Butterscotch bundt cake is a moist and flavorful bundt cake made with the help of a cake mix and jello butterscotch pudding. A simple and elegant dessert, perfect for the holiday table!
If you like butterscotch candies, you’re going to love this butterscotch bundt cake. Bundt cakes are pretty and impressive-looking, easy to serve, and simple to make.
I love baking with JELL-O. One of my most requested cakes, Pistachio Cake, is made with pistachio JELL-O, so I wanted to make another similar cake, but one that made me think of the holidays.
Right away, I thought about butterscotch. It’s a great flavor that I haven’t worked with nearly enough, so I picked up some butterscotch instant JELL-O.
I made this butterscotch pudding cake over the weekend, and I’ve already had two requests to make it again.
Other pudding/JELL-O recipes that have been really popular at holidays and family gatherings are the No Bake Chocolate Lush, “Sand” Pudding, and Strawberry Poke Cupcakes. So many ways to use jello products in desserts!
Butterscotch Pudding Cake
Why you’ll love this recipe
- I used my hand mixer, but it can also be made without one. Just give it some elbow grease!
- Looks great on a Thanksgiving or Christmas dessert table.
- Butterscotch pudding cake is moist and full of a cozy fall flavor.
Helpful Tools
- A pretty bundt pan – I want another one.
- A good hand mixer will make your life easier. I didn’t know I needed a light on mine until I got one.
- A cake knife/server. I literally just ordered this one.
Ingredients
Below is a list of the ingredients you’ll need to gather to make this recipe, why you need them, and possible substitutions. Scroll all the way down for the full recipe card with measurements.
Jump- Yellow Cake Mix – I’m partial to Duncan Hines, but use your favorite.
- JELL-O Butterscotch Pudding Mix – Make sure you get instant pudding and not stovetop.
- Milk – I use 2% for a richer consistency.
- Butter – You’ll melt the butter before adding it. I use unsalted, but you can use salted butter if that’s what you have on hand.
- Eggs – These bind the ingredients of the cake so that it holds its structure and doesn’t fall apart.
- For the powdered glaze – You’ll need powdered sugar, melted butter, milk, and vanilla extract.
How to make Butterscotch Pudding Cake
This section shows you how to make this recipe, with process photos showing the steps to help you visualize it. For full instructions, including amounts and temperatures, see the recipe card below.
Jump- Step 1: In a large bowl, combine the cake mix, pudding mix, milk, melted butter, and eggs. Use an electric mixer or a whisk (and some elbow grease!) and beat for 30 seconds. Reduce the speed to medium and continue mixing for another couple of minutes until the batter is thick and fluffy.
- Step 2: Spoon the batter into the prepared bundt cake pan and bake in a preheated 350-degree oven for 30-35 minutes.
- Step 3: Let it cool for an hour in the bundt pan and then flip the butterscotch pudding cake onto a plate.
- Step 4: While the cake cools, mix glaze ingredients in a medium bowl until smooth. Pour it over the cooled cake, then slice and serve!
How to serve it
Butterscotch bundt cake is amazing on its own but would be even more amazing with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. Maybe even butterscotch ripple! You could also enjoy it with a dollop of whipped cream.
- Do not overmix your cake batter. To keep it nice and light, be sure to mix until just combined.
- Make sure to grease your pan. Part of what makes any bundt cake so fun is the signature design the pan gives it. If you don’t grease it properly, it’ll get stuck when you try and turn it out onto a plate, ruining the effect
- To test your cake to see if it’s done, insert a toothpick into the center. It should come out clean when it’s ready.
- To turn it out onto the plate, so it in one swift motion. It should slide right out.
Storage
How to store leftovers
Keep leftover butterscotch bundt cake slices in an airtight container for up to 4 days at room temperature. This is a cake that would look great on a cake stand!
Freezing Instructions
Freeze individual slices in plastic wrap and place them in an airtight container or freezer bag. Keep them frozen for up to 2 months. Thaw as many pieces as you’d like at room temperature before serving again.
FAQs
Can you add jello to a cake mix?
You can! Combining JELL-O with a doctored cake mix makes for a super moist cake. The powdered sugar glaze on top is just the right amount of sweetness without being overly sweet.
I’ve also made pudding cookies with JELL-O and it makes for a really soft and chewy cookie. I’m telling you, if you haven’t baked with it, you need to give it a try.
Why did my bundt cake turn out dry?
This is usually due to overmixing or overbaking. In this case, we can’t blame too much flour since we’re using a handy cake mix.
Need more bundt cake ideas? Try these:
Sour Cream Chocolate Bundt Cake
Click here to view my entire collection of dessert recipes.
Did You Make This?
If you made this recipe, I’d love to know how it went in the comments section below.
You can also tag me on Instagram – @melissa_ppplates or share a pic in the Persnickety Plates Community Facebook group. I love seeing what you’ve tried!
Butterscotch Bundt Cake
Ingredients
For the Butterscotch Bundt Cake
- 15.25 ounce yellow cake mix
- 3.4 ounce butterscotch instant pudding mix
- 1 cup milk I used 2%
- ½ cup unsalted butter melted
- 3 large eggs
For the Powdered Sugar Glaze
- 1 ¼ cup powdered sugar
- 1 Tablespoon butter melted
- 4 Tablespoons milk
- 1 splash vanilla extract
Instructions
For the Butterscotch Bundt Cake:
- Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F and generously spray your bundt pan with non-stick spray. Set aside.
- In a large bowl, add the cake mix, dry pudding mix, milk, melted butter, and eggs. Beat on low for 30 seconds then medium for 2 minutes. The batter will be thick & fluffy (thanks to the pudding!)15.25 ounce yellow cake mix, 3.4 ounce butterscotch instant pudding mix, 1 cup milk, 1/2 cup unsalted butter, 3 large eggs
- Spoon evenly into the prepared pan and bake for 30-35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
- Remove from the oven and let cool for about an hour. Flip over onto a plate.
For the Powdered Sugar Glaze:
- While the cake is cooling, to a medium bowl, add the powdered sugar, melted butter, milk, and vanilla. Whisk together until smooth.1 ¼ cup powdered sugar, 1 Tablespoon butter, 4 Tablespoons milk, 1 splash vanilla extract
- Once the cake has cooled, pour the glaze over the cake.
- Slice, serve, and enjoy!
Notes
- Store leftovers covered at room temperature for 4-5 days.
- Mix batter only until ingredients are just combined to keep it light.
- Thoroughly grease bundt pan to preserve the decorative shape.
- To turn it out onto the plate, so it in one swift motion. It should slide right out.
- Check for doneness with a toothpick—it should come out clean.
Nutrition
Nutritional information is an estimate and provided to you as a courtesy. You should calculate the nutritional information with the actual ingredients used in your recipe using your preferred nutrition calculator.
Did you make this recipe?
Tag me on Instagram @melissa_pplates so I can see!Originally published November 3, 2017 in partnership with Jello. Photos and text updated October 15, 2024.
Do you have to use a bunch pan or can you use another square or rectangle pan?
Sure, you could use a 9×13 pan. I would bake at the same temp but check it after 30 minutes. 30-35 should be enough for that size.
Once it’s done, you could poke holes in it and pour the glaze over so it soaks in – that would be good =)
This is so delicious. I made it using Betty Crocker Super Moist Yellow Cake. Best Yellow cakemix and the caramel
instead of butterscotch pudding – because i had the latter and both butterscotch and caramel have similar taste. Cake is so good glaze is not required. Thanks!
Thanks for sharing! That’s the cake mix I used as well. I don’t think I’ve seen caramel pudding – I’ll have to look for it!
Can I use pumpkin instant pudding instead of butterscotch with a yellow cake mix?
Sure, I don’t see why not 🙂
Can sugar free pudding mix be used with good results in this cake?
I haven’t tried it, so I can’t say for sure.
I would say the check ingredient list on sugar free items first. A number of sugar free/low cal sweeteners lose their sweetness when baked. A few retain their sweetness.
Can you use chocolate cake and chocolate pudding mix……
I suppose…but then it wouldn’t be a Butterscotch Bundt Cake, which is the recipe I created…so I can’t say for sure 😉
I made this cake exactly how the recipe says to. The cake is so good! It is very moist. My glaze turned out very runny and when I poured it over my cake I couldn’t see the glaze at all. I used a different glaze recipe. I will definitely be making this cake recipe again.
It’s an intentionally thin glaze – you can taste it even though it soaks in. 🙂 I’m glad you liked it!
Cake was very good! I used salted carmel sauce over it. I oiled pan but it still stuck and I needed to bake a bit longer. Probably my oven! Thanks
Mmm salted caramel – good call!
Can you use regular pudding mix to make cake instead of instant???
No
I have made this cake several times this holiday season, always to rave reviews! In my oven it needs 35-40 min, but I forgot it in the oven too long once and it was still awesome. It’s a very forgiving recipe. I’m not crazy about the glaze. The taste is good, but it got all lumpy and unappetizing looking when I mixed it up, I think from the melted butter mixing with cold water? Since the first time I made it, I have just been dusting the cake with powdered sugar instead. It doesn’t really need anything, it’s so tasty on its own, but the sugar looks like snow so it feels festive. My kids think the cake it great for dessert, but to me it pairs just perfectly with my morning coffee!
???? I’m glad you like it. Happy New Year!
I made this cake it is the best ever. I would like to try strawberry cake with instant vanilla pudding. Or chocolate cake with instant chocolate pudding. The cake is so good I think you could just about make any cake mix and instant pudding it would be delicious. Thank you for the recipe.
Thanks, Linda! I have a triple chocolate bundt cake that I’ve made & photographed, I just haven’t gotten around to posing it yet. It’s REALLY good & similar method 🙂
I will look forward to your post on the triple chocolate bundt cake.
My cake is cooling- smells yummy!
I added a small sprinkle of butterscotch chips in the middle- I don’t think it will hurt it??
Will see on the tasting. 😋
I think that’ll be an excellent addition! Merry Christmas ♥️
Moist, tasty cake. It’s a hit every time!
Happy to hear that!
The texture, moistness and sweetness is spot on. The flavor, however while the right taste, is weak, and I would like it at least 3 times as strong. Not sure how to do that, since the addition of butterscotch elements – butter and brown sugar would make it much denser and perhaps not even a cake.
You can buy a butterscotch extract… I haven’t tried but I wonder if that would give you the stronger flavor you’re after
I just made this cake for 35 minutes and the skewer came out clean in two places. But after it cooled and I turned it over on a plate it was just mush and pudding on the inside. Not sure why since I followed the directions to the tee. Any ideas?
Hi Roberta – I’m sorry, that’s disappointing. I have a couple ideas – first, have you checked your oven temp recently with a thermometer? Sometimes they can be off. Second, did you use a 9″ bundt pan? Sometimes size can affect bake time. Next time make sure you poke deep into the cake when you’re testing.
I was having friends over – didn’t have time to run to the store so had to make a dessert from ingredients I already had – Bingo everything I needed! It’s Autumn here so I wanted something a little spicy. This had a rich texture with a warm caramel color. It made my house smell delicious and was inviting before we ever sliced it So yummy. A cake you could curl up with in front or your fireplace! I’ll make this again 😊
Thanks, Cathie! Happy to hear that 🙂
can i use a regular frosting instead of the glaze
Sure 🙂
Cake came out great, but can I use bottled caramel sauce for the topping?
Sure 🙂
Love the cake but i used a different glaze recipe which I used a vanilla cake. This glaze is not runny.
1 1/2 cup Powdered sugar
4-5 tbsp milk
1 tsp vanilla
I have the ingredients out on my counter to take new pictures this week. Maybe I’ll try your glaze!
Sounds delicious. I make a butterscotch schnapps cake.. using butterscotch pudding.. also delicious but I usually run out of the butterscotch schnapps before I finish it. LOL
ha, I hope you like this one!
I used a chocolate cake mix and regular butterscotch pudding, added some butterscotch chips and a slug of bourbon. Baked in 2 9″ round pans. Then I made a chocolate ganache for the center and then a caramel buttercream for the frosting. It turned out pretty well.
Well that’s completely different, but sounds good!