Kentucky Butter Cake Cookies Soft, Buttery & Irresistible Recipe

The Golden Kentucky Butter Cake Cookies Recipe You’ll Adore

Sweet memories of grandma’s kitchen come alive with this kentucky butter cake cookies recipe that melts in your mouth.

Delicate crumbs promise pure comfort and nostalgia with every single bite.

Butter transforms simple ingredients into a magical treat that whispers southern charm.

Creamy textures blend seamlessly, creating cookies so rich they practically dance on your palate.

Generations of bakers have perfected this delightful recipe, passing down secrets from one loving hand to another.

Each morsel carries a promise of pure indulgence that beckons you to savor every single crumb.

You won’t be able to resist these irresistibly soft, melt-in-your-mouth delights.

What Makes Butter Cake Cookies So Buttery and Soft

  • Savor Simplicity: Quick-Mix Delight that requires minimal kitchen skills and delivers maximum flavor.
  • Create Crowd-Pleaser: Perfect for gatherings, potlucks, and family celebrations where everyone craves something sweet and comforting.
  • Master No-Fuss Baking: Transforms basic cake mix into decadent cookies with just a few ingredients, making it ideal for bakers of all experience levels.
  • Indulge Butter Lover's Dream: Delivers rich, buttery taste through both cookie base and luxurious glaze, satisfying intense sweet cravings with every bite.

Ingredients for Kentucky Butter Cake Cookies

For the Cookie Base:
  • Yellow Cake Mix: A convenient mix that provides the foundational flavor and texture for the cookies.
  • Eggs: Bind the ingredients together and add richness to the cookie dough.
  • Melted Butter: Delivers a deep, rich buttery flavor and helps create a soft cookie texture.
For the Wet Ingredients:
  • Milk: Adds moisture and helps create a smoother cookie consistency.
  • Vanilla Extract: Enhances the overall flavor profile with its warm, sweet notes.
For the Butter Glaze:
  • Powdered Sugar: Creates a smooth, sweet glaze that coats the cookies.
  • Melted Butter: Adds a rich, indulgent flavor to the glaze.
  • Milk: Helps thin the glaze to the perfect drizzling consistency.

How to Make Soft Kentucky Butter Cake Cookies

Step 1: Warm Up the Oven

Crank your oven to 350F (175C) and get ready for some baking magic.

Step 2: Blend Cookie Dough

In a mixing bowl, combine:
  • Cake mix
  • Whisked eggs
  • Melted butter

Stir everything until the mixture looks smooth and well-incorporated.

Step 3: Shape and Bake Cookies

Grab a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Use a spoon to drop dollops of dough, making sure to leave some breathing room between each cookie.

Slide the sheet into the preheated oven and bake for 8-10 minutes until edges look slightly golden.

Step 4: Whip Up the Glaze

While cookies are baking, create a delectable glaze by mixing:
  • Melted butter
  • Powdered sugar
  • Vanilla extract
  • Milk

Whisk until the mixture becomes silky and lump-free.

Step 5: Drench Cookies in Glaze

Pull cookies from the oven and immediately drizzle the warm glaze over each one. Watch as the glaze seeps into every delicious crevice.

Step 6: Cool and Devour

Let the cookies rest for a few moments, allowing the glaze to set. Then dive into these irresistibly soft, buttery treats that will melt in your mouth.

  • Choose a vanilla or yellow cake mix for the most authentic Kentucky butter cake cookie flavor, ensuring a rich, nostalgic taste.
  • Chill the cookie dough for 15-20 minutes before baking to minimize excessive spreading and maintain a perfect round shape.
  • Apply the butter glaze immediately after baking while cookies are still warm, allowing the sweet mixture to seep into every delicious crumb.
  • Watch cookies closely during the 8-10 minute baking window; remove when edges are lightly golden to maintain a soft, tender texture.
  • Keep cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days, separating layers with parchment paper to preserve their delicate structure.
  • Lemon Zest Butter Cookies: Add fresh lemon zest to the dough and replace milk in the glaze with lemon juice for a bright, citrusy flavor profile.
  • Chocolate Chip Butter Cookies: Fold mini chocolate chips into the cookie dough before baking for extra richness and texture.
  • Nutty Butter Cookies: Mix chopped pecans or walnuts into the dough and sprinkle toasted nuts on top of the glaze for a crunchy element.
  • Cinnamon Swirl Butter Cookies: Incorporate ground cinnamon into the dough and create a cinnamon-sugar swirl on top of the glaze for a warm, comforting taste.

What to Serve With Butter Cake Cookies

  • Pair Vanilla Cream Coffee: Smooth, rich vanilla coffee complements the buttery sweetness of the cookies, creating a luxurious taste experience that enhances the dessert's rich flavor profile.
  • Serve with Caramel Macchiato: Creamy caramel notes blend perfectly with the butter cake cookies, providing a decadent and indulgent pairing that elevates the dessert's warm, comforting essence.
  • Match with Toasted Almond Milk: Nutty, subtle almond milk offers a delightful contrast to the cookies' sweet glaze, cutting through the richness while adding a gentle, complementary undertone.
  • Accompany with Vanilla Bean Ice Cream: Cool, creamy vanilla ice cream creates a delightful temperature and texture contrast, making each bite of the warm, buttery cookie a heavenly moment of pure dessert bliss.

Best Storage Tips for Butter Cake Cookies

Store cooled cookies in an airtight container for up to 5 days, placing parchment paper between layers to prevent sticking.

Wrap individual cookies in plastic wrap, place in freezer bag, and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw at room temperature for 30 minutes before serving.

Warm cookies on a baking sheet at 300F for 3-5 minutes to restore softness and refresh glaze.

Heat cookies on a microwave-safe plate for 10-15 seconds to slightly warm and soften texture.

FAQs

  • Can I use a different cake mix flavor?

Yes, you can experiment with other cake mix flavors like vanilla, chocolate, or funfetti to create unique cookie variations.

  • Do I need any special equipment to make these cookies?

No, just basic baking tools like a mixing bowl, baking sheet, and measuring cups are needed to make these simple cookies.

  • How do I know when the cookies are done baking?

Look for lightly golden edges and a soft center. They should be set but not completely firm when you remove them from the oven.

  • Can I make the dough ahead of time?

Yes, you can prepare the cookie dough in advance and refrigerate it for up to 2 days before baking, or freeze the dough balls for later use.

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Kentucky Butter Cake Cookies Soft, Buttery & Irresistible Recipe

Kentucky Butter Cake Cookies Soft, Buttery & Irresistible! Recipe


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4.6 from 15 reviews

  • Total Time: 25 minutes
  • Yield: 24 1x

Description

Kentucky Butter Cake Cookies bring nostalgic Southern charm to classic dessert traditions. Rich butter and delicate crumb promise sweet comfort with each delightful bite you’ll savor.


Ingredients

Scale

Cookies Base:

  • 1 box white cake mix
  • 2 eggs
  • 1/3 cup (75 milliliters) butter, melted

Butter Glaze:

  • 1/4 cup (60 milliliters) butter, melted
  • 1/2 cup (60 grams) powdered sugar
  • 1 tablespoon milk
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Baking Essentials:

  • No additional ingredients needed

Instructions

  1. Prepare the oven environment by heating to 350F (175C), ensuring a consistent temperature for optimal baking.
  2. Create the cookie base by thoroughly blending cake mix with whisked eggs and melted butter until a uniform dough forms.
  3. Carefully distribute rounded spoonfuls of dough onto a lined baking sheet, maintaining adequate spacing between each cookie to prevent merging.
  4. Slide the prepared sheet into the preheated oven and bake for 8-10 minutes, watching for slight golden edges as a doneness indicator.
  5. During baking, craft the luxurious glaze by whisking melted butter, powdered sugar, vanilla extract, and milk until achieving a silky, smooth consistency.
  6. Immediately after removing cookies from the oven, generously drizzle the warm glaze over each cookie, allowing it to seep into the soft surfaces.
  7. Allow cookies to rest and absorb the glaze for a few minutes, enabling the flavors to meld and the texture to settle into delectable, buttery perfection.
  8. Serve at room temperature, presenting these irresistibly tender butter cake cookies as a delightful sweet treat.

Notes

  • Customize the cake mix flavor by choosing different varieties like vanilla, yellow, or even chocolate for unique cookie variations.
  • Chill the dough for 30 minutes before baking to prevent spreading and create more uniform cookies with a perfect texture.
  • Adjust the glaze consistency by adding more milk for a thinner drizzle or more powdered sugar for a thicker coating.
  • Transform these cookies into a gluten-free option by using a gluten-free cake mix and ensuring all ingredients are gluten-free certified.
  • Prep Time: 15 minutes
  • Cook Time: 10 minutes
  • Category: Desserts, Snacks
  • Method: Baking
  • Cuisine: American

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 24
  • Calories: 140 kcal
  • Sugar: 8 g
  • Sodium: 100 mg
  • Fat: 7 g
  • Saturated Fat: 4 g
  • Unsaturated Fat: 2.5 g
  • Trans Fat: 0.1 g
  • Carbohydrates: 18 g
  • Fiber: 0.3 g
  • Protein: 1.5 g
  • Cholesterol: 30 mg
Nate Harper

Nate Harper

Founder & Recipe Curator

Expertise

Single-Recipe Development, Farm-to-Table Cooking, Seasonal Menu Planning, Culinary Storytelling, Home Kitchen Innovation

Education

Cascade Culinary Institute – Central Oregon Community College
Certificate in Culinary Arts

Focus: Farm-to-table cuisine, sustainable cooking practices, and seasonal recipe creation.

Nate studied under experienced chefs who emphasized local sourcing, minimal waste, and building recipes from fresh, simple ingredients.


Nate Harper is the founder and creative force behind Make, Take, Bake. Raised in the wild beauty of Oregon’s high desert, Nate grew up surrounded by family gardens, farmers’ markets, and home kitchens that celebrated the seasons.
His early love for simple, honest food evolved into a professional passion when he attended Cascade Culinary Institute, where he sharpened his skills in creating recipes that are sustainable, satisfying, and made for everyday life.
Nate’s goal is to make cooking feel accessible, free of fuss, and full of flavor. He believes a single, thoughtfully built dish can stand alone, and sometimes even steal the show.

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