, but white rum will work. You can use spiced rum, but it will change the flavor.

    collage of images showing how to finish making recipe.
    • Pour the batter into the prepared pan. Tap the pan on the counter to release any air bubbles. Place the cake pan on the center rack of the preheated oven and bake for 55-65 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center of the cake comes out clean.
    • Remove the cake from the oven and place it on a cooling rack (still in the pan) to cool for 10 minutes.
    • After ten minutes, use a wooden skewer to poke holes in the bottom of the cake. Go about three-quarters of the way down with the skewer.
    • Continue until you have made 35- 40 holes.
    • Spoon the sweet buttery sauce over the bottom of the cake so that it seeps down into the holes you poked in the cake. If the syrup is pooling on the surface, poke more holes in the cake so that it absorbs the syrup.
    • Let the Kentucky butter cake cool for about 30 minutes. *Reserve about one-third of a cup of the butter syrup to brush the outside of the cake.
    whole Kentucky butter cake.
    • Place a serving plate over the cake pan to invert cake, then remove the pan.
    • Brush the outside of the cake with the reserved butter rum syrup and any syrup that oozes out onto the serving plate.
    slice of Kentucky butter cake on white plate.

    This old-fashioned Kentucky Butter Cake is best enjoyed with a cup of coffee or tea. Its rich, buttery flavor and moist texture make it a crowd-pleaser that everyone will love. Give this recipe a try and see for yourself why it has been a Southern favorite for generations!

    Recipe FAQ’s

    What is the difference between butter cakes and pound cakes?

    Butter cakes (aka creamed cakes) have a lighter texture and greater volume than pound cakes. Pound cakes are denser and were called pound cakes because, traditionally, they were made with one pound each of butter, sugar, eggs, and flour.

    How do I make a moist butter cake?

    To make Kentucky Butter Cake that is moist, it’s important to use the right amount of ingredients and not overmix the batter. Also, adding buttermilk to the batter helps to keep the cake moist. Finally, pouring the glaze over the warm cake helps to seal in moisture and adds extra flavor.

    Do I have to make Kentucky butter cake in a bundt pan?

    No, you can make Kentucky Butter Cake in different pans. You can use a 9×13-inch baking pan or two 9-inch round cake pans. However, you will need to adjust the baking time accordingly.

    More Recipes You’ll Love!

    • Sliced whole lemon bundt cake showing inside of cake.
      Lemon Bundt Cake
    • lemon pound cake sliced on a white platter with glaze
      Lemon Pound Cake (Starbucks Copycat Recipe)
    • slice of buttery apple cake topped with whipped cream on a white plate
      Buttery Apple Cake Recipe
    • Slice of ricotta lemon cake on a spatula being taken out of whole cake.
      Italian Lemon Ricotta Cake

    Did you make this? Please RATE THE RECIPE below!

    Please SUBSCRIBE and FOLLOW ME on FACEBOOK, TWITTER, INSTAGRAM and PINTEREST!

    slice of Kentucky butter cake on white plate.
    Print Recipe Save Saved!
    5 from 68 votes

    Kentucky Butter Cake

    Kentucky Butter Cake is a classic dessert that has been enjoyed by generations of Southerners. This rich, buttery cake is made with simple ingredients but packs a delicious punch.
    Prep Time20 minutes mins
    Cook Time1 hour hr
    Total Time1 hour hr 20 minutes mins
    Course: Dessert
    Cuisine: American
    Servings: 16
    Calories: 417kcal

    Equipment

    • 10-inch (12 cup) bundt pan

    Ingredients

    Cake

    • 1 cup buttermilk room temperature
    • 5 large eggs room temperature
    • 2 teaspoon vanilla extract
    • 3 cups all-purpose flour spooned and leveled
    • 1 teaspoon baking powder
    • ½ teaspoon baking soda
    • ½ teaspoon salt
    • 16 tablespoon unsalted butter -room temperature (2 sticks)
    • 2 cups granulated sugar

    Butter Rum Syrup

    • 8 tablespoon unsalted butter
    • 1 cups granulated sugar
    • ⅓ cup water
    • 2 teaspoon vanilla extract
    • 1 tablespoon rum or rum extract – optional
    US Customary – Metric
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Instructions

    Cake

    • Preheat the oven to 325 F and place the oven rack in the center of the oven.
    • Grease and flour a bundt pan. Set aside until needed.
    • Add the buttermilk, eggs, and vanilla to a large bowl and mix together until well combined. Set aside until needed.
    • Add the all-purpose flour, granulated sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt to the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment.
    • Add the butter and half of the buttermilk mixture to the dry ingredients and mix on low for one minute, just enough to mix the ingredients together.
      Scrape down the sides and bottom of the bowl as needed.
    • Turn the mixer on low and slowly add the rest of the buttermilk mixture.
      Scrape down the sides and bottom of the bowl as needed.
    • Increase the mixer speed to medium and continue whipping the mixture for 3 minutes. The finished batter will be creamy and pale.
      Scrape down the sides and bottom of the bowl as needed.
    • Pour the batter into the prepared bundt pan. Tap the pan on the counter to release any air bubbles.
    • Place the cake pan on the center rack of the preheated oven and bake for 55-65 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center of the cake comes out clean.
    • Remove the cake from the oven and place it on a wire rack (still in the pan) to cool for 10 minutes.
    • After ten minutes, use a wooden skewer to poke 35- 40 holes in the bottom of the cake.
      Go about three-quarters of the way down with the skewer.
    • Spoon the butter rum syrup over the bottom of the cake so that it seeps down into the holes you poked in the cake. If the syrup is pooling on the surface, poke more holes in the cake so that it absorbs the syrup. Let the cake fully cool for about 30 minutes.
      *Reserve about one-third of a cup of the butter syrup to brush the outside of the cake
    • Place a serving plate over the cake pan and invert the cake and remove the pan.
    • Brush the outside of the cake with the reserved butter rum syrup and any syrup that oozes out onto the serving plate.

    Butter Rum Syrup

    • Add the butter, granulated sugar, water, vanilla, and rum to a small saucepan over medium-high heat.
    • Bring the mixture to a light boil, then reduce the heat to low and simmer until the sugar is dissolved (1-2 minutes).

    Nutrition

    Calories: 417kcal | Carbohydrates: 56g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 19g | Saturated Fat: 12g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 5g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 105mg | Sodium: 149mg | Potassium: 99mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 38g | Vitamin A: 634IU | Calcium: 46mg | Iron: 1mg
    Tried this Recipe? Pin it for Later!Mention @askChefDennis or tag #askChefDennis!

    More Restaurant-Style Cakes

    • sliced vanilla wafer cake on a white platter.
      Vanilla Wafer Cake Recipe
    • Slice of sponge cake with strawberry coulis on a white plate.
      Easy Sponge Cake Recipe
    • slice of torta caprese being taken out of the whole cake.
      Torta Caprese {Italian Flourless Chocolate Cake}
    • slice of cinnamon roll cake being taken out of pan.
      Cinnamon Roll Cake

    About Chef Dennis

    Picture of Chef Dennis

    Chef Dennis Littley is a classically trained chef with over 40 years of experience working in the food service industry. In his second career as a food blogger he has made it his mission to demistify cooking by sharing his time-tested recipes, knowledge, and chef tips to help you create easy-to-make restaurant-quality meals in your home kitchen. Let Chef Dennis help you bring the joy of cooking into your home. For more details, check out his About page.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

      Leave a Comment Cancel reply

      Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

      Recipe Rating




      This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    1. Tom

      June 24, 2023 at 4:21 pm

      5 stars
      I made it as prescribed except I dialed down the sugar just a little. The cake is excellent, moist with great butter flavor. One change I would make is the glaze. I found the rum glaze to be light in flavor. And if this is a Kentucky butter cake I will make a fitting robust bourbon glaze instead of the rum glaze.

      Reply
    2. Wynetta

      June 13, 2023 at 5:17 pm

      5 stars
      Love this cake recipe can’t wait to prepare for my family. Thank you

      Reply
    3. Mindi D

      June 12, 2023 at 3:13 pm

      5 stars
      Incredibly moist, buttery and soft! Cannot get enough of this yummy cake!

      Reply
      • Shery Sullivan

        August 19, 2023 at 9:10 pm

        5 stars
        Can’t wait to make this. Hopefully it will look like yours.

        Reply
    4. Enriqueta E Lemoine

      June 11, 2023 at 10:47 pm

      5 stars
      What a delicious, moist, flavorful bundt cake, Ched. I can’t wait to bake it again.

      Reply
    5. LaKita

      June 11, 2023 at 7:33 pm

      5 stars
      I absolutely love a good butter cake and this one came out so sweet, buttery, and delicious!

      Reply
    6. Madelyn

      June 11, 2023 at 6:04 pm

      5 stars
      Delicious recipe! My family told me they’d love for me to make it again soon, and we don’t usually eat cake. It was wonderful.

      Reply
      • Debbie

        June 13, 2023 at 3:01 pm

        A few years ago, I ate a piece of Kentucky butter bourbon cake thst had glazed pecans all over the 9 × 13 pan in which it was baked. Do you think this recipe would work, changing up the bourbon for the rum and toasting the pecans before spreading them on top? I’ve looked for that recipe ever since I ate it and so far, this sounds closest. What say you?

        Reply
        • Chef Dennis Littley

          June 13, 2023 at 5:47 pm

          using bourbon wouldn’t be a problem and as long as the pecans go on after its baked that should be fine too. If you add them to the bottom of the pan before baking you may have issues getting it out of the pan.

      • E

        June 13, 2023 at 5:43 pm

        5 stars
        Takes me back to my childhood. I still have my mother’s Pillsbury recipe book. A family favourite.

        Reply
    7. Kristina

      June 11, 2023 at 6:03 pm

      5 stars
      This was an amazing flavorful cake. It may become a go to for desserts at parties because my family loved it.

      Reply
    8. Amy Liu Dong

      June 10, 2023 at 9:41 am

      5 stars
      Oh my gosh, this cake was so delicious and I love how easy it was to make. Thank you!

      Reply
    9. Jamie

      June 10, 2023 at 5:54 am

      5 stars
      This was such a great-looking cake, and it was absolutely delicious and very yummy! The texture and color make it so enticing and very appealing! Loved it!

      Reply
    10. Elena

      June 10, 2023 at 3:18 am

      5 stars
      I baked this cake yesterday for a dinner party. It was so rich and buttery, my guests couldn’t get enough. They loved it so much that they asked for the recipe.

      Reply
      • Pat Michelin

        June 13, 2023 at 1:40 pm

        5 stars
        Absolutely wonderful cake. Easier to make than I thought it would be. I needed the cake right away to serve dinner guests and didn’t have any Rum or Rum extract on hand so I used Bourbon instead because that was all I had. It got raves from everyone. I will be making this again and will make sure I have Rum on hand so that I may make it properly as written.

        Reply
    11. andrea

      June 08, 2023 at 10:36 pm

      5 stars
      this butter cake was something special! so rich, bold, and sweet with every bite!

      Reply
    12. Sharon

      June 08, 2023 at 9:28 pm

      5 stars
      I love this butter cake recipe I had all the ingredients and it was delicious!

      Reply
    13. Mikayla

      June 08, 2023 at 5:42 pm

      5 stars
      I saw this and thought of the whiskey cake I used to make. So we had to make it, oh my goodness it was so good!

      Reply
    14. Elizabeth

      June 08, 2023 at 9:32 am

      5 stars
      Everyone loved this cake, it’s going to be the perfect treat for summer barbecues! Thanks for the recipe!

      Reply
    15. nancy

      June 07, 2023 at 9:38 pm

      5 stars
      deliciously butter rich this cake is. It is so moist and I just want to eat it all myself

      Reply
    16. Oscar

      June 07, 2023 at 8:26 pm

      5 stars
      Loved how buttery and rich this cake was. Making it again next week to bring to a bbq, thanks for the recipe.

      Reply
    17. Lisa Henry

      June 06, 2023 at 12:24 am

      I’m baking this right now. Will let you know how it turns out.

      Reply
    18. Barbara

      May 29, 2023 at 4:45 pm

      Your Kentucky butter cake sounds delish!!
      Have to wait a bit but will be making it for sure. Cant wait to taste it!

      Reply

    Primary Sidebar

    Pinterest image for Kentucky butter cake.


    My name is Dennis Littley or “Chef Dennis” as I’m known both at work and across the blogosphere. As a classically trained chef with 40+ years of experience in the kitchen, I share my time-tested recipes, knowledge, and chef tips to help you create easy-to-make restaurant-quality meals in your home kitchen.

    More about me →

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube

    Fan Favorites

    • loaf of homemade artisan bread on a wooden cutting board
      Almost No-Knead Artisan Bread Recipe
    • 2 Maryland crab cakes on a white plate
      Jumbo Lump Maryland Crab Cakes
    • chicken parm with pasta on a white plate
      Chicken Parmesan Recipe
    • seasoned crispy chicken legs on a foil wrapped tray
      Best Baked Chicken Legs {Drumsticks}
    • side view of slice of bee sting cake being taken out of full cake
      German Bee Sting Cake (Bienenstich) Recipe
    • Tiramisu with a fork on a white plate
      Best Tiramisu Recipe {step by step}
    • overhead view of barbecued half racks of baby back ribs on a white platter
      Easy Oven Baked Baby Back Ribs
    • overhead view of veal parm and linguine on a white plate
      Restaurant Style Veal Parm Recipe

    Featured In

    Collage showing where Ask Chef Dennis has been featured.

    Popular Posts

    • crispy seasoned chicken leg quarters on a white platter
      Best Baked Chicken Leg Quarters
    • cropped-Gunniess-Beef-Stew-13.jpg
      Authentic Guinness Beef Stew Recipe
    • overhead shot of baked crab imperial on a white plate with sauteed greens and roasted potatoes
      Maryland Style Jumbo Lump Crab Imperial
    • close up of half a chicken salad sandwich on a white plate
      Best Chicken Salad – Deli Style
    • oysters rockefeller with a slice of lemon on a bed of rock salt on a white platter
      How to Make Restaurant Style Oysters Rockefeller
    • sliced dry rub roasted brisket with cilantro and tomatoes on on a white platter
      Easy Oven Baked Beef Brisket Recipe
    • rack of pork with end cut off
      Oven Roasted Rack of Pork {Pork Rib Roast}
    • sliced meatloaf with the rest of meatloaf on a white platter
      Classic Meatloaf Recipe with Zesty Glaze

    Footer

    Pinterest image for Kentucky butter cake.

    ↑ back to top

    INFO

    • Privacy Policy
    • Disclosure Policy
    • Cookie Policy
    • Accessibility Policy

    SUBSCRIBE

    Sign Up Today and start getting my easy-to-make restaurant-quality recipes!

    CONTACT

    • About
    • Contact
    © 2009-2023 · Ask Chef Dennis ·

    Proud Member of:
    Mediavine Publisher Network
    928 shares
    • 310