American
👍 Beginner Friendly
1h 5measy
AmericanDessert
Recipe Story
origins & traditionsKentucky Butter Bars are a beloved Southern-inspired dessert that combines the best of both worlds: a moist, tender cake base and a luscious butter glaze that seeps into every bite. These bars start with a simple yellow cake foundation enriched with sour cream for extra moisture and tang. What sets them apart is the finishing touch - a warm butter glaze made with real butter, sugar, and a hint of rum extract that is poured over the hot cake immediately after baking. As the glaze soaks in, it creates pockets of sweet, buttery goodness throughout the bars. The result is a dessert that is simultaneously rich yet light, sweet but not cloying, with a texture that practically dissolves on your tongue. Perfect for potlucks, church socials, family reunions, or simply enjoying with afternoon coffee, these bars have become a staple across America. They travel well, slice beautifully, and always disappear quickly from any dessert table.
Instructions
step by step0/10 done
Preheat your oven to 325°F. Grease a 9x13-inch casserole dish thoroughly with butter or cooking spray and lightly dust with flour, tapping out excess.
In a large mixing bowl, cream together 1 cup softened butter and 2 cups sugar using a hand mixer on medium speed until light and fluffy, about 3-4 minutes.
Add 4 eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Mix in 2 teaspoons vanilla extract.
In a separate bowl, whisk together 3 cups flour, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1 teaspoon baking powder.
Add the dry ingredients to the butter mixture alternately with 1 cup sour cream, beginning and ending with flour mixture. Mix on low speed just until combined - do not overmix.
Pour batter into prepared pan and spread evenly with a rubber spatula. Tap pan gently on counter to release air bubbles.
Bake for 35-40 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean and the top is golden brown.
While cake bakes, prepare the glaze: In a small saucepan over medium heat, combine 3/4 cup sugar, 1/3 cup butter, 3 tablespoons milk, and 1 teaspoon vanilla extract. Stir constantly until butter melts and sugar dissolves completely. Do not boil.
When cake comes out of oven, immediately poke holes all over the surface using a wooden skewer or fork, spacing holes about 1 inch apart.
Pour warm glaze evenly over hot cake, spreading gently with a spatula to ensure complete coverage. Let cake cool completely in pan before cutting into 12 bars.
Kentucky Butter Bars
4.8 (96)
Rich, buttery dessert bars with a sweet glaze that soaks into tender cake, creating an irresistible melt-in-your-mouth treat perfect for any gathering or afternoon indulgence.
easy
55 min
12 servings
Ingredients
0 of 11 checked
Cake Batter
- 1 cups butter, softened
- 2 cups sugar
- 4 pieces eggs, room temperature
- 2 teaspoons vanilla-extract
- 3 cups flour
- 1 teaspoons salt
- 1 cups sour-cream, room temperature
Glaze
- 1/3 cups butter
- 3/4 cups sugar
- 3 tablespoons milk
- 1 teaspoons vanilla-extract
Chef Tips
expert advice•For extra richness, substitute half-and-half for the milk in the glaze.
•If you prefer alcohol-free, vanilla extract works perfectly in place of rum extract.
•These bars actually improve after sitting overnight as the glaze continues to penetrate the cake.
•For a variation, add 1/2 cup toasted chopped pecans to the batter or sprinkle them on top of the glaze.
•The bars can be made a day ahead - just cover tightly with foil.
•For a lighter version, you can use reduced-fat sour cream and cut the butter in the glaze by half, though the texture will be slightly less rich.
•To ensure even baking, rotate the pan halfway through cooking time.
•The bars are done when the edges just start to pull away from the sides of the pan.
•Let them cool completely before cutting for the cleanest slices.
