If you’re looking for a dessert that’s easy to make but tastes like you spent all day in the kitchen, this Salted Caramel Kentucky Butter Cake is for you! It’s super rich, buttery, and topped with delicious salted caramel sauce that soaks into the cake, making it extra moist. Whether you’re celebrating a birthday, having a family dinner, or just want a tasty treat, this cake will steal the show!

What You’ll Need:

• (2) 8-inch cake pans
• Non-stick baking spray (or you can use butter and flour)
• Measuring cups & spoons
• Mixing bowl
• Small saucepan

Salted Caramel Kentucky Butter Cake: A Perfectly Sweet Treat

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 35-40 minutes

Servings: 10-12 people

Ingredients:

• 1 cup unsalted butter (make sure it’s at room temperature)
• 2 cups granulated sugar
• 4 large eggs (room temperature)
• 2 tsp vanilla bean paste (or vanilla extract)
• 1 cup buttermilk
• 3 cups all-purpose flour (scooped and leveled)
• 1 tsp baking powder
• ½ tsp baking soda
• ½ tsp salt
• 1 ½ cups salted caramel sauce (store-bought or homemade)

For the Butter Sauce:

• ½ cup granulated sugar
• ¼ cup unsalted butter
• 1 tsp vanilla bean paste (or vanilla extract)

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How to Make the Cake:

1. Preheat the Oven: Set your oven to 325°F. Spray your 8-inch cake pans with non-stick baking spray, or grease them with butter and dust with flour to prevent sticking. Set the pans aside.
2. Cream the Butter and Sugar: In a large mixing bowl, use an electric mixer to cream together the butter and granulated sugar for about 4-5 minutes. The mixture should become light and fluffy.
3. Add the Eggs and Vanilla: Add the eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Then add the vanilla and mix until everything is fully combined.
4. Add the Buttermilk: Pour in the buttermilk and stir until the batter is smooth.
5. Mix the Dry Ingredients: In another bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Slowly add this dry mixture to the wet ingredients, mixing until just combined. The batter will be thick—don’t worry, that’s normal!
6. Bake the Cake: Divide the batter evenly between the two cake pans and spread it out evenly. Bake in the preheated oven for 35-40 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
7. Make the Butter Sauce: While the cake is baking, prepare the butter sauce. In a small saucepan, combine the butter, sugar, and vanilla. Heat the mixture over medium heat, stirring constantly until the sugar dissolves and the sauce thickens. Remove from heat and let it cool a bit while the cake finishes baking.
8. Cool the Cake: Once the cakes are done, let them cool in the pans for about 10 minutes. After that, remove the cakes from the pans and let them cool completely on a wire rack. This can take about 30 minutes.
9. Soak with Butter Sauce: Once the cakes are cool, use a skewer or toothpick to poke holes all over the top of each cake. Pour the butter sauce evenly over the cakes, letting it soak in. This will make the cake incredibly moist and flavorful.
10. Assemble the Cake: Place one of the cake layers on a plate or cake board. Drizzle a generous amount of salted caramel sauce over the top. Add the second cake layer on top and drizzle with more salted caramel sauce.
11. Serve and Enjoy: Let the cake sit for a few minutes to allow the caramel to set, then slice and serve! This cake pairs perfectly with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or a dollop of whipped cream.

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Variations to Try:

While this recipe is already amazing on its own, there are some fun ways you can switch it up to make it even more unique!

1. Add Nuts: If you like a little crunch, you can add chopped pecans or walnuts to the batter. Just fold in about ½ cup of chopped nuts when you mix in the dry ingredients. You can also sprinkle some chopped nuts on top of the cake for extra texture.
2. Chocolate Lovers: For a chocolatey twist, add ½ cup of cocoa powder to the dry ingredients. You can also drizzle some melted chocolate over the top of the cake along with the salted caramel sauce for a double chocolate-caramel combo.
3. Make It a Layer Cake: Instead of making just two layers, you can bake the cake in three or four pans to make a taller, more dramatic layer cake. Just adjust the baking time and watch closely while it’s in the oven.
4. Use Flavored Caramel Sauces: Switch out the salted caramel for other flavored sauces like toffee, mocha, or even bourbon caramel sauce to give the cake a different vibe. You can even mix a little vanilla extract or almond extract into the caramel sauce for a new flavor.
5. Spice It Up: For a fall-inspired version, try adding 1 tsp of cinnamon and ½ tsp of nutmeg to the dry ingredients. It’ll give the cake a warm, cozy flavor that’s perfect for autumn!

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Pro Tips:

• Room Temperature Ingredients: Make sure your butter, eggs, and buttermilk are at room temperature before you start mixing. This helps everything combine smoothly and creates a light, fluffy cake.
• Don’t Overmix: When adding the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mix until just combined. Overmixing can make the cake dense instead of light and fluffy.
• Cooling Time: Be patient when letting the cakes cool. This is crucial to make sure the butter sauce soaks in properly and the cakes stay moist.

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This Salted Caramel Kentucky Butter Cake is sure to be a crowd-pleaser at any event. With its rich buttery flavor, moist texture, and the sweet kick of salted caramel, it’s a treat that everyone will love. Plus, with all the fun variations you can try, you can make this cake your own every time! Whether you add chocolate, nuts, or fall spices, there’s no wrong way to enjoy this delicious dessert.

So, grab your mixing bowls and give this cake a try—you’ll be so glad you did!

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