Copycat California Pizza Kitchen Butter Cake from Simmer and Sage

Copycat California Pizza Kitchen Butter Cake - made August 1, 2025 from Simmer and Sage

1 cup unsalted butter

1 cup granulated sugar

2 ounces cream cheese, room temperature

1 large egg

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/4 teaspoon salt

3/4 cup all-purpose flour

Cheesecake Layer

3 ounces cream cheese, room temperature

3 tablespoons granulated sugar

1 large egg white

1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract

1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. Lightly spray 6 ramekins with nonstick cooking spray.
2. In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream butter, granulated sugar and cream cheese until light and fluffy, 2-3 minutes.
3. Add egg, vanilla and salt; beat to combine.
4. Add flour and beat on low speed until just combined. Divide batter equally between the ramekins.
5. In a separate bowl, beat together cream cheese and granulated sugar until well combined. On low speed, beat in egg white and vanilla extract until combined and smooth.
6. Divide cheesecake batter equally between the ramekins, about a tablespoon on top of each ramekin.
7. Place ramekins on baking sheet and bake 40-50 minutes, until tops are golden brown and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean or with a few moist crumbs. Remove from oven and let cool for 10 minutes before releasing from ramekins. Serve warm with ice cream.

I love the butter cake from California Pizza Kitchen, even though I haven't had it in years. But I love how they serve it slightly warm, topped with vanilla ice cream. Plus I like the pound-cakey texture and flavor of the cake itself.

I'd been meaning to try a copycat version - any copycat version - for awhile and finally got around to it. Since I haven't had the real thing in years, I can't remember the original well enough to judge how good a copycat this is to it but I will say this is a pretty good cake on its own.

I did underbake it accidentally by a few minutes. I say accidentially as the toothpick test fooled me into thinking the cake was done when the toothpick came out clean. But as with most cakes with a high butter content, sometimes the toothpick test doesn't work. This could've used a few more minutes in the oven. Still, the flavor of buttery goodness with a slight tang from the cream cheese was pretty delicious. Because it could've used a few more minutes in the oven, the texture was a bit soft. But, overall, I'm glad I found this recipe and know how to bake it properly for next time.