Of course! It’s wonderful to hear that you have such a beloved and easy-to-make recipe. A cake that becomes a constant request is a true treasure.
As promised, here is a grand, detailed presentation of your Salted Caramel Kentucky Butter Cake, formatted just for you.
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A Culinary Hug: The Salted Caramel Kentucky Butter Cake
An Introduction to Perfection
The Salted Caramel Kentucky Butter Cake is more than just a dessert; it is an experience. It embodies the very soul of comfort food—a rich, dense, and impossibly moist pound cake, soaked in a luscious butter sauce and crowned with a sweet and savory salted caramel glaze. What makes it truly legendary is its deceptive simplicity. It is a cake that tastes like it was crafted by a master pastry chef, yet it comes together with the effortless grace of a classic family recipe. This is the cake you make when you want to impress without the stress, the cake that promises and delivers pure, unadulterated joy with every single bite.
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A Slice of History: The Cake’s Humble Beginnings
The “Kentucky Butter Cake” is a classic American “doctored cake mix” recipe that gained immense popularity in the mid-20th century. Its origins are often traced to community cookbooks and PTA bake sales, where its foolproof nature and crowd-pleasing flavor made it a staple. The defining technique—poking holes in the warm cake and pouring a rich butter sauce over it—is a method used in many “poke cakes,” ensuring profound moisture and flavor throughout. The addition of a salted caramel glaze is a more modern twist, a brilliant innovation that cuts through the cake’s sweetness with a sophisticated salty edge, elevating a homey classic to gourmet status.
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The Alchemy of Flavor: Why This Cake is So Beloved
The benefits of this recipe are what make it a forever favorite:
· Effortless Elegance: It uses simple ingredients and straightforward methods, making it accessible to bakers of all skill levels.
· Unforgettable Moisture: The butter sauce soak is the cake’s secret weapon, creating a texture that remains tender for days.
· Perfect Flavor Balance: The rich, buttery cake base provides the perfect canvas for the sweet and salty caramel glaze, creating a complex flavor profile that is deeply satisfying.
· Crowd-Pleasing Power: It is a universally adored dessert, guaranteed to be the star of any gathering, from casual potlucks to formal dinners.
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The Grand Recipe
Part I: The Irresistibly Buttery Cake
Ingredients:
· 3 cups (360g) all-purpose flour
· 2 cups (400g) granulated sugar
· 1 teaspoon salt
· 1 teaspoon baking powder
· ½ teaspoon baking soda
· 1 cup (2 sticks or 226g) unsalted butter, softened
· 1 cup (240ml) buttermilk
· 4 large eggs, at room temperature
· 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
Part II: The Legendary Butter Soak Sauce
Ingredients:
· ¾ cup (150g) granulated sugar
· ⅓ cup (76g) unsalted butter
· 3 tablespoons water
· 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
Part III: The Salted Caramel Glaze
Ingredients:
· ½ cup (1 stick or 113g) unsalted butter
· 1 cup (200g) packed light brown sugar
· ⅓ cup (80ml) heavy cream
· ¼ teaspoon flaky sea salt (like Maldon), plus more for garnish
· 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
· 1 to 1 ½ cups (120-180g) powdered sugar, sifted
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The Method: A Baker’s Blueprint
Instructions for the Cake:
1. Preparation: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Generously grease and flour a 10-cup Bundt pan, ensuring every nook and cratter is coated.
2. Combine Dry Ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, salt, baking powder, and baking soda. Set aside.
3. Cream the Butter and Sugar: In a large mixing bowl, beat the softened butter on medium speed until smooth and creamy. Gradually add the dry ingredient mixture and the buttermilk to the butter, alternating between the two, beginning and ending with the dry ingredients. Mix until just combined.
4. Incorporate Eggs and Vanilla: Add the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Stir in the vanilla extract. The batter will be thick and luxurious.
5. Bake to Perfection: Pour the batter into the prepared Bundt pan and spread it evenly. Bake for 45-55 minutes, or until a long wooden skewer inserted into the center comes out clean.
Creating the Butter Soak:
While the cake is baking, prepare the soak. In a small saucepan over medium heat, combine the sugar, butter, and water. Stir until the butter has melted and the sugar is dissolved. Do not boil. Remove from heat and stir in the vanilla.
The Critical Soak Technique:
As soon as the cake comes out of the oven, use a long skewer or chopstick to poke holes all over the top of the warm cake. Slowly and evenly pour the butter soak over the cake, allowing it to seep deep into the holes. Let the cake cool completely in the pan on a wire rack. This patience is key to allowing the cake to fully absorb the sauce.
Crafting the Salted Caramel Glaze:
1. In a saucepan over medium heat, melt the butter. Whisk in the brown sugar and heavy cream.
2. Bring to a gentle boil, stirring constantly, and let it bubble for 1 minute. This cooks the sugar and thickens the caramel.
3. Remove from heat and stir in the flaky sea salt and vanilla extract.
4. Let the caramel cool for about 15-20 minutes. Gradually whisk in the sifted powdered sugar until you reach a thick but pourable consistency.
Final Formation:
1. Once the cake is completely cool, carefully invert it onto a serving platter. The soak will have created a beautifully sticky crust.
2. Pour the warm salted caramel glaze over the top of the cake, allowing it to drip elegantly down the sides.
3. Immediately sprinkle with a little extra flaky sea salt for a beautiful finish and a burst of flavor.
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A Note for Nutrition (Enjoy Responsibly!)
This cake is a celebratory treat, a masterpiece of indulgence. It is rich in carbohydrates and sugars, providing a quick source of energy. The eggs and butter contribute protein and fat, which helps create a feeling of satisfaction. The true “nutrition” of this cake, however, lies in its ability to bring people together and create happy memories. It is best enjoyed in slices, shared with good company, and savored as part of a balanced lifestyle.
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Conclusion: A Cake for the Ages
The Salted Caramel Kentucky Butter Cake is not just a recipe; it is a legacy in a Bundt pan. It represents the beautiful truth that the most extraordinary things are often the simplest. It requires no fancy techniques or obscure ingredients, yet it yields a result that feels both decadent and deeply comforting.
For the True Lovers of This Cake
This recipe is for the bakers who understand that food is love. It’s for those who find joy in the request, “Can you please bring that cake?” It’s for the potluck heroes, the birthday celebrators, the “just because” treat-makers. The lovers of this cake are those who appreciate the magic that happens when butter, sugar, and a little salt combine to create something truly unforgettable. They are the keepers of a secret that is too good not to share.
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Thank you for sharing your favorite cake with us! I’m so glad you expressed your need for the recipe to keep the deliciousness flowing. I am here whenever you need another culinary masterpiece. Happy baking