Name: Brown Butter Vanilla Snack Cake
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 45 min
Yield: 9 slices
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 0.65 cup unsalted butter; 2 tablespoons neutral oil; 0.65 cup granulated sugar; 0.25 cup light brown sugar; 2 eggs; 1 tbsp vanilla bean paste; 0.5 cup sour cream; 0.25 cup whole milk; 1.5 cups all-purpose flour; 2 tablespoons cornstarch; 1.5 teaspoons baking powder; 0.125 tsp baking soda; 0.5 tsp kosher salt; 1 tbsp milk; 0.5 tsp vanilla extract; 0.5 cup powdered sugar; 2 tablespoons milk; 0.25 tsp vanilla extract; 1 pinch kosher salt

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Brown Butter Vanilla Snack Cake

Browndis

Ingredients

Warning0 allergens identified

Instructions

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Instructions

Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).

Line an 8×8-inch pan with parchment, leaving overhang.

Add sliced butter to a light-colored saucepan over medium heat. Melt completely, stirring occasionally. The butter will foam and begin to sizzle. After 5–7 minutes, golden brown bits will form on the bottom. When it smells nutty and toasted, immediately remove from heat. Pour into a heatproof bowl, scraping in all brown bits. Let cool 10–15 minutes until warm, not hot.

In a large bowl, whisk together browned butter, neutral oil, granulated sugar, brown sugar. Whisk until glossy.

Add eggs one at a time, whisking well.

Whisk in vanilla, sour cream, and milk until smooth.

In a separate bowl, whisk flour, cornstarch, baking powder, baking soda, salt. Make sure there are no lumps.

Add dry ingredients to wet ingredients.

Fold gently until just combined.

Do not overmix. The batter should be thick but pourable.

Pour batter into prepared pan. Smooth the top.

Bake for 28–34 minutes.

While cake is warm, mix milk and vanilla.

Lightly brush over the surface. Don't pour.

Whisk glaze ingredients until thick but pourable.

Drizzle over cooled cake.

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Tips & Tricks (5)

Brown Your Butter Slowly 🧈
Cook butter over medium heat for 8-10 minutes, swirling occasionally until it turns golden with a nutty aroma—this develops the cake's signature rich flavor that sets it apart from ordinary cakes.
Sour Cream Creates Moisture 🥄
Use full-fat sour cream and bring it to room temperature before mixing to ensure even distribution throughout the batter, keeping your snack cake tender and moist for days.
Cornstarch Prevents Toughness 🌾
The cornstarch in the flour blend reduces gluten development, creating a tender crumb structure—don't skip it or overmix the batter or you'll end up with a dense cake.
Cool in Pan First ❄️
Let the cake rest in its baking pan for 15-20 minutes before turning out; this allows the structure to set while retaining moisture that would otherwise escape if cooled too quickly.
Vanilla Bean Paste Over Extract 🌸
Vanilla bean paste provides superior flavor depth with visible specks compared to extract alone—add it to both the batter and glaze for a professional café-quality vanilla experience.

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Vegetarian

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