I recently tried the famous $3.50 dessert on Amtrak. I instantly understood why it has a cult following.
I've traveled nearly 10,000 miles on Amtrak and eaten my way across its routes. The onboard buttercake is the one thing I'd order again.
During a recent long-distance Amtrak trip from Washington, DC to Chicago, writer Kristine Villarroel discovered a dessert that quickly became her favorite train perk. The Amtrak first-class dining car, unlike the coach café, offered superior meal options, though they didn't justify the $1,000 upgrade. Among the two desserts presented—brownie and buttercake—Kristine chose the latter.
The dessert, a warm, rich, gooey, very sweet, and buttery custard-filled shortcake, exceeded her expectations. Online, the dessert had an enthusiastic, cult-like following, despite being regionally available on certain Amtrak routes. Frank & Louie's, a small Delaware bakery, manufactured the buttercake, which was only sold in bulk orders of 60 frozen cakes.
In May 2026, Amtrak announced that the buttercake would be available aboard the Northeast Regional route, delighting buttercake enthusiasts across the country.
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