If you love the rich, buttery flavor of classic Southern Kentucky Butter Cake, get ready to fall in love all over again — in cookie form! These Kentucky Butter Cake Cookies are soft, golden, and tender, with a sweet buttery glaze that soaks in and gives each bite a melt-in-your-mouth texture.
Perfect for holidays, potlucks, or an afternoon treat with coffee, these cookies are simple to make, absolutely divine to taste, and guaranteed to disappear fast.
💛 Why You’ll Love Kentucky Butter Cake Cookies
- 🧈 Rich and buttery: Classic Southern flavor in every bite.
- 🍪 Soft and cake-like: Light texture that practically melts on your tongue.
- 🍯 Glazed to perfection: Sweet buttery drizzle soaks into the cookies.
- 🍰 Easy to make: No rolling or chilling required — just mix, bake, and glaze.
- 🎁 Perfect for gifting: Pretty, fragrant, and universally loved!
🧂 Ingredients You’ll Need
For the Cookies:
- 1 box yellow cake mix (15.25 oz)
- ½ cup unsalted butter, softened
- 2 large eggs
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- ¼ tsp almond extract (optional for extra richness)
For the Butter Glaze:
- ⅓ cup unsalted butter
- ¾ cup granulated sugar
- 2 tbsp water
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
👩🍳 How to Make Kentucky Butter Cake Cookies
Step 1: Preheat the Oven
Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
Line two baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats.
Step 2: Make the Cookie Dough
In a large mixing bowl, combine the cake mix, softened butter, eggs, vanilla, and almond extract (if using).
Mix until well blended and a thick, sticky dough forms. You can use a hand mixer or a wooden spoon — no stand mixer needed!
Step 3: Scoop and Bake
Scoop about 1½ tablespoons of dough for each cookie and roll lightly into a ball.
Place them about 2 inches apart on your baking sheets.
Bake for 9–11 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden but the centers are still soft.
(Do not overbake — they’ll firm up as they cool!)
Step 4: Make the Butter Glaze
While the cookies bake, make the glaze:
- In a small saucepan over medium heat, combine butter, sugar, and water.
- Stir until the butter melts and sugar dissolves completely.
- Remove from heat and stir in vanilla extract.
The glaze should be smooth, silky, and slightly thickened — not grainy.
Step 5: Glaze the Cookies
Once the cookies come out of the oven, let them cool for 2–3 minutes on the pan.
Then, while they’re still warm, brush or spoon the glaze over the tops of each cookie.
As the cookies cool, the buttery glaze will soak in, creating that signature Kentucky Butter Cake flavor — rich, moist, and unforgettable! 💛
Step 6: Cool and Enjoy
Let the cookies sit until the glaze sets slightly.
Enjoy warm or at room temperature — they’re divine either way!
🍯 Tips for the Perfect Butter Cake Cookies
- Don’t overbake: These cookies are meant to stay soft and tender.
- Glaze while warm: The warm cookies absorb the butter glaze beautifully.
- Add a hint of citrus: A touch of lemon zest in the dough adds a lovely brightness.
- Try brown butter: For deeper flavor, use browned butter instead of regular butter in the glaze.
- Make it fancy: Dust cooled cookies with powdered sugar before serving.
🍪 Serving Suggestions
Kentucky Butter Cake Cookies are heavenly on their own, but they’re even better when paired with:
- A cup of hot coffee or tea ☕
- A scoop of vanilla ice cream 🍦
- A drizzle of caramel or chocolate sauce 🍫
- A side of fresh berries 🍓
They also make an elegant addition to dessert platters, cookie swaps, and holiday tins.
🧊 Storage & Freezing
To Store:
Keep cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days.
To Freeze:
Freeze baked and cooled cookies (without glaze) for up to 3 months. Thaw and warm slightly before adding glaze.
Make-Ahead Tip:
The dough can be prepared ahead of time and refrigerated for up to 24 hours.
🕒 Quick Recipe Recap
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Prep Time | 10 minutes |
| Bake Time | 10 minutes |
| Total Time | 25 minutes |
| Servings | 20–24 cookies |
| Difficulty | Easy |
| Category | Dessert / Cookies |
🍰 Variations to Try
- 🧈 Brown Sugar Butter Cookies: Replace half the sugar in the glaze with brown sugar for a caramelized twist.
- 🍋 Lemon Butter Cake Cookies: Add lemon extract and zest to the dough for a bright flavor.
- 🍫 Butter Cake Sandwich Cookies: Spread frosting between two cookies for a decadent treat.
- 🥥 Coconut Butter Cookies: Stir in shredded coconut and top with a coconut glaze.
💛 Final Thoughts
These Kentucky Butter Cake Cookies are everything you love about the traditional Southern dessert — buttery, sweet, and perfectly tender — in a handheld, easy-to-make cookie form.
They’re rich without being heavy, simple yet elegant, and always crowd-pleasing. From holiday gatherings to weekday indulgences, one bite of these cookies will make you feel right at home in the heart of the South.
So go ahead, whip up a batch of these buttery bites of heaven, and watch them disappear before they even have time to cool! 🍰💛🍪
Print
Kentucky Butter Cake Cookies – Soft, Buttery, and Melt-in-Your-Mouth Delicious ✨
Ingredients
• ½ cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened
• ¾ cup granulated sugar
• 1 egg
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 ¾ cups all-purpose flour
• ½ tsp baking powder
• ¼ tsp salt
• 2 tbsp milk (dairy or plant-based)
For the butter glaze:
• ¼ cup (½ stick) unsalted butter, melted
• 1 cup powdered sugar
• 1–2 tbsp milk or cream
• ½ tsp vanilla extract
• Pinch of salt
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Line baking sheets with parchment paper.
- In a large bowl, beat butter and sugar until light and fluffy (2–3 minutes).
- Beat in egg and vanilla until smooth.
- In another bowl, whisk flour, baking powder, and salt. Gradually add to wet ingredients, alternating with milk. Mix until just combined.
- Scoop tablespoon-sized balls of dough and place on trays (they spread slightly).
- Bake 9–11 minutes, until edges are golden but centers are soft.
- Let cool on the tray 5 minutes—they’ll firm up as they cool.
Make the glaze:
8. While cookies cool, whisk melted butter, powdered sugar, 1 tbsp milk, vanilla, and salt. Add more milk for a thinner drizzle.
9. Dip the top of each cookie into the glaze or drizzle generously.
10. Let set 5–10 minutes before serving.
✨ These are delicate, buttery, and perfect with coffee or tea!
💡 Store airtight at room temp for up to 5 days—glaze keeps them moist!
PREP TIME & NUTRITION :
Prep Time : 15 mins , Cook Time : 10 mins , Total Time : 30 mins , Servings : 18 cookies , Calories : 130 , Net Carbs: 16g , Fats: 7g , Protein: 2g