You’ll love this Easy Kentucky Butter Cake featuring a vanilla bundt cake and sweet butter glaze. It’s delicious, moist, and made simple with a boxed cake mix.
Easy Kentucky Butter Cake with Cake Mix
Our family has officially lived in KY for 2 years and in celebration I wanted to share one of the yummiest cakes you’ll ever eat – Kentucky Butter Cake.
This delicious and simple cake quite literally melts in your mouth and trust me when I say you’ll be in love from the very first bite.
Even better, my re-creation of this popular Kentucky cake is made simple with a boxed cake mix, making it the perfect dessert choice for parties with family and friends.
If you want to learn how to make Easy Kentucky Butter Cake with Cake Mix, then keep reading below and check out my step-by-step video tutorial over here.
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What is Kentucky Butter Cake?
Never heard of Kentucky Butter Cake?
Kentucky Butter Cake is a velvet-soft and tender vanilla Bundt cake that’s baked until light golden brown, immediately poked with holes, and topped with a sweet + sugary butter vanilla glaze that soaks into every crevice of the cake.
The texture is similar to this old fashioned vanilla pound cake, but is slightly softer and lighter and features a delicious and unique glaze.
The glaze creates the most moist cake ever, and once it cools creates a slightly crispy and sweet crust exterior that’s similar to that of a glazed donut.
It’s basically heaven in a bite, and you’re gonna love it!
Kentucky Butter Cake Tips – Do’s and Don’ts
Kentucky Butter Cake is incredibly easy to make! Below I’ve included some helpful do’s and don’ts that will help you make the best Kentucky butter cake ever.
Do – Allow the Bundt cake to cool for a minimum of 1 hour before removing from the pan.
This allows the cake ample time to soak up all the delicious glaze.
Do – Save some of the glaze for brushing on top of the cake once flipped.
This not only makes it look prettier but tastes SO yummy!
Don’t – Use salted butter. Unsalted butter is the perfect choice for this cake!
Do – Make this cake ahead of time if possible.
I don’t know how, but this cake gets EVEN better the more time it has to sit and soak up the glaze goodness.
Don’t – Store your cake in the fridge, store it at room temperature in an airtight container.
Storing in the fridge will dry your cake out more quickly and is not necessary.
When properly stored in an airtight container, this cake will remain fresh for up 5 days.
Kentucky Butter Cake FAQ’s
Check out the answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about Kentucky Butter Cake below!
Where did Kentucky Butter Cake originate?
It is said to have first been made in 1963 by Nell Lewis who entered and won the Pillsbury Bake-off contest in Missouri.
What is Kentucky Butter cake made of?
Kentucky Butter Cake is made simple with just a handful of basic ingredients to include a vanilla or yellow cake mix, oil, eggs, buttermilk, vanilla extract, butter, sugar, and water.
What ingredients make Kentucky Butter Cake moist?
One of the key ingredients that make this Kentucky Butter Cake moist is buttermilk.
Buttermilk produces a tender, soft, and moist cake, and is one of my favorite tricks to make a box cake taste better.
It’s also my favorite ingredient for soft + flaky homemade biscuits.
Secondly, the vanilla butter glaze really helps create a more moist cake, as it soaks into every crevice.
What is the difference between a butter cake and a pound cake?
Both cakes are known for being moist, buttery, and delicious, however they are not the same.
Butter cakes are traditionally lighter in texture while pound cakes are more dense.
(Check out my homemade pound cake recipe here)
How do I store leftover Kentucky Butter Cake?
Store leftover cake at room temperature in an airtight container for up to 5 days.
I don’t recommend storing in the fridge, as this can cause it to dry out more quickly.
Can I freeze Kentucky Butter Cake?
Yes! Allow the cake to cool completely before tightly wrapping in plastic wrap, either sliced or unsliced.
For added protection, wrap in aluminum foil or place in an airtight freezer-safe container.
The cake will remain fresh in the freezer for up to 3 months.
Once ready to eat, allow the cake to thaw in the fridge overnight and warm slices in the microwave if desired.
What can I serve with Kentucky Butter Cake?
The wonderful thing about KY Butter Cake is the fact it’s a delicious cake all on its own.
But if you’re feeling extra, feel free to jazz it up with these yummy topping ideas:
- Fresh fruit and whipped cream
- Fruit syrup or sauce
- Chocolate or caramel sauce
- A scoop of ice cream
How to Make Kentucky Butter Cake from a Box Cake Mix
Below I’ve included a helpful step-by-step guide on how to make Kentucky Butter Cake as well as recommended kitchen tools.
RECOMMENDED KITCHEN TOOLS:
- Bundt Cake Pan
- Electric Hand Mixer
- Glass Mixing Bowls
- Rubber Spatula
- Measuring Cups
- Measuring Spoons
- Saucepan
- Skewer
- Pastry Brush
- Cooling Rack
- Cake Stand with Glass Dome Lid
- Cake Server
Step 1: Prepare Your Cake Batter
In a large mixing bowl combine cake mix, oil, eggs, buttermilk, and vanilla extract, and mix together with an electric hand mixer until smooth.
Step 2: Bake The Cake
Pour evenly into the prepared Bundt cake pan and bake in a preheated 350 degree F oven for 35-45 minutes or until the cake is a light golden brown.
Step 3: Prepare Butter Glaze
When the cake has 10 minutes baking time remaining, prepare your glaze.
How to Make Kentucky Butter Cake Glaze:
Add unsalted butter, granulated sugar, water, and vanilla extract to a saucepan.
Stir ingredients until evenly combined and cook over medium/low heat until the butter is melted and the sugar has dissolved.
Do not boil and remove from heat once melted/combined.
Step 4: Pour Glaze on Cake and Let Cool
Once the cake has fully baked, remove from the oven and immediately poke holes all over the cake with a skewer or fork.
Immediately pour 3/4 of the glaze on top of the cake and use a spatula to spread evenly into all the crevices.
Let the cake cool in the pan for 30 minutes before inverting on a plate.
Step 5: Brush Glaze on Top, Slice, and Serve
After inverting the cake, use a pastry brush or spoon, and add remaining glaze on top.
Next cut the cake into 12-16 slices, serve, and enjoy!
Easy Kentucky Butter Cake with Cake Mix
You’ll love this Easy Kentucky Butter Cake featuring a vanilla bundt cake and sweet butter glaze. It’s delicious, moist, and made simple with a boxed cake mix.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 35-45 minutes
- Total Time: 34 minute
- Yield: 12-16 slices 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Oven, Baking
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Cake
- 1 box vanilla or yellow cake mix (15.25 ounces)
- 1/2 cup oil (I used light olive oil)
- 4 large eggs
- 1 cup buttermilk (or substitute 1/4 cup sour cream + 3/4 cup milk)
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
Butter Glaze
- 1/3 cup unsalted butter
- 3/4 cup granulated sugar
- 2 tbsp water
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
Instructions
- First preheat oven to 350 degrees F and generously spray a Bundt cake pan with non-stick cooking spray.
- In a large mixing bowl combine cake mix, oil, eggs, buttermilk, and vanilla extract, and mix together with an electric hand mixer until smooth.
- Pour evenly into the prepared Bundt cake pan and bake in the oven for 35-45 minutes or until the cake is a light golden brown.
- When the cake has 10 minutes baking time remaining, prepare your glaze.
- Add unsalted butter, granulated sugar, water, and vanilla extract to a saucepan.
- Stir ingredients until evenly combined and cook over medium/low heat until the butter is melted and the sugar has dissolved. Do not boil and remove from heat once melted/combined.
- Once the cake has fully baked, remove from the oven and immediately poke holes all over the cake with a skewer or fork.
- Immediately pour 3/4 of the glaze on top of the cake and use a spatula to spread evenly into all the crevices.
- Let the cake cool in the pan for 30 minutes before inverting on a plate.
- Use a pastry brush or spoon and add remaining glaze on top of the cake.
- Cut the cake into 12-16 slices, serve, and enjoy!
Notes
Storage Instructions
Store leftover cake at room temperature in an airtight container for up to 5 days.
I don’t recommend storing in the fridge, as this can cause it to dry out more quickly.
How to Freeze
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I hope you enjoyed today’s recipe for my Easy Kentucky Butter Cake with Cake Mix! Have you ever tried Kentucky Butter Cake? Let me know in the comments below!
Thanks for stopping by! – Cara
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