A Southern Butter Pecan Cake Made For True Pecan Lovers
Visual learner? Watch me make this Southern Butter Pecan from start to finish!
Ditch the box cake mix and make this Southern Butter Pecan Cake from scratch! My days of thinking buttered pecan is an old person’s flavor is long gone! Ok, maybe it’s because I’m getting old, but I like to think of it as my taste buds becoming more….. refined if you will.
Now I love all things butter pecan, but only if it’s made right! This homemade Southern butter pecan cake fits the bill!! It’s so dadgum moist and soft. It’s that stick to the back of the fork-type softness which I love! Not to mention it’s frosted with a brown sugar cream cheese frosting that compliments it so well!
What is a Southern Butter Pecan Cake?
If you’ve never had a butter pecan cake think of a vanilla brown sugar type cake full of toasted buttered pecans! Yeah…it’s holiday-dessert-table worthy! This old-fashioned cake tastes awesome the first day you make it but gets even better once it’s had a chance to sit for a day and that nutty pecan flavor becomes perfectly balanced throughout!
The Secret Ingredient
HOMEMADE PECAN BUTTER!!!! Anytime I’m making a nut-flavored cake the best way to get the most authentic nutty flavor is to grind up the nuts into a creamy butter texture. It really ups the pecan flavor even more so that you don’t have to use artificial nut flavorings!
How to butter & toast pecans for Butter Pecan Cake
Making homemade butter pecans are simple. You can simply toast them in a skillet with butter or bake them in the oven. I prefer the oven method. To make butter pecans toss the pecan chips with melted butter and a bit of cinnamon. The cinnamon is optional but heck, why not!
Next, spread the pecans out in a single layer on a baking sheet and bake for about 6 minutes (may need more or less time), flipping halfway. You want your pecans to absorb the butter and have a slight crunch. They will get crunchier as they cool so don’t overcook them. Burnt pecans will NOT taste good!
How to make the BEST Southern Butter Pecan Cake
- Use full-fat ingredients. I know it may be tempting to use ingredients that are low-fat or fat-free but this cake shines in all her glory when she is allowed to be herself aka fat and happy!!
- Toast the pecans. Of course, you can just dump the pecans in right out of the package but to get an amazing butter pecan you want to add butter and toast them! When it doubt, butter makes it better every time!
- Don’t skip the extracts! Adding vanilla and maple is like the perfect duo for this Southern butter pecan cake. They are subtle yet lend such a well-rounded flavor.
Brown Sugar Cream Cheese Frosting!
When it comes to frosting a butter pecan cake there are many options from simple vanilla or cinnamon buttercream frosting to plain cream cheese frosting! For this cake, I’m going with brown sugar cream cheese frosting with some butter pecans in the mix! Since this cake is lightly sweetened with a bold pecan flavor this sweet frosting with hints of vanilla and maple compliments it so well!
Tip: To make the BEST brown sugar cream cheese frosting make sure to use fresh, soft brown sugar. None of that clumpy, old stuff ok? That will allow the brown sugar to melt and mix into the frosting ingredients without being grainy.
I hope you guys enjoy this Southen Pecan Cake as much as we do!
Southern Butter Pecan Cake
Ingredients
TOASTED PECANS
- 1½ cup pecan chips
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter melted
- ½ teaspoon cinnamon
CAKE
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1½ teaspoons baking powder
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 1½ cups granulated sugar
- ½ cup light brown sugar packed
- 12 tablespoons unsalted butter room temperature
- 2 eggs
- 1 egg yolk
- 1½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon maple extract
- ½ cup sour cream
- 1 cup whole milk
BROWN SUGAR CREAM CHEESE FROSTING
- 8 oz cream cheese, room temperature
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, room temperature
- ½ cup fresh light brown sugar (soft, with no lumps)
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon maple extract
- salt, pinch
- 2½ cups powdered sugar
- ½ cup buttered pecan chips
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350. Generously grease 2 9-inch cake pans with shortening and lightly dust with flour. Set aside.
Prepare the Pecans
- In a large bowl, toss pecan chips with melted butter and cinnamon.
- Place in a single layer on a baking sheet and bake at 350 for 6 minutes, flipping halfway. Pecans should be fragrant & slightly crunchy when removed from the oven. They will become crunchier as they cool.
- Let pecans cool on the pan once cooled, removed 1/2 cup of pecans, and blend in a food processor until creamy. Set aside until ready to use.
Make the cake!
- In a medium bowl, sift together flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
- In a large bowl, cream together granulated sugar, brown sugar, and butter.
- Mix in eggs and egg yolk.
- Mix in vanilla extract, maple extract, and sour cream.
- Mix the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients, alternating with the milk.
- Once batter is combined and fluffy, stir in the pecan butter and 1/2 cup of the butter pecan chips (reserve the other 1/2 cup for the frosting)
- Pour batter evenly into prepared pans and bake for 25-28 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean (may need more or less time so check on it at the 25-minute mark)
- Allow the cakes to cool in the pan until the pans are cool enough to touch, and then carefully, remove them from the pans and allow them to cool completely on a cooling rack.
Make The Frosting
- In a large bowl, cream together cream cheese, and butter.
- Add brown sugar and mix until fluffy and light. (The brown sugar should be completely mixed in and creamy without a gritty texture)
- Mix in vanilla extract, maple extract, and a pinch of salt.
- Gradually mix in powdered sugar until frosting is smooth and creamy.
- Frost cooled cakes.
Video
This is the second time I made this cake. My oh my it is soooooooooo delicious. Thank you for so many great recipes!
Could I use a bunt pan? If so how do I change baking temp and time? Thank you. My hubby’s birthday is coming up. He always get pecan pie because he loves pecans. This will be a great treat and change for him.
Hi there Monique. I made this cake yesterday and it was the bomb. The pecan flavor was on point. So moist & delicious. Omg and that brown sugar creamcheese glaze and that maple ughh. Thanks for sharing your recipe.
I made this and omg my granny would have been so proud!!! Simply amazing!!! My husband enjoyed it so much. This is a keeper.
Loved this recipe! I especially love the way it’s made (creaming the pecans to add into the batter was on point)! The first time I made the batter, I creamed the butter too much and it was overly soft/warm so my batter separated. I restarted with my butter at the right temp. and it was a success. I definitely had to bake for more than the recommended time (maybe 38mins. – which sounds crazy but it still turned out perfect). The flavor was phenomenal and it was super moist. I have to also add that the frosting is TO LIVE FOR!!! Just recently found your site and actually made the ‘Heavenly Whipping Cream Pound Cake’ the night before and it was a success! Thank you so much for what you do!
I made this Buttered Pecan cake and it was FABULOUS! I shared with family and friends and they raved over this cake and how moist and delicious it was. This one is definitely a winner. Thanks, Monique for sharing this delightful recipe.
Winner!! The flavor is amazing. This was my first time baking with maple extract, and I love it. I only had dark brown sugar, and the flavor was great! I made this Friday eve after work. With a banana, and cup of coffee, best weekend breakfast ever!! Thank you for this amazing recipe. It’s a keeper!
I use maple extract when I make carrot cake and sweet potato pie …. try it and see the difference
This cake is so delicious! It is the perfect texture and I can’t wait to make it again!
Cake so fun to make! I made it for a friend, so it didn’t get to try it. I’ll be making this for me soon, for my birthday.
When do you add the pecans to the frosty it does not mention it
Should the ingredients be altered in anyway to make as cupcakes?
This looks sooooo delicious! I’m on my way to the store in a bit for the ingredients, so I can make this. Thanks for the recipe!
What adjustments should I make to do a gluten free version of this?