Copycat Crumbl Kentucky Butter Cake Cookie Recipe – Honest Review
This Crumbl cookie tastes like Southern comfort! It's a warm yellow butter cake cookie dripping with melted buttery glaze and dusted with powdered sugar. The texture is soft and cake-like, the glaze soaks in and creates pockets of sweet butter flavor, and it's served warm so it's extra indulgent. Pure butter heaven.
Ingredients
Main ingredients
- all-purpose flour 2.25 cups
- cornstarch 2 tbsp
- baking powder 2 tsp
- salt 0.5 tsp
- unsalted butter 1.5 sticks
- cream cheese 2 oz
- granulated sugar 1.5 cups
- eggs 2 pieces
- vanilla extract 2 tsp
- butter extract 1 tsp
- whole milk 0.25 cups
Seasonings/Sauce
- unsalted butter 0.5 stick
- granulated sugar 0.5 cups
- evaporated milk 2 tbsp
- vanilla extract 0.5 tsp
- powdered sugar 2 tbsp
Nutrition summary
Carbohydrates
75 g
51%
Protein
6 g
4%
Fat
29 g
45%
Cooking steps
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1
Preheat oven to 350°F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper and set aside.
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2
In a large bowl, cream 1.5 sticks butter, cream cheese, and granulated sugar together for 3–4 minutes, until pale and fluffy. This aeration helps achieve Crumbl’s signature thick, cake-like crumb.
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3
Mix in eggs one at a time, followed by vanilla and butter extracts. Scrape down the bowl to ensure a fully emulsified batter — this is key for a tender center.
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4
Sift together flour, cornstarch, baking powder, and salt. Add dry ingredients to wet ingredients alternately with whole milk, mixing just until blended. Cornstarch is the secret copycat tip: it makes the cookie soft and rich, just like Crumbl.
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5
Portion dough into 8 oversized balls (about 140g each, 4–5 inches diameter). Chill dough balls for at least 1 hour; this step prevents the cookies from spreading flat and guarantees soft, thick centers.
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6
Bake for 13–15 minutes until edges are just set and centers are still pale and soft. Do not overbake! Cookies should look slightly underdone in the middle for that true Crumbl texture.
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7
While cookies bake, prepare the glaze: melt 0.5 stick butter in a small saucepan, stir in 0.5 cup sugar, evaporated milk, and vanilla extract. Warm until the sugar dissolves, then remove from heat.
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8
When cookies come out of the oven, immediately spoon glaze over each warm cookie, letting it soak in. Cool slightly, then dust generously with powdered sugar.
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9
Serve warm for the ultimate Kentucky Butter Cake Cookie experience — the glaze pockets and soft crumb are exactly like Crumbl’s!
Personalized Q&A
Q. Does this actually taste like the Crumbl Kentucky Butter Cake Cookie?
Yes, this recipe uses high butter and cornstarch for a rich, soft crumb, plus cream cheese for extra tenderness. The melted butter glaze soaks in — just like Crumbl’s, creating pockets of indulgent flavor. Portioning oversized cookies and chilling dough ensures the signature thick, slightly underbaked texture.
Q. Why did my cookies spread too thin?
Usually, this happens if the dough was not chilled or the butter was too warm. Chilling the portioned dough balls for at least an hour is essential — it helps the cookies stay thick and puffy during baking, which is exactly how Crumbl achieves their look.
Q. Can I use margarine instead of unsalted butter?
While you can substitute margarine, the copycat will lose the signature buttery flavor and mouthfeel. Unsalted butter is critical for authentic Crumbl richness, especially in both the cookie and the glaze. Dairy butter also helps the glaze soak in properly.
Q. How many calories are in each Kentucky Butter Cake Cookie?
Each Crumbl-sized cookie contains about 589 kcal, with 75g carbs (51%), 6g protein (4%), and 29g fat (45%). These cookies are large, luxurious, and meant to be a special treat.
Q. How long do Kentucky Butter Cake Cookies stay fresh and can they be frozen?
These cookies stay fresh for up to 3 days at room temperature, or up to 5 days in the fridge if sealed well. You can freeze baked cookies for up to 2 months — thaw and warm slightly for best texture. Glaze fresh after thawing for extra flavor pockets.
