Brown Butter Layer Cake Recipe

Ingredients
Equipment
Directions
FAQs
Find answers to your most pressing questions about this delicious recipe right here.
This decadent cake requires unsalted butter (for browning), granulated and brown sugar, eggs, vanilla, flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, buttermilk, powdered sugar, heavy cream, and optional vanilla beans and toasted nuts for decoration.
Learn how to cook Brown Butter Layer Cake by first browning butter until amber and nutty, then incorporating it into a vanilla-speckled batter. Bake in three pans, cool completely, then assemble with brown butter frosting between layers. The key is properly browning the butter for both cake and frosting to achieve that signature caramel-like flavour.
Brown butter adds a complex, nutty flavour that transforms ordinary baked goods into extraordinary treats. The process of browning cooks off water content and caramelises milk solids, creating deeper, more intense flavours with hints of toffee, caramel, and toasted nuts.
Yes! The layers can be baked up to 2 days ahead and wrapped tightly in cling film. You can also fully assemble and frost the cake a day before serving. The flavours actually develop and improve as it sits, making this an ideal make-ahead dessert for parties.
Butter can burn easily because of its milk solids. Use medium-low heat, a light-coloured pan to monitor colour changes, and swirl instead of stirring. Once it smells nutty with amber colour, immediately transfer to a heatproof container to prevent overcooking.
Layer Cakes
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