Southern Butter Cake

Name: Southern Butter Cake
Prep time: 25 min
Cook time: 35 min
Total time: 60 min
Yield: 12 servings
Cuisine: Southern American
Ingredients: 12 oz butter (softened); 2 cups granulated sugar; 4 eggs (large), room temperature; 3 cups all-purpose flour; 1 tsp baking powder; 1/4 tsp salt; 1 cup buttermilk; 1 tsp vanilla extract; 12 oz butter (for frosting), softened; 4 cups powdered sugar; 1/2 cup milk (for frosting); 1 tsp vanilla extract (for frosting)

A decadent Southern favorite with rich buttermilk layers and a silky buttercream frosting. Golden, moist, and utterly indulgent.

60 minMediumServes 12580 cal/serving

Southern AmericanDessertOvenStandard

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Ingredients

12 oz butter (softened)
2 cups granulated sugar
4 eggs (large), room temperature
3 cups all-purpose flour
1 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
1 cup buttermilk
1 tsp vanilla extract
12 oz butter (for frosting), softened
4 cups powdered sugar
1/2 cup milk (for frosting)
1 tsp vanilla extract (for frosting)

Instructions

1

Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease two 9-inch round cake pans.
2

Cream 12 oz butter (softened) and 2 cups granulated sugar together until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes.
3

Beat in 4 room temperature eggs (large) one at a time, beating well after each addition.
4

In a separate bowl, whisk together 3 cups all-purpose flour, 1 tsp baking powder, and 1/4 tsp salt.
5

Alternately add the flour mixture and 1 cup buttermilk to the butter mixture, beginning and ending with flour. Mix until just combined.
6

Stir in 1 tsp vanilla extract.
7

Divide batter between prepared pans and smooth the tops.
8

Bake for 30-35 minutes until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
9

Cool in pans for 10 minutes, then turn out onto wire racks to cool completely.
10

For frosting: beat 12 oz softened butter (for frosting) until creamy, then gradually add 4 cups powdered sugar, beating well.
11

Add 1/2 cup milk (for frosting) and 1 tsp vanilla extract (for frosting), beating until light and fluffy.
12

Place one cake layer on a serving plate, spread with frosting, then top with the second layer. Frost the top and sides of the entire cake.

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Questions

What temperature do I cook Southern Butter Cake at?

For Southern Butter Cake, the oven is set to 350 F (about 175 C) in step 1. The longest stretch at that heat is 35 minutes, in step 8.

Does room temperature really matter in Southern Butter Cake?

Step 3 reads: "Beat in 4 room temperature eggs (large) one at a time, beating well after each addition." It does at step 3. Cold ingredients resist blending: cold butter will not cream, and cold eggs can split a batter that was smooth a moment ago.

Is there a substitute for buttermilk in Southern Butter Cake?

The entry for Southern Butter Cake calls for 1 cup buttermilk. In its place: Stir a tablespoon of lemon juice or white vinegar into a cup of milk and let it stand five minutes. Plain yogurt thinned with milk also works.

Can I make Southern Butter Cake dairy-free?

Yes. The dairy in Southern Butter Cake is 12 oz butter (softened), 1 cup buttermilk, 12 oz butter (for frosting), softened, 1/2 cup milk (for frosting). Swap the butter for olive oil where it melts, or a plant-based block butter where it is creamed; the buttermilk for plant milk soured with a teaspoon of vinegar per cup; the milk for unsweetened oat or soy milk. The richness shifts slightly, but the method does not change.

Can I make Southern Butter Cake gluten-free?

Yes. The gluten in Southern Butter Cake is 3 cups all-purpose flour. Swap the flour for a 1-to-1 gluten-free baking blend (where it only thickens a sauce, half as much cornstarch also works). Everything else proceeds as written.

Does Southern Butter Cake contain eggs?

Yes: 4 eggs (large), room temperature. The full allergen list for this entry is gluten, dairy and eggs. Packaged ingredients vary by brand, so check labels if the allergy is serious.

How many calories are in Southern Butter Cake?

One serving (the recipe makes 12) is about 580 calories, with 5 g protein, 68 g carbohydrate and 32 g fat, plus 380 mg sodium.

Serve it with

Sweet Tea drink
Mint Julep drink
Champuz drink

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