Description
Butter Pecan Cake is a rich and decadent dessert featuring layers of moist, buttery cake infused with finely chopped pecans and topped with a creamy cream cheese icing. The cake is enhanced by the nutty flavor of browned butter, making it a luxurious treat for any occasion.
Ingredients
Scale
For the Cake:
- 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
For the Icing:
- 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
Instructions
- Brown the Butter:
- Melt the butter over medium-low heat. Increase the heat slightly and cook until golden brown specks form. Allow it to cool completely.
- Prepare the Cake:
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and line three 8-inch round baking pans.
- Mix Dry Ingredients:
- In a large bowl, whisk together the cake flour, granulated sugar, light brown sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
- Combine with Butter:
- Add the browned butter to the dry ingredients and mix until incorporated.
- Add Wet Ingredients:
- In a separate bowl, whisk together the buttermilk, eggs, and vanilla extract. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, mixing until just combined. Stir in the finely chopped pecans.
- Bake:
- Divide the batter evenly among the prepared pans. Bake for 30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Allow the cakes to cool completely.
- Make the Icing:
- Beat the softened butter, cream cheese, light brown sugar, vanilla extract, and salt until smooth. Gradually add the powdered sugar and heavy cream, beating until fluffy.
- Assemble the Cake:
- If necessary, level the cakes. Stack the layers with icing between each, then frost the outside of the cake. Decorate with additional chopped pecans and piped frosting swirls if desired.
Notes
- Cooling Time: Allow the cake layers to cool completely before frosting to prevent the icing from melting.
- Pecans: For a more pronounced pecan flavor, toast the chopped pecans lightly before adding them to the batter.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 560 kcal
- Sugar: 50g
- Sodium: 440mg
- Fat: 35g
- Saturated Fat: 22g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 1g
- Carbohydrates: 60g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 5g
- Cholesterol: 135mg