Copycat California Pizza Kitchen Butter Cake Recipe

This California Pizza Kitchen Butter Cake recipe is dense, sweet, moist, and maybe even better than the original!

Served warm, it’s kind of like a sugar cookie, and a pound cake had a baby. So it’s buttery, tender, and pretty much to die for.

CPK Butter Cake Recipe

This CPK Butter Cake is unique because it consists of two layers.

First, you have a dense and tender butter cake on the bottom that’s insanely delicious. This would be incredible on its own!

But then, you’ll add a decadent cream cheese layer that’s a little like cheesecake.

As it bakes, the whole thing infuses together to make one incredible dessert.

Another key to making this just right is the size. It’s perfect because it’s made in individual portions and served warm, right from the oven.

This way, you know it will be wonderfully crisp around the edges with an insanely moist and fudgy center.

I don’t recommend making this in a large pan because it will likely overcook on the edges before the middle is ready.

Ingredients

This recipe calls for pantry staples, but yields a cake that’s almost too good to be true!

• Butter - it’s a butter cake, right?
• Cream Cheese - this adds such a tasty and tangy flavor, making it almost cheesecake-like
• Sugar - for sweetness
• Eggs - to add richness, bind the ingredients, and help lift the cake
• Salt - to balance the flavors
• Flour - for structure
• Vanilla - for sweet warmth

How To Make California Pizza Kitchen’s Butter Cake 

This recipe is enough for 4 servings - I like to use ramekins.

Remember to take out all the ingredients about 30 minutes early so they can come to room temperature.

1. Preheat the oven to 325°F/ 160°C and spray 4 ramekins with cooking spray. 
2. Line the bottom of each with a disc of parchment paper, then pop them on a baking tray and set aside.
3. Beat the butter and cream cheese (cake batter) until smooth, then add the sugar and beat until light and fluffy.
4. Add the egg and vanilla, and mix until fully incorporated. Be careful to not over-mix.
5. Add the salt and the flour, then stir gently with a spatula until you no longer see flour streaks.
6. Set the cake batter aside. 
7. In a separate bowl, beat the cream cheese and sugar until well combined.
8. Add the half egg (whisk a whole egg in a small bowl and add half to the batter by weight) and the vanilla, then mix until smooth.
9. Divide the cake batter between the four greased ramekins and gently smooth the top with a spatula or butter knife. 
10. Divide the cream cheese mixture between the four ramekins then bake for 55-65 minutes (or until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean). 
11. Remove the tray from the oven and leave them to cool on a wire rack for 5-10 minutes. 
12. Run a butter knife around the edges and release the cakes onto plates. 
13. Serve warm with a scoop of ice cream.

How To Serve California Pizza Kitchen Butter Cake

CKP Butter Cake should be served warm with a big scoop of decent vanilla ice cream. But that’s not all you can do with it!

• It’s great cold, too, with some berry compote
• Add a drizzle of chocolate or caramel sauce
• Serve it with a lemon glaze