French Butter Cake Recipe

Meet your new favorite baking treasure, the French Butter Cake. Richly buttery, delightfully tender, and with a melt-in-your-mouth crumb kissed by a sweet, crackly sugar top—this classic treat is pure comfort and a total crowd-pleaser. Whether serving for brunch, tea time, or a special occasion, that unmistakable French Butter Cake flavor will turn a simple moment into a cherished memory.

Ingredients You’ll Need

What I adore about French Butter Cake is its reliance on a handful of honest, high-quality ingredients—each one playing a vital role in the cake’s signature taste and heavenly crumb. Don’t be fooled by the simplicity: every measure matters to achieve that bakery-perfect result right at home.

• Granulated sugar: Adds just the right sweetness and creates the sparkling, crisp top layer we love.
• Unsalted butter (melted): The star of the show! Gives the cake its rich, decadent flavor and moist, tender crumb.
• Eggs (room temperature): Help bind the batter and contribute to that soft, custard-like texture.
• Vanilla extract: For a deep, aromatic note that rounds out the cake’s simple flavors beautifully.
• Cake flour: Lends a fine, delicate crumb that makes every slice cloud-soft.
• Baking powder: Ensures the cake rises evenly and stays wonderfully light.
• Salt: Balances the sweetness and enhances all the other flavors.
• Sour cream: Adds a subtle tang and keeps the cake ultra-moist but never dense.
• Extra granulated sugar (for topping): Sprinkled over before baking, it creates that crave-worthy, caramelized crust.

Variations

One of the best things about French Butter Cake is just how playful and adaptable it can be. Make this classic all your own with a few simple tweaks, or adjust for dietary needs and what you have on hand—French baking by way of your kitchen!

• Lemon Zest Twist: Stir in a tablespoon of fresh lemon zest with the batter for a lovely hit of citrus brightness.
• Almond Essence: Swap out half the vanilla for almond extract for true gâteau Breton vibes.
• Gluten-Free Friendly: Substitute a cup-for-cup gluten-free flour blend to make the cake entirely gluten-free with minimal change in texture.
• Berry Delight: Scatter fresh raspberries or blueberries over the batter before baking for a pop of color and sweet-tart surprise.

How to Make French Butter Cake

Step 1: Prepare Your Pan and Oven

Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and grease a 9×9-inch baking dish generously, ensuring every corner is covered so your cake releases cleanly. Lining the base with a square of parchment is a nice bonus for extra insurance against sticking.

Step 2: Whip Butter and Sugar

In a large mixing bowl, combine the melted butter and sugar. Mix for a full minute, until the mixture looks pale and slightly fluffy—a little extra air here helps the cake stay incredibly light, despite all that glorious butter.

Step 3: Add Eggs and Vanilla

Add the eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition, then stir in the vanilla extract. This ensures your French Butter Cake bakes up evenly and each slice is rich but never heavy.

Step 4: Sift and Mix Your Dry Ingredients

Sift together the cake flour, baking powder, and salt in a separate bowl. Gently add these dry ingredients to your wet mixture, mixing just until combined—overbeating can toughen your delicate crumb, so go lightly!

Step 5: Fold in Sour Cream

Fold in the sour cream gently using a spatula. This simple step gives the French Butter Cake its irresistible moisture and just a hint of tang that balances all that sweet richness.

Step 6: Bake and Finish

Spread the batter evenly into your prepared pan, smoothing the top. Sprinkle the remaining granulated sugar over the surface for that signature crackly crust. Bake for 30-35 minutes until golden and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool before slicing—it’s worth the wait!

How to Serve French Butter Cake

Garnishes

Dress up your French Butter Cake with a flutter of powdered sugar or a few shavings of white chocolate for a pretty, subtle finish. A handful of fresh berries adds color and a tart foil to the cake’s rich, sweet crumb—simple touches, but they really make your slices shine!

Side Dishes

This cake pairs beautifully with Crema Chantilly (lightly sweetened whipped cream), a dollop of tangy crème fraîche, or even a scoop of your favorite vanilla bean ice cream. For something truly French, try serving with macerated strawberries or a silky lemon curd alongside each slice.

Creative Ways to Present

For a dinner party, cut your French Butter Cake into elegant squares and serve on a platter dotted with edible flowers or sliced fruit. Individual squares wrapped in parchment and tied with twine make charming favors, or try layering cake wedges in a glass with whipped cream and berries for a showstopping trifle twist!

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

French Butter Cake keeps beautifully at room temperature. Just cover any leftovers tightly with plastic wrap or store in an airtight container—your cake will stay moist and delicious for up to 3 days (if you can make it last that long!).

Freezing

This cake freezes like a dream! Wrap slices or the whole (completely cooled) cake in plastic wrap, then foil, and freeze for up to 2 months. Thaw overnight at room temperature—no loss in taste or texture.

Reheating

If you’d like to serve your French Butter Cake warm, pop slices into a low oven (300°F) for 5-7 minutes, or microwave briefly (10–15 seconds). This brings back that dreamily tender crumb and just-melted aroma, making every bite as good as fresh baked.

FAQs

Final Thoughts

If you’re searching for a dessert that feels like a hug from your oven, French Butter Cake is absolutely it. Its rich crumb, shimmering sugar top, and pure, comforting flavor are a joy to share—but I won’t judge if you keep the first slice all to yourself. Happy baking—your new favorite cake adventure awaits!

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