At Eminent Recipes, every dish tells a story of comfort, tradition, and family. This French butter cake reflects my love for timeless recipes made with simple ingredients and real butter. Inspired by old fashioned French butter cake traditions, especially those from Brittany, this recipe brings warmth to the table without complexity. It’s the kind of cake meant to be shared, enjoyed slowly, and remembered long after the last slice.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
This French butter cake is everything a comforting dessert should be—rich, simple, and deeply satisfying. Inspired by a traditional French butter cake recipe and the flavors of a classic French butter cake from Brittany, this cake delivers a tender crumb with a buttery depth that feels both nostalgic and refined. It’s an old fashioned French butter cake that relies on everyday ingredients, making it easy enough for busy weeknights while still elegant for special occasions.
You’ll love how this French butter cake recipe comes together quickly, without complicated steps or tools. Like the best French butter cake recipe, it focuses on quality butter and straightforward technique, giving you consistent results every time. This butter cake recipe is family-friendly, customizable, and perfect for pairing with coffee, tea, or fresh fruit.
If you enjoy exploring traditional French cakes or browsing a French cake names list, this recipe is a must-try. It also works beautifully as a base for variations inspired by French butter cakes madeleines or even a French butter cake America’s Test Kitchen–style adaptation. Among all French butter cake recipes, this one stands out for its balance of ease, flavor, and timeless appeal.
Ingredients for This Recipe
The beauty of this French butter cake comes from its simplicity and carefully chosen components. A traditional French butter cake recipe relies on high-quality butter as the star, especially the style used in a French butter cake from Brittany, where rich dairy defines the flavor. Sugar provides gentle sweetness without overpowering the cake, while eggs give structure and a tender crumb typical of an old fashioned French butter cake. Flour creates the foundation, keeping the texture dense yet soft, which is essential in the best French butter cake recipe. A small amount of baking powder helps lift the cake just enough, while salt balances the sweetness and enhances the buttery depth. Vanilla adds warmth without distracting from the classic profile found in traditional French cakes. Every element works together to create a dependable butter cake recipe that fits beautifully among classic French butter cake recipes.
🛒 Ingredients:
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
½ teaspoon salt
1 cup unsalted European-style butter, softened
1 cup granulated sugar
4 large egg yolks
1 large whole egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 tablespoons whole milk (optional, for softer texture)
How to Make This Recipe
Making this French butter cake is all about technique and patience, which is why it has remained a favorite in traditional French cakes for generations. A traditional French butter cake recipe starts by properly creaming the butter and sugar to create a smooth, rich base. This step is essential for achieving the dense yet tender texture found in an old fashioned French butter cake. Eggs are added gradually to build structure, while dry ingredients are gently folded in to preserve the buttery crumb. Inspired by a French butter cake from Brittany, this method avoids overmixing and keeps the focus on flavor. Whether you’re aiming for the best French butter cake recipe or adapting a French butter cake America’s Test Kitchen approach, the process remains simple, reliable, and rewarding. This French butter cake recipe proves that classic techniques still deliver outstanding results.
🛒 Steps:
Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C) and prepare a round cake pan for your French butter cake recipe
Cream softened butter and sugar until pale and fluffy, creating the base of a classic butter cake recipe
Beat in egg yolks one at a time, then add the whole egg for structure and richness
Mix in vanilla extract to enhance the flavor of this traditional French butter cake recipe
Gently fold in flour, baking powder, and salt to maintain the texture of an old fashioned French butter cake
Spread the batter evenly into the pan and smooth the surface
Brush the top with egg wash and lightly score for an authentic French butter cake from Brittany look
Bake until golden and set, then cool before serving among your favorite French butter cake recipes
Expert Cooking Tips
Perfecting a French butter cake comes down to understanding how each component and technique works together. In a traditional French butter cake recipe, butter quality is critical, especially when recreating a French butter cake from Brittany, where rich dairy flavor defines the cake. Using room-temperature ingredients ensures smooth blending and helps achieve the dense yet tender crumb associated with an old fashioned French butter cake. Mixing gently is just as important, as overworking the batter can affect the classic texture found in the best French butter cake recipe. Baking time and temperature should be watched closely to preserve moisture and prevent dryness. These expert techniques, often seen in French butter cake America’s Test Kitchen methods, elevate simple ingredients into one of the most reliable and flavorful traditional French cakes.
💡 Expert Tips:
Use high-fat European-style butter to enhance flavor in French butter cake recipes
Bring eggs and butter to room temperature for a smoother traditional French butter cake recipe
Cream butter and sugar thoroughly to create the structure of an old fashioned French butter cake
Fold dry ingredients gently to maintain the tender crumb of the best French butter cake recipe
Score the top before baking for an authentic French butter cake from Brittany finish
Allow the cake to cool fully before slicing to set the texture properly
FAQs
What makes a traditional French butter cake recipe different from a regular butter cake recipe?
A traditional French butter cake recipe uses a higher butter-to-flour ratio and relies on classic mixing techniques. This creates the dense, rich texture associated with an old fashioned French butter cake rather than the lighter crumb found in standard butter cake recipes.
Is French butter cake from Brittany unique?
Yes, a French butter cake from Brittany is known for its deep buttery flavor due to the region’s exceptional dairy. Many traditional French cakes from this area use European-style butter, which gives French butter cake recipes their signature richness.
Can I adapt this French butter cake recipe like America’s Test Kitchen?
This French butter cake recipe can easily be adjusted using a French butter cake America’s Test Kitchen approach by slightly reducing sugar or adjusting baking time while maintaining the classic structure and flavor.
Are French butter cakes madeleines the same as French butter cake?
French butter cakes madeleines share similar ingredients but differ in shape and texture. Madeleines are lighter and smaller, while a French butter cake is denser and more traditional among classic French cakes.
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This French butter cake is a celebration of simplicity, tradition, and flavor. Rooted in a traditional French butter cake recipe and inspired by the buttery richness of a French butter cake from Brittany, it delivers a timeless dessert that never goes out of style. With its tender crumb and deep butter flavor, this old fashioned French butter cake fits perfectly among classic traditional French cakes. Whether you’re baking for family, guests, or a quiet moment at home, this French butter cake recipe offers reliable results and comforting elegance. Among French butter cake recipes, it stands out as a dependable, satisfying choice that brings authentic French baking straight to your kitchen.
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French Butter Cake
- Total Time: 40–45 minutes
- Yield: 10–12 servings 1x
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
A classic French butter cake known for its rich, dense crumb and deep buttery flavor. Inspired by traditional recipes from Brittany, this old-fashioned French cake relies on simple ingredients and high-quality butter to create a melt-in-your-mouth texture. Perfect with coffee or tea, it’s elegant, timeless, and incredibly satisfying.
Ingredients
🛒 Ingredients (for one 9-inch round cake):
For the Cake:
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
½ teaspoon salt
1 cup (2 sticks) European-style unsalted butter, softened
1 cup granulated sugar
4 large egg yolks
1 whole egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 tablespoons whole milk (optional, for softer crumb)
For the Top (Traditional Finish):
1 egg yolk
1 tablespoon milk or cream
Optional: pinch of coarse sugar
Instructions
📝 Instructions:
Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and line a 9-inch round cake pan with parchment.
In a medium bowl, whisk flour, baking powder, and salt.
In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar until pale and fluffy (about 3–4 minutes).
Beat in egg yolks one at a time, then add the whole egg and vanilla. Mix until smooth.
Gradually fold in dry ingredients just until combined. Add milk only if batter feels too thick.
Spread batter evenly into the prepared pan and smooth the top.
Whisk egg yolk with milk and brush gently over the surface.
Using a fork, lightly score a crosshatch pattern on top — a signature look of traditional French butter cake.
Bake for 40–45 minutes, until the top is golden brown and a toothpick inserted comes out clean.
Cool in the pan for 15 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
Notes
Butter Matters: Use high-fat European butter for authentic flavor.
Texture Tip: This cake is meant to be dense, not fluffy.
Serving Idea: Serve plain, with berries, or a light dusting of powdered sugar.
Make Ahead: Flavor improves the next day — ideal for advance baking.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 35–40 minutes
- Category: Dessert / Tea Cake
- Method: Baked
- Cuisine: French (Brittany)