French Butter Cake Recipe
A classic French Butter Cake with a tender crumb and rich buttery flavor, enhanced by a hint of vanilla and a slight tang from sour cream. This cake is easy to make and perfect for teatime or a simple dessert.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30-35 minutes
- Total Time: 45-50 minutes
- Yield: 9 servings 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: French
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
Wet Ingredients
- 1 cup unsalted butter (2 sticks), melted
- 3 eggs, room temperature
- 2 ½ teaspoons vanilla extract
- ⅔ cup sour cream
Dry Ingredients
- 2 cups cake flour
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
Sugar
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 2 tablespoons granulated sugar, for topping
Instructions
- Preheat and prepare baking dish: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and grease a 9×9-inch baking dish to prevent sticking.
- Cream butter and sugar: In a large bowl, mix granulated sugar and melted butter for about 1 minute until the mixture becomes light and airy, which helps create a tender texture in the cake.
- Add eggs and vanilla: Incorporate the eggs one at a time into the butter-sugar mixture, mixing well after each addition to ensure a smooth batter. Then add the vanilla extract and mix thoroughly.
- Combine dry ingredients: In a separate bowl, sift together cake flour, baking powder, and salt to evenly distribute the leavening and seasonings.
- Mix dry and wet ingredients: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, stirring gently until just combined to avoid overworking the batter, which can make the cake tough.
- Fold in sour cream: Gently fold the sour cream into the batter to add moisture and a slight tang, which contributes to a soft crumb.
- Prepare for baking: Pour the batter into the greased baking dish and evenly sprinkle the top with 2 tablespoons of granulated sugar to create a sweet, slightly crunchy topping.
- Bake and cool: Bake the cake in the preheated oven for 30 to 35 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Let the cake cool slightly before slicing and serving to allow flavors to settle.
Notes
- Use room temperature eggs to help the batter emulsify better and produce a consistent texture.
- Sifting the dry ingredients ensures the cake flour, baking powder, and salt are evenly incorporated, which is important for even rising.
- Do not overmix the batter once the flour is added to keep the cake tender.
- The sugar sprinkled on top caramelizes slightly during baking and adds a delightful crunch.
- Allow the cake to cool for 10-15 minutes before slicing for clean cuts.
Keywords: French Butter Cake, buttery cake, sour cream cake, French dessert, simple cake recipe
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