Description
Rich butter pecan praline poke cake delights dessert enthusiasts with Southern charm. Creamy caramel and nutty pecans create irresistible layers of sweet indulgence you cannot resist.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 box butter pecan cake mix
- 3 large eggs
- 1 cup (240 ml/8 fl oz) water
- ½ cup (120 ml/4 fl oz) vegetable oil
- ½ cup (120 g/4 oz) sour cream
- 1 cup (240 ml/8 fl oz) caramel sauce (homemade or store-bought)
- ½ cup (120 ml/4 fl oz) sweetened condensed milk
- 1 cup (240 ml/8 fl oz) heavy whipping cream
- ¼ cup (30 g/1 oz) powdered sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 cup (100 g/3.5 oz) chopped pecans, toasted
- ½ cup (50 g/1.8 oz) crushed pralines (optional for extra crunch)
Instructions
- Cake Preparation: Grease a 9×13-inch baking pan and heat the oven to 350F (175C). Combine butter pecan cake mix, eggs, water, oil, and sour cream using an electric mixer until achieving a smooth, silky consistency.
- Baking and Initial Cooling: Pour batter into the prepared pan and bake for 25-30 minutes. Confirm doneness with a clean toothpick insertion. Remove from oven and allow brief resting.
- Caramel Infusion: Whisk caramel sauce and sweetened condensed milk until perfectly blended. Perforate the warm cake with a wooden spoon handle, creating multiple channels. Slowly drench the cake with the caramel mixture, ensuring deep penetration into the holes.
- Cream Topping: Whip heavy cream with powdered sugar and vanilla extract until forming delicate, stiff peaks. Spread the whipped cream evenly across the completely cooled cake.
- Finishing Touches: Distribute toasted pecans and crushed pralines uniformly over the cream layer. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour to harmonize flavors and stabilize the cream. Serve chilled for optimal taste and texture.
Notes
- Prevent Dry Cake: Mix cake ingredients thoroughly but avoid overmixing to maintain a moist, tender texture.
- Create Perfect Holes: Use the handle of a wooden spoon or the back of a wooden skewer to make consistent, evenly spaced holes for even caramel distribution.
- Whip Cream Carefully: Watch cream closely while whipping – stop immediately when stiff peaks form to prevent turning into butter.
- Enhance Pecan Flavor: Toast pecans before adding to cake for deeper, richer nutty flavor and improved crunchiness.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Desserts
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 11
- Calories: 420
- Sugar: 32 g
- Sodium: 320 mg
- Fat: 22 g
- Saturated Fat: 8 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 48 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 6 g
- Cholesterol: 60 mg