Copycat Maggiano’s Gigi Butter Cake
The famous rich, buttery vanilla cake with a crispy sugar crust – just like the restaurant version!
🍰 Why You’ll Love This Recipe
✔ Ultra-moist with a tender crumb
✔ Crispy caramelized sugar topping (the signature touch!)
✔ Simple ingredients – No fancy techniques needed
📝 Ingredients
(Serves 8-10)
For the Cake:
- 1½ cups (3 sticks / 340g) unsalted butter, softened
- 2 cups (400g) granulated sugar
- 5 large eggs, room temperature
- 2 tsp vanilla extract (or 1 tsp vanilla bean paste)
- 2 cups (250g) all-purpose flour
- ½ tsp salt
For the Topping:
- ¼ cup (50g) granulated sugar (for sprinkling)
- Powdered sugar (for dusting, optional)
👩🍳 Step-by-Step Instructions
1. Prep & Cream Butter/Sugar
- Preheat oven to 325°F (165°C). Grease a 9-inch springform pan.
- In a stand mixer, beat butter and sugar on high for 5-7 mins until pale and fluffy.
- Add eggs one at a time, mixing well after each.
- Mix in vanilla.
2. Add Dry Ingredients
- Gently fold in flour and salt by hand (overmixing = dense cake).
3. Bake
- Pour batter into prepared pan; smooth top.
- Sprinkle ¼ cup sugar evenly over the top (this creates the crispy crust!).
- Bake 60-70 mins until golden and a toothpick comes out clean.
4. Cool & Serve
- Let cool 20 mins in the pan, then remove the ring.
- Dust with powdered sugar (optional). Serve warm with:
- Vanilla ice cream
- Fresh berries
- Whipped cream
💡 Chef’s Tips
✔ Use room-temperature ingredients – Ensures even mixing.
✔ Don’t overbake – The center should still be slightly soft.
✔ For extra flavor – Add 1 tbsp lemon zest or almond extract.
🔥 Why This Tastes Like Maggiano’s
- The sugar topping caramelizes into a delicate crackly crust.
- High butter content gives it that signature richness.
- Slightly underbaked center keeps it luxuriously moist.
🔄 Variations
- Chocolate Chip: Fold in 1 cup mini chocolate chips.
- Lemon Poppyseed: Add 2 tbsp lemon zest + 1 tbsp poppy seeds.
- Almond: Substitute 1 tsp vanilla with almond extract.
This cake tastes even better the next day as the flavors meld! Store covered at room temp for up to 3 days.
Fun fact: The real Gigi Butter Cake is named after Maggiano’s former executive chef’s daughter! ❤️
Will you try it classic or with a twist? 😊
