Description
This French Butter Cake is a rich, tender cake with a buttery flavor and a slightly crisp sugar topping. Featuring a combination of melted butter, sour cream, and subtle almond and vanilla flavorings, it produces a moist and satisfying dessert perfect for any occasion. The cake is baked to golden perfection and served in easy-to-cut squares, making it ideal for gatherings or as a delightful everyday treat.
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 cup unsalted butter (melted)
- 3 large eggs
- 2½ tsp vanilla flavoring
- 1 tsp almond flavoring (optional)
- 2 cups cake flour
- 2 tsp baking powder
- 1 tsp salt
- ⅔ cup sour cream
Topping
- ¼ cup sugar (for topping)
Instructions
- Preheat and Prepare Pan: Preheat your oven to 350ºF (175ºC). Lightly spray an 8 or 9-inch square cake pan with cooking spray to ensure the cake doesn’t stick.
- Mix Butter and Sugar: In a large mixing bowl, beat together the melted butter and 1 cup of sugar on medium speed until the mixture is light and fluffy, which helps incorporate air for a tender crumb.
- Add eggs and flavorings: Add the eggs one at a time, then mix in the vanilla and almond flavorings (if using) until fully combined, providing rich aroma and depth to the batter.
- Combine Dry Ingredients: In a separate small bowl, whisk together the cake flour, baking powder, and salt to evenly distribute the leavening and seasoning.
- Incorporate Dry Ingredients and Sour Cream: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet batter on low speed to avoid overmixing, then gently fold in the sour cream to maintain moisture and richness.
- Spread Batter in Pan and Add Topping: Spread the batter evenly in the prepared cake pan. Sprinkle the ¼ cup of sugar evenly over the top to create a sweet, crisp crust after baking.
- Bake the Cake: Bake in the preheated oven for 30 to 35 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean or with a few moist crumbs, indicating the cake is fully baked but still moist.
- Cool and Serve: Remove the cake from the oven and allow it to cool on a wire rack. Once cooled, cut into 16 squares and serve.
Notes
- Almond flavoring is optional but adds a lovely nutty dimension that complements the butter and vanilla.
- Make sure the melted butter is not too hot to prevent cooking the eggs when mixing.
- Use cake flour for a finer, softer cake texture; all-purpose flour can be substituted but may result in a denser crumb.
- Sprinkling sugar on top before baking forms a delicate crunchy crust that contrasts nicely with the soft interior.
- Cooling the cake completely before cutting helps in getting clean slices.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: French
