This light and fluffy Butter Cake uses ordinary pantry staple ingredients to create a delightful, sweet snack cake! Enjoy it as is or top it with whipped cream and fresh juicy berries!

Close up of a square slice of fluffy butter cake.

Delicious Homemade Butter Cake

Butter Cake is a no-fuss, minimal ingredient cake that’s incredibly versatile! This buttery-sweet snack cake is baked with a sprinkle of granulated sugar, giving it the slightest crunch to enjoy with the light and fluffy cake texture!

As with any tasty recipe, there is one ingredient that takes this cake from an everyday treat to an unforgettable bakery-level experience: sour cream. The addition of sour cream gives this yummy cake added richness while also creating a tender, moist crumb.

This Butter Cake is great enjoyed as-is for a mid-week treat, yet it can also easily be a showstopping dessert at any celebration! Dust it with powdered sugar and add an edible flower for a fancy presentation, or chase the flavors of the season by topping it with fresh-picked berries!

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Rebecca’s Recipe Review

Taste: Lightly sweet and creamy buttery crumb flavor.

Texture: Super fluffy and light – a squishy and bouncy cake.

Ease: 4/10

Pros: Simple, flavorful, easy to dress up!

Cons: Waiting for the butter to reach room temperature… otherwise, I can think of none.

Would I Make This Again? Umm… yes, it’s a new favorite and perfect for anything!

Overhead photo of a square butter cake that has been sliced and some slices are topped with whipped cream and berries.

Ingredients For Butter Cake

Unsalted Butter – Using unsalted butter and then adding salt to the recipe separately allows for more flavor control over the cake.
Granulated Sugar – To sweeten the butter cake and then used for a topping, giving it a sweet crunchy coating!
Vanilla Bean Paste – Paste provides the cake with a richer flavor than vanilla extract.
Salt
Large Eggs – At room temperature.
All-Purpose Flour – Check out my tips on How To Measure Flour correctly to avoid accidentally adding too much to this butter cake recipe. Too much flour will cause the butter cake to become dry and dense when we’re aiming for a light and fluffy!
Baking Powder – To leaven the cake.
Sour Cream – Adds moisture to the cake while giving it a deliciously tender crumb. Along with the unsalted butter and eggs, the sour cream must also be at room temperature.

Ingredients to make butter cake on a table.

How To Make Light And Fluffy Butter Cake

Preheat the oven and line a metal cake pan with parchment paper.
Cream the unsalted butter with granulated sugar, vanilla bean paste, and salt using a stand mixer with a paddle attachment.
Mix in the eggs one at a time, mixing at high speed after each addition. Scrape down the sides and the bottom of the bowl.
Whisk all-purpose flour and baking powder together in a medium bowl. Add a third of the flour mixture to the mixing bowl and mix, followed by half of the sour cream, and mix again. Repeat these additions, ending with the last third of the flour.
Scrape down the sides and bottom of the bowl using a rubber spatula. Then fold the batter to make sure everything is evenly incorporated.
Transfer the cake batter to the prepared baking pan and sprinkle with a generous coating of granulated sugar.
Bake the cake in the preheated oven and then allow it to cool in the pan before lifting it out of the pan. Next, transfer the cake out of the pan and onto a wire rack to finish cooling completely.
Slice, serve, and enjoy!

Sugar being spooned over the top of cake batter.

Rebecca’s Tips

Remove the unsalted butter, sour cream, and eggs from the fridge a few hours before making this cake recipe to allow them to come to room temperature.
When lining the cake pan with parchment paper, be sure to allow excess paper to hang over the sides of the pan. This will enable you to remove the cake from the pan after baking easily.
Measure out the ingredients using a kitchen scale to achieve the best results.
The cake is finished baking once the top is crunchy and golden brown, with an internal temperature of 200 degrees F.

Overhead photo of sliced butter cake on a table.

How To Serve Butter Cake

Powdered Sugar – This cake is delicious as is, or you can simply sweeten it up with a sprinkle of powdered sugar!
Seasonal Berries – Butter Cake is the perfect treat to enjoy with seasonal berries and a heaping dollop of Homemade Whipped Cream! From fresh strawberries, raspberries, blackberries, to even blueberries!
Glaze – Drizzle a sweet vanilla glaze over the top of the cake or try a citrus glaze for an extra pop of flavor!
Frosting – For a more decadent dessert, you can finish the butter cake off with a thick layer of frosting! Try American Buttercream Frosting or even Strawberry Buttercream for a fruity flair!

A slice of butter cake on a white plate with a bite missing from it.

How To Store Butter Cake

Enjoying It Now: Once the homemade butter cake has completely cooled, transfer slices of the cake into an airtight container to store at room temperature. The butter cake can then be enjoyed for 2 to 3 days.

Saving It For Later: For longer storage, wrap the entire cake or slices of cake in plastic wrap and then again in aluminum foil. Then store the Butter Cake in the freezer for up to 3 months. Thaw the cake overnight at room temperature before serving and enjoying!

A slice of butter cake on a white plate with whipped cream on top.

More Yummy Cake Recipes

Homemade Yellow Cake – A rich old-fashioned cake recipe that’s perfect for birthdays!
Strawberry Vanilla Cake – Homemade vanilla cakes layered with strawberry filling!
Classic Coconut Cake – A dreamy southern dessert that’s loaded with coconut flavor!
Best Italian Cream Cake – Vanilla cake, toasted pecans, shredded coconut, and cream cheese frosting!
Vanilla Bean Cake -The most delicious canvas for the filling or topping of your choice!

Did You Make This Recipe?

If you’ve tried this recipe, please let leave a review in the comments below. I love hearing from you! Don’t forget to tag me – @sugarandsoulco – on Instagram and Pinterest with your photos, or join our Sugar & Soul Show-offs Community and share them there.

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Light and Fluffy Butter Cake

Author Rebecca Hubbell

Course Dessert

Cuisine American

Prep Time 15

Cook Time 50

Total Time 1 5

This light and fluffy Butter Cake is a delightful snack cake perfect for any occasion with minimal ingredients. Enjoy it as is or top it with whipped cream and fresh juicy berries!

Ingredients

▢ 11 tablespoons unsalted butter 154g, room temperature
▢ 1⅔ cups granulated sugar 332g, plus more for topping
▢ 1 tablespoon vanilla bean paste
▢ ½ teaspoon salt
▢ 2 large eggs room temperature
▢ 2 cups all-purpose flour 260g
▢ ¾ teaspoon baking powder
▢ ¾ cup sour cream 180g, room temperature

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 350℉ and line a 9×9-inch metal cake pan with parchment paper, making sure it rises above the sides for easy lifting after baking, and set aside.
In a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, cream together 11 tablespoons unsalted butter, 1⅔ cups granulated sugar, 1 tablespoon vanilla bean paste, and ½ teaspoon salt on medium-high speed for about 2 minutes. A large mixing bowl with an electric mixer may also be used.
Add the 2 large eggs one at a time, mixing at high speed for 45 seconds after each addition, then mixing at high speed for 3 minutes. Scrape down the sides and bottom of the bowl.
In a medium bowl, whisk together 2 cups all-purpose flour and ¾ teaspoon baking powder. Add a third of the flour mixture to the mixing bowl and mix, followed by half the ¾ cup sour cream, mix again, and repeat the additions, ending with the last third of the flour. Use a rubber spatula to scrape down the sides and bottom of the bowl, fold the batter, and make sure everything is evenly mixed.
Transfer the batter to the prepared baking pan and sprinkle with a generous coating of granulated sugar.
Bake for 40 to 50 minutes or until the center of the cake reaches 200℉ and the top is crunchy and golden brown. Allow the cake to cool in the pan for 15 minutes before lifting out with the parchment and cooling completely on a wire rack.
Slice and serve with fresh berries and whipped cream.