A cozy dessert that combines rich buttery flavor with nutty pecans, perfect for family gatherings and special occasions.

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Be warned, this Butter Pecan Cake is the kind of treat that vanishes faster than you can say “seconds, please.” The moment you start melting that butter, you’ll be washed away in a wave of nostalgia, with sweet aromas swirling around your kitchen. Picture the golden brown sugar mingling with soft butter until it’s practically begging to be slathered between fluffy layers of cake. Just a sprinkle of pecans and voilà! You have a cozy dessert that makes your heart sing and your taste buds dance.

Why You’ll Love This Butter Pecan Cake

Butter Pecan Cake is not your average dessert. This cake carries with it a warm, charming narrative woven through family gatherings, birthday celebrations, and holiday feasts. While some cakes are made to impress, this one invites you to feel at home, no matter who you’re serving it to.

Growing up, my family always made this cake for special occasions oozing with warmth and love. Friends would gather around the table, forks in hand, all waiting eagerly for a slice. There’s just something about that rich buttery flavor combined with nutty pecans that feels like a hug in cake form. It celebrates those cherished moments the birthdays, dinner parties, or just-some Wednesdays when you need a slice of sweetness in your life.

This cake doesn’t just sit on the dessert table; it makes an entrance and brings people together. The crunch of pecans and the softness of the cake create a delightful texture that adds to the enjoyment. Each bite serves as a reminder that life is best savored slowly, especially when it’s shared with dear ones.

How to Make Butter Pecan Cake

“If your kitchen smells like butter and brown sugar, you’re doing it right.”

Let’s get right into the fun part. Making Butter Pecan Cake is like a delightful adventure in your kitchen. You’ll watch simple ingredients transform into something magical. The best part? You don’t need any fancy equipment just your spirit, a couple of mixing bowls, and some love.

Ingredients Overview

Before you dive in, let’s talk about what you’ll need. Gather these pantry friends and get ready to whip up something incredible.

The Sweet Line-Up

• 1 cup (226g) unsalted butter
• 3 cups (333g) cake flour
• 1 cup (200g) granulated sugar
• 1 cup (200g) light brown sugar, firmly packed
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• ½ teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 ½ cups (354ml) buttermilk, room temperature preferred
• 2 large eggs, room temperature preferred
• 1 ½ teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1 ½ cups (160g) pecan halves, very finely chopped
• 1 ½ cups (340g) unsalted butter, softened
• 6 oz cream cheese, softened
• ⅓ cup (66g) light brown sugar, firmly packed
• 1 ½ teaspoons vanilla extract
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• 4 ½ cups (562g) powdered sugar
• 1 Tablespoon heavy cream
• ⅓ cup (35g) pecan halves, very finely chopped (optional)

Gather that butter real butter is key for buttery goodness! Don’t skip the pinch of salt either; it brings everything together beautifully, enhancing the sweet notes.

Step-by-Step Directions

Now that you are all set with your ingredients, let’s bring this Butter Pecan Cake to life.

1. Melt the butter over medium-low heat. Keep an eye on it and stir occasionally. You want it to melt smoothly before increasing the heat and cooking until golden brown specks form. This step will amplify the cake’s rich flavor.
2. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). This is essential as a warm oven is key to achieving that perfect rise.
3. Grease and line three 8-inch round baking pans with parchment paper. This ensures that your cake layers come out clean and beautiful.
4. In a large bowl, whisk together the cake flour, granulated sugar, light brown sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. This forms your dry mix.
5. Add the browned butter to the dry ingredients and mix until well incorporated. You’ll notice the lovely aroma fill your kitchen.
6. In a separate bowl, whisk together the buttermilk, eggs, and vanilla extract. This mixture adds moisture and richness to your batter.
7. Gradually, add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture. Mix until just combined do not overmix! We want tender crumbs, not tough dough.
8. Stir in the finely chopped pecans. This brings that delightful crunch to every bite.
9. Divide the batter evenly among the prepared pans. They should each be about the same height to bake evenly.
10. Bake for 30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Trust me, the smell will be impossible to resist!
11. Allow the cakes to cool completely in the pans before transferring to a wire rack. Patience is key here.
12. In another bowl, beat the softened butter, cream cheese, light brown sugar, vanilla extract, and salt until smooth and creamy.
13. Gradually add the powdered sugar and heavy cream, beating until fluffy and spreadable.
14. If necessary, level the cakes by cutting off the tops to make them even.
15. Stack the layers with icing between each. Spread the frosting on the outside of the cake, decorating with additional chopped pecans and piped frosting swirls if desired.

Now, look at that beauty! You have a gorgeous Butter Pecan Cake ready to be devoured.

Serving Butter Pecan Cake With Love

The best part of baking? Sharing! Serve this cake warm for extra coziness, perhaps with a scoop of vanilla ice cream melting into those buttery layers. It reignites the joy at family dinners, where everyone ends up chatting around the dessert table, reminiscing about their favorite flavors and family traditions.

Picture this: you cut into the soft, fluffy cake, and a gentle fragrance wafts into the air. Each slice reveals that tender crumb, topped with luscious cream cheese frosting and sprinkled with crunchy pecans. This is the kind of cake that ignites laughter, long conversations, and second helpings.

How to Store and Enjoy Later

Got leftovers? Lucky you! Storing Butter Pecan Cake is a breeze. Just keep it covered at room temperature for a couple of days. If you want to enjoy it later, refrigerate it for up to a week. The flavors will intensify, making each bite a delightful experience.

For longer storage, wrap slices securely in plastic wrap and pop them in the freezer. They will last for up to three months. When you’re ready to indulge again, let the cake thaw at room temperature or gently warm it in the microwave. It will taste almost as fresh as the day you made it!

Tips, Tricks, and Sweet Secrets

Baking is often about trying new things, so here are some fun insights from my own baking journey:

• Swap In Different Nuts: If pecans aren’t your thing, try walnuts or hazelnuts for a unique twist. Each nut has its own personality, bringing flavor and texture to the table.
• Add a Glaze: Drizzle a simple sugar glaze on top for added sweetness. Just mix powdered sugar with a splash of milk or cream until smooth, then pour it over the frosted cake.
• Transform Leftovers: If there are any cake scraps, crumble them up and turn them into cake pops or mix them with whipped cream to create a delicious trifle.
• Fall Spice Twist: Add a teaspoon of cinnamon and a pinch of nutmeg if you want to embrace autumn flavors. This takes your Butter Pecan Cake to another seasonal level.
• Mixing Method Matters: When combining wet and dry ingredients, always remember to mix gently. Overmixing could lead to dense cakes nobody wants a brick for dessert!

Delicious Variations

While Butter Pecan Cake is already a showstopper, you can easily jazz it up for different seasons or holidays.

• Chocolate Drizzle: For the chocolate lovers in your life, drizzle melted chocolate over the frosting for an added indulgence.
• Seasonal Swirls: Instead of plain chopped pecans on top, try using crushed candy canes during the holidays for a festive touch.
• Fruit Compote: Serve slices topped with a berry compote or caramelized peaches. The combination of fresh fruit and the cake is simply divine and adds a touch of vibrancy.

Butter Pecan Cake

A cozy dessert that combines rich buttery flavor with nutty pecans, perfect for family gatherings and special occasions.

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Prep Time 30 minutes mins

Cook Time 30 minutes mins

Total Time 1 hour hr

Servings: 12 servings

Course: Cake, Dessert

Cuisine: American

Calories: 400

Ingredients Method Nutrition Notes

Ingredients

  

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For the Cake

• 1 cup unsalted butter Melted and browned
• 3 cups cake flour
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1 cup light brown sugar Firmly packed
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• ½ teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon salt Enhances sweetness
• 1 ½ cups buttermilk Room temperature preferred
• 2 large eggs Room temperature preferred
• 1 ½ teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1 ½ cups pecan halves Very finely chopped

For the Frosting

• 1 ½ cups unsalted butter Softened
• 6 oz cream cheese Softened
• ⅓ cup light brown sugar Firmly packed
• 1 ½ teaspoons vanilla extract
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• 4 ½ cups powdered sugar
• 1 Tablespoon heavy cream
• ⅓ cup pecan halves Very finely chopped (optional, for decoration)

Method

 

Preparation

1. Melt the butter over medium-low heat and cook until golden brown specks form.
2. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and grease three 8-inch round baking pans, lining them with parchment paper.
3. In a large bowl, whisk together cake flour, granulated sugar, light brown sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
4. Add melted browned butter to the dry ingredients and mix until incorporated.
5. In a separate bowl, whisk together buttermilk, eggs, and vanilla extract.
6. Gradually add wet mixture to dry ingredients, mixing until just combined. Do not overmix.
7. Stir in finely chopped pecans.
8. Divide the batter evenly among the prepared pans.

Baking

1. Bake for 30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
2. Allow the cakes to cool completely in the pans before transferring to a wire rack.

Frosting

1. In another bowl, beat together butter, cream cheese, light brown sugar, vanilla extract, and salt until smooth.
2. Gradually add powdered sugar and heavy cream, beating until fluffy.
3. Level the cakes if needed, and stack layers with frosting in between.
4. Frost the outside of the cake and decorate with additional chopped pecans if desired.

Nutrition

Serving: 1gCalories: 400kcalCarbohydrates: 50gProtein: 5gFat: 20gSaturated Fat: 10gSodium: 250mgFiber: 1gSugar: 35g

Notes

Serve warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream for extra coziness. Leftovers can be covered and stored at room temperature for a couple of days, or refrigerated for up to a week. For longer storage, wrap slices in plastic wrap and freeze for up to three months.

Tried this recipe?

Let us know how it was!

FAQs About Butter Pecan Cake

Q: What if I don’t have brown sugar?

A: Mix granulated sugar with a spoonful of molasses. It’s a quick fix and delivers that wonderful flavor.

Q: Can I make this cake as cupcakes instead?

A: Absolutely! Pour the batter into cupcake liners and bake for about 18-20 minutes. Perfect for sharing!

Q: Is there any substitute for the buttermilk?

A: You can use regular milk with a splash of vinegar or lemon juice. Let it sit for a few minutes to mimic buttermilk’s tanginess.

Q: How can I make it gluten-free?

A: Substitute the cake flour with a gluten-free all-purpose flour blend. Just make sure it has xanthan gum in the mix!

Q: How do I know when my cake is done?

A: A toothpick inserted into the center should come out clean, or with a few crumbs attached.

A Final Bite

So here you are, at the end of this sweet journey. You’ve learned how to bake a Butter Pecan Cake that’s sure to bring smiles to faces young and old. Bake this once and you’ll find yourself roped into bringing it to every family gathering. Just be ready for the requests to make it again and again. Remember, the heart of baking lies in sharing joy with others. So grab that mixing bowl, and let’s get going your kitchen is ready for some butter, sugar, and laughter!