Great choice 👍 A classic Butter Cake is rich, soft, and tender with that melt-in-your-mouth buttery flavor. It’s a simple yet timeless cake that can be enjoyed plain, with a glaze, or layered with frosting. Here’s a detailed recipe for you:
🧈 Classic Butter Cake Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 cup (230 g) unsalted butter, softened to room temperature
- 1 ½ cups (300 g) granulated sugar
- 4 large eggs, room temperature
- 2 ½ cups (315 g) all-purpose flour
- 2 ½ tsp baking powder
- ½ tsp salt
- 1 cup (240 ml) whole milk, room temperature
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
Instructions
1. Preheat the Oven
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Grease and flour a 9×13-inch pan, two 9-inch round pans, or a Bundt pan. You can also line the bottom with parchment paper for easier release.
2. Cream Butter & Sugar
- In a large mixing bowl, beat butter and sugar together using a hand mixer or stand mixer on medium speed until light, pale, and fluffy (about 3–5 minutes).
- This step is crucial – it incorporates air, which gives the cake its tender crumb.
3. Add Eggs
- Beat in eggs one at a time, scraping down the sides of the bowl after each addition.
- Stir in vanilla extract.
4. Mix Dry Ingredients
- In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt.
5. Combine Wet & Dry
- Add dry ingredients to the butter mixture in three parts, alternating with milk.
- Start and end with flour mixture.
- Mix gently until just combined (don’t overmix).
6. Bake
- Pour batter into prepared pan(s) and smooth the top.
- Bake for 35–40 minutes (9×13 pan) or 25–30 minutes (round pans), until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
- For a Bundt pan, baking may take 45–55 minutes.
7. Cool & Serve
- Let cake cool in pan for 10 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
- Dust with powdered sugar, drizzle with glaze, or frost with buttercream if desired.
Variations & Tips
- Lemon Butter Cake: Add 2 tbsp lemon juice + zest of 1 lemon.
- Marble Butter Cake: Swirl in ¼ cup melted chocolate or cocoa batter before baking.
- Frosting Ideas: Pairs well with chocolate ganache, cream cheese frosting, or a simple vanilla glaze.
- Storage: Keep covered at room temperature for 2 days, or refrigerate up to 5 days. Freezes well for up to 2 months.
✨ This Butter Cake is soft, rich, and full of classic homemade flavor – perfect for tea time, birthdays, or layering into a fancy dessert.
Would you like me to also give you a fluffy sponge-style butter cake version (lighter, more airy like bakery-style)?

