Description
Southern comfort meets sweet indulgence in this irresistible pecan delight cake, blending rich nutty flavors with classic Southern charm. Warm spices and buttery pecans create a mouthwatering dessert that invites you to savor each delectable bite.
Ingredients
Scale
Topping/Caramel Layer:
- 6 tablespoons (85 grams) unsalted butter
- ⅓ cup (70 grams) light brown sugar, packed
- 3 tablespoons light corn syrup
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 ¼ cups (125 grams) pecans, roughly chopped
Dry Ingredients:
- 1 ¾ cups (220 grams) all-purpose flour
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
Wet Ingredients:
- ¼ cup (57 grams) unsalted butter, room temperature
- ¾ cup (150 grams) granulated sugar
- 1 large egg, room temperature
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- ⅔ cup (160 milliliters) whole milk, room temperature
Instructions
- Prepare the cake foundation by warming the oven to 350°F and coating an 8-inch round pan with a thin layer of cooking lubricant.
- Craft the luscious pecan glaze by melting butter in a saucepan, then incorporating brown sugar and corn syrup until smooth and glossy. Remove from heat and fold in vanilla, salt, and chopped pecans.
- Distribute the pecan mixture evenly across the bottom of the prepared pan, creating a rich caramel-like base.
- Combine flour, salt, and baking powder in a separate mixing bowl, whisking until thoroughly integrated.
- In a large mixing vessel, whip butter and granulated sugar until light and fluffy, creating a smooth cream-like consistency.
- Introduce egg and vanilla to the butter mixture, blending until harmoniously combined and scraping down the bowl’s edges.
- Gradually fold the dry ingredients into the wet mixture, alternating with milk and maintaining a gentle mixing technique to preserve the batter’s delicate texture.
- Gently ladle the batter over the pecan layer, ensuring complete and even coverage across the pan’s surface.
- Slide the pan into the preheated oven and bake for 35-40 minutes, monitoring until a test skewer emerges with minimal moisture.
- Immediately after removing from the oven, place a serving plate over the pan and swiftly invert the cake, allowing the pecan topping to settle perfectly onto the surface.
- Let the inverted pan rest momentarily before carefully lifting, ensuring all caramelized pecans remain beautifully intact.
Notes
- Prepare this showstopping cake when you want to impress guests with a stunning dessert that looks professional but is surprisingly simple to make.
- Allow butter, eggs, and milk to reach room temperature before starting to ensure smooth mixing and a tender cake texture.
- The pecan topping creates a luscious caramel-like layer that transforms an ordinary cake into an extraordinary treat with minimal extra effort.
- Inverting the cake immediately after baking is crucial to keep the beautiful pecan topping intact and prevent it from sticking to the pan.
- Watch the baking time carefully, as ovens vary – start checking around 30 minutes to prevent the cake from becoming dry or overdone.
- Store leftovers covered at room temperature for up to 3 days, or refrigerate to extend freshness for another 2-3 days.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Desserts
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 8
- Calories: 380
- Sugar: 22 g
- Sodium: 180 mg
- Fat: 18 g
- Saturated Fat: 8 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 50 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 5 g
- Cholesterol: 30 mg