When it says “buttery” right in the title, you know this cake’s going to be something special. Just ask home cook Joan Gertz from Palmetto, Florida. As soon as she found the recipe for her Blue-Ribbon Butter Cake in an old cookbook, she couldn’t wait to try it. “I knew it had been someone’s favorite because of the well-worn page,” she says. It’s easy to see why: this tender cake comes together in a few easy steps with simple ingredients and-of course-lots of buttery goodness.
But the real standout is the cake’s almond-y sauce that gets poured over the top and soaks right into the cake itself. And it’s easy to customize: Got chocolate on the brain? Mix in a little cocoa powder! Are you a lemon lover? Swap in lemon extract for that perfect pucker. Or just leave it as is-this simple cake has just a touch of sweetness, making it the perfect end to dinner or a lovely way to start your day at breakfast, too.
This just may become your go-to cake for every gathering, but if you’re looking to give your fluted tube pan a few more spins, check out some of our other favorite Bundt cake recipes that make any occasion extra special.
Check Out Even More Blue-Ribbon Recipes
Blueberry Lattice Bars
Since our area has an annual blueberry festival, my daughters and I are always looking for great new berry recipes to enter in the cooking contest. These lovely yummy bars won a blue ribbon one year. —Debbie Ayers, Baileyville, Maine
Amish Sugar Cookies
These easy-to-make cookies simply melt in your mouth! I’ve passed the recipe around to many friends. After I gave it to my sister, she entered the cookies in a local fair and won the best of show prize! —Sylvia Ford, Kennett, Missouri
Sesame Wheat Braids
When I started making this bread, my husband and our six children liked it so much I was baking every day. I was thrilled when the judges at our county fair gave these braids both a blue ribbon and best of show award! —Nancy Montgomery, Hartville, Ohio
Blue-Ribbon Doughnuts
What could be more delicious than a warm homemade doughnut? I’ve been making these tasty treats for my children and grandchildren for many years. —Kay McEwen, Sussex, New Brunswick
Tropical Muffins
I entered these muffins at our county fair and won the grand champion award for baked goods. They’re so moist, they don’t need butter. —Sylvia Osborn, Clay Center, Kansas
Blue-Ribbon Butter Cake
I found this recipe in an old cookbook I bought at a garage sale and couldn’t wait to try it. I knew it had been someone’s favorite because of the well-worn page. —Joan Gertz, Palmetto, Florida
Aunt Rose’s Fantastic Butter Toffee
I don’t live in the country, but I love everything about it—especially good old-fashioned home cooking! Every year, you’ll find me at our county fair, entering a different contest. This toffee recipe is a family favorite. —Kathy Dorman, Snover, Michigan
Winning Apricot Bars
This recipe is “down-home” baking at its best, and it really represents all regions of the country! It’s won blue ribbons at county fairs and cookie contests in several states! This treat is easy to make, and it’s perfect for potluck suppers, bake sales, lunch boxes or just plain snacking. —Jill Moritz, Irvine, California
Muenster Bread
My sister and I won blue ribbons in 4-H with this bread many years ago. The recipe makes a beautiful, round golden loaf. With a layer of cheese peeking out of every slice, it’s definitely worth the effort. —Melanie Mero, Ida, Michigan
Five-Star Brownies
There’s a bit of my state’s history behind these brownies’ name and shape. In 1990, when I entered them at our state fair, Kansas was celebrating the 100th birthday of a famous native son, Dwight Eisenhower. In fact, that occasion was the theme of the fair. So I renamed my brownies, in honor of the rank he’d achieved as a general and cut them out with a star cookie cutter. They ended up winning a blue ribbon! —Pam Buerki Rogers, Victoria, Kansas
Barbecued Shrimp & Peach Kabobs
Shrimp grilled with peaches and green onions really sets off fireworks! The spicy seasonings even helped me win a ribbon at a county fair. —Jen Smallwood, Portsmouth, Virginia
Apple-Cherry Cream Cheese Pie
A layer of sweetened cream cheese topped with a tart fruit filling makes this pie popular with family, friends and co-workers. It won the blue ribbon at a local fair.—Donna L. Rettew, Jonestown, Pennsylvania
Blue Ribbon Beefy Burritos
I have a son who lives in Mexico, so we don’t see him very often. When I make these burritos, it feels as if he is right there at the table with us, inhaling them. —Marina Castle, Canyon Country, California
Corn Chowder with Potatoes
I developed this soup out of two others to create my own low-calorie recipe. It turned out so well that I entered it in my county fair and won a blue ribbon. —Alyce Wyman, Pembina, North Dakota
Blue-Ribbon Herb Rolls
These rolls have been a favorite of ours for nearly 25 years. I even baked them in an old wood stove when we lived on a farm. I developed the recipe using several techniques I learned while studying the art of bread making. The recipe won a blue ribbon at our county fair. —Mary Ann Evans, Tarpon Springs, Florida
Blue-Ribbon Apple Pie
This pie is special to me because I won a blue ribbon for it at the local fair and was able to compete at the state farm show. —Collette Gaugler, Fogelsville, Pennsylvania
Blue Ribbon Red Velvet Cake
This two-layer beauty features a striking red interior. It calls for more baking cocoa than most red velvet cakes, making it extra chocolaty. Feel free to change the color of the food coloring to suit the occasion. I’m proud to say that this recipe won a blue ribbon in the holiday cake division at the 2006 Alaska State Fair. I think it will be a winner in your house, too! —Cindi DeClue, Anchorage, Alaska
Cheese & Garlic Biscuits
My biscuits won the division Best Quick Bread at my county fair. One of the judges liked it so much, she asked for the recipe! These buttery, savory biscuits go with just about anything.—Tall Pines Farm, Gloria Jarrett, Loveland, Ohio
Blue Ribbon Carrot Cake Cookies
I created this recipe because I just love carrot cake. I wanted something that I could take with me anywhere and not need a fork. I entered my recipe in the Los Angeles County Fair and the cookies not only won first place, but were also named Best of Division. —Marina Castle, Canyon Country, California
Lime Mint Jelly
This holly-green jelly won a Best of Show at the county fair and I was so thrilled. Flavored with lime, it’s delicious on roasted meats. —Gloria Jarrett, Loveland, Ohio
Brown Sugar Icebox Cookies
My daughters and I have been “fair-ly” successful competitors at county fairs and bake-offs for more than 20 years. This is one of the those winning recipes.—Eilene Bogar, Minier, Illinois
Blue-Ribbon Rye Bread
My kids once had a little bread business, selling homemade loaves to neighbors and other people in the community, including this rye that won best of show at our county fair. —Susanne Spicker, North Ogden, Utah
Cherry No-Bake Cookies
I’ve always loved my no-bake cookie recipe, but I was never able to place at the fair with it. So I mixed in some maraschino cherries, added a few drops of almond extract, and voila! We won a blue ribbon at the county fair in 2010. —Denise Wheeler, Newaygo, Michigan