Classic Vanilla Butter Cake with Buttermilk Sauce
Vanilla Butter Cake
Ingredients
- 1 cup (225 g) unsalted butter, softened
- 1¾ cups sugar
- 4 large eggs
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- 2½ cups all-purpose flour
- 2 tsp baking powder
- ½ tsp salt
- 1 cup whole milk
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour a 9×13-inch baking pan or bundt pan.
- In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
- Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition.
- Mix in vanilla.
- In another bowl, whisk flour, baking powder, and salt.
- Add dry ingredients to the butter mixture alternately with milk, beginning and ending with flour.
- Pour batter into prepared pan and smooth the top.
- Bake:
- 35–40 minutes for a 9×13 pan
- 50–60 minutes for a bundt pan
- Cake is done when a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
Warm Buttermilk Sauce
Ingredients
- 1 cup sugar
- ½ cup unsalted butter
- ½ cup buttermilk
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- ½ tsp baking soda
Instructions
- Combine sugar, butter, and buttermilk in a saucepan over medium heat.
- Stir until butter melts and mixture begins to simmer.
- Remove from heat and stir in vanilla and baking soda.
- Sauce will foam slightly and become silky.
To Serve
- Poke small holes in the warm cake and pour some sauce over the top.
- Serve extra sauce on the side.
- Best enjoyed warm with tea, coffee, or vanilla ice cream.
For extra flavor, you can add:
- Lemon zest
- Almond extract
- Toasted pecans or coconut on top
