Imagine a cake so rich, so incredibly moist, that it transforms an ordinary dessert into a culinary masterpiece. The Everyday Brown Butter Cake is not just another recipe—it's a game-changing experience that will elevate your baking skills and tantalize your taste buds. With its nutty, caramelized butter flavor and incredibly tender crumb, this cake is about to become your new obsession. Get ready to discover a dessert that's both sophisticated and comfortingly familiar, perfect for impressing guests or treating yourself to a slice of pure indulgence.
Prep Time: 15 mins
Cook Time: 30 mins
Total Time: 45 mins
Cuisine: American
Serves: 8 servings
Ingredients
- 1 cup unsalted butter
- 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
- 3 large eggs
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup buttermilk
Instructions
- Begin by browning the butter: Place the unsalted butter in a light-colored saucepan over medium heat. Melt the butter slowly, stirring continuously. Watch carefully as the butter begins to foam and then turn a golden amber color, releasing a nutty aroma. This process typically takes 5-7 minutes.
- Remove the browned butter from heat and transfer to a heat-safe bowl. Allow it to cool to room temperature for about 15 minutes. The butter should slightly solidify but remain soft and spreadable.
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour a 9-inch round cake pan or line it with parchment paper to prevent sticking.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooled brown butter and granulated sugar. Beat with an electric mixer on medium speed until the mixture becomes light and fluffy, approximately 3-4 minutes.
- Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Mix in the vanilla extract, ensuring all ingredients are fully incorporated.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, and salt to ensure even distribution of leavening agents.
- Gradually add the dry ingredients to the butter mixture, alternating with buttermilk. Begin and end with the dry ingredients, mixing on low speed just until combined. Be careful not to overmix.
- Pour the batter into the prepared cake pan, smoothing the top with a spatula to ensure an even surface.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 30-35 minutes. Check for doneness by inserting a toothpick into the center of the cake - it should come out clean or with just a few moist crumbs.
- Remove the cake from the oven and let it cool in the pan for 10 minutes. Then, turn out onto a wire rack to cool completely.
- Optional: Once cooled, dust with powdered sugar or frost with your favorite frosting. Serve and enjoy your brown butter cake.
Tips
- Brown Butter Technique: The key to this cake's incredible flavor is properly browning the butter. Use a light-colored pan so you can accurately monitor the color change, and stir constantly to prevent burning.
- Temperature Matters: Ensure your eggs and buttermilk are at room temperature for better ingredient incorporation and a smoother batter.
- Don't Overmix: Mix the batter just until ingredients are combined. Overmixing can lead to a tough, dense cake.
- Pan Preparation: Thoroughly grease and flour your pan or use parchment paper to ensure easy cake removal.
- Cooling is Crucial: Let the browned butter cool to room temperature to prevent scrambling the eggs when mixing.
- Doneness Test: Use the toothpick method to check if the cake is fully baked. A few moist crumbs are okay, but the toothpick shouldn't have wet batter.
- Serving Suggestions: This cake is delicious plain, but can be elevated with a light dusting of powdered sugar, a simple glaze, or your favorite frosting.
Nutrition Facts
Calories: 480kcal
Carbohydrates: 55g
Protein: 6g
Fat: 27g
Saturated Fat: 16g
Cholesterol: 130mg
