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.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Unbeatable Texture: Each bite is plush and buttery in the center with a delicate, golden crust that crackles beneath your fork.
- Simple Ingredients, Big Flavor: You’ll be amazed at how pantry staples combine for authentic, nuanced French Butter Cake decadence.
- Elegant Yet Effortless: This cake looks and tastes like it came from a Parisian bakery, but it’s delightfully straightforward for bakers of all levels.
- Perfect for Any Occasion: From cozy afternoons to festive celebrations, French Butter Cake fits every table and makes everyone smile.
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!
Pro Tips for Making French Butter Cake
- Butter Quality Counts: Use the highest-quality unsalted butter you can find—it truly sets the tone for the whole French Butter Cake.
- Room Temperature Magic: Let your eggs and sour cream sit out before mixing; cold ingredients can make the batter curdle or bake up unevenly.
- Don’t Overmix: Stir just until you no longer see streaks of flour—this keeps the crumb beautifully tender, never tough.
- Sugar Topping Is Essential: Don’t skip the final sugar sprinkle! It bakes into a shimmering, crackly finish that’s pure French Butter Cake joy.
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
-
Can I use regular all-purpose flour instead of cake flour?
Yes, you can substitute all-purpose flour if needed, but cake flour gives French Butter Cake its extra-tender crumb. If using all-purpose, remove 2 tablespoons of flour per cup and replace with cornstarch for a closer texture.
-
Why do I need to use room temperature eggs and sour cream?
Room temperature ingredients incorporate more smoothly, preventing lumps in your batter and helping your cake bake evenly—key for that signature French Butter Cake texture.
-
What’s the secret to that crisp sugar top?
The magic comes from sprinkling granulated sugar generously over the batter right before baking. As it bakes, the sugar creates a glistening, crackly crust that’s absolutely irresistible.
-
How can I tell when my French Butter Cake is done?
The edges should be lightly golden and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean or with just a few moist crumbs. Avoid overbaking to keep the interior soft and buttery.
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!
PrintFrench Butter Cake Recipe
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30-35 minutes
- Total Time: 45-50 minutes
- Yield: 12–16 servings 1x
- Category: Baking
- Method: Oven
- Cuisine: French
Description
This French Butter Cake is a delightful treat that’s rich in buttery flavor and has a tender crumb. Perfect for any occasion, this cake is sure to impress your guests with its simplicity and delicious taste.
Ingredients
For the cake:
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 cup unsalted butter (2 sticks), melted
- 3 eggs, room temperature
- 2 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 2 cups cake flour
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 2/3 cup sour cream
For topping:
- 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
Instructions
- Preheat the oven: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F and grease a 9×9-inch baking dish.
- Mix butter and sugar: In a large mixing bowl, cream together the sugar and melted butter until light and airy.
- Add eggs and vanilla: Beat in the eggs one at a time, then mix in the vanilla extract.
- Combine dry ingredients: In a separate bowl, sift together the cake flour, baking powder, and salt. Gradually add the dry mixture to the wet ingredients and mix until just combined.
- Incorporate sour cream: Gently fold in the sour cream until well blended.
- Transfer to baking dish: Pour the batter into the greased baking dish and sprinkle the remaining granulated sugar on top.
- Bake: Bake for 30-35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
- Cool and serve: Allow the cake to cool before slicing into squares and serving.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 280
- Sugar: 18g
- Sodium: 240mg
- Fat: 16g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 30g
- Fiber: 0.5g
- Protein: 3g
- Cholesterol: 85mg