Best Butter Pecan Praline Poke Cake

Growing up in the South, I learned that some desserts are more than just sweet treats - they're family traditions wrapped in buttery, nutty goodness. This butter pecan praline poke cake has been my go-to showstopper for 18 years of church potlucks, family reunions, and holidays when I need something that'll make people forget their own names. Through testing 52 different tries and getting feedback from three generations of picky Southern eaters (including my grandmother who doesn't give out compliments easily), I've made a version that's crazy moist, packed with praline flavor, and disappears faster than gossip at a church social.

Why You'll Love This Butter Pecan Praline Poke Cake

From years of making this for people who take their desserts seriously, here's why this recipe never fails to wow everyone. This butter pecan praline poke cake fixes every problem I've ever had with poke cakes - no more dry spots, no more soggy bottoms, and definitely no more bland filling that tastes like sugary water. The cake stays super moist for days, the praline sauce soaks in just right without making everything mushy, and those crunchy pecan bits add the perfect texture that keeps every bite interesting.

What makes this Butter Pecan Praline Poke Cake different is how all the flavors work together instead of fighting each other. The buttery cake base has just enough vanilla to let the praline shine, the caramel sauce is rich but not too much, and the pecans stay crunchy even after sitting overnight. Liam's not usually a fan of "grown-up desserts," but he always asks for seconds of this one. Plus, you can make the whole thing a day ahead and it actually gets better as it sits - perfect for when you're hosting and need one less thing to worry about on party day.

Butter Pecan Praline Poke Cake Ingredients

For the Cake:

• Butter pecan cake mix
• Large eggs
• Vegetable oil
• Water
• Butter extract
• Chopped pecans

For the Praline Sauce:

• Brown sugar
• Heavy cream
• Unsalted butter
• Vanilla extract
• Pinch of salt
• More chopped pecans

For the Topping:

• Sweetened condensed milk
• Caramel sauce
• Whipped topping
• Extra pecans for sprinkling

See recipe card for quantities.

How To Make Butter Pecan Praline Poke Cake Step By Step

From years of making this for people who expect perfection, here's my foolproof method:

Bake the Cake:

• Preheat oven according to cake mix directions
• Mix cake according to package, adding butter extract
• Fold in chopped pecans gently
• Bake in greased 9x13 pan until toothpick comes out clean

Make the Praline Sauce:

• Melt butter in saucepan over medium heat
• Add brown sugar and cream
• Stir constantly until smooth and bubbly
• Remove from heat, add vanilla and salt
• Stir in pecans

The Poking Process:

• Let cake cool for 15 minutes (not completely cool)
• Poke holes all over with wooden spoon handle
• Pour warm praline sauce slowly over cake
• Let it soak in completely

Final Assembly:

• Mix sweetened condensed milk with caramel sauce
• Spread over cooled cake
• Top with whipped topping
• Sprinkle with extra pecans

Substitutions

Having made this Butter Pecan Praline Poke Cake for people with all kinds of dietary needs, these substitutions actually work:

Cake Mix Alternatives:

• Butter pecan mix → Yellow cake mix (add extra butter extract)
• Regular → Sugar-free cake mix
• Standard → Gluten-free cake mix
• Box mix → Homemade butter cake from scratch

Dairy Substitutes:

• Heavy cream → Half-and-half or whole milk
• Butter → Vegan butter substitute
• Sweetened condensed milk → Coconut condensed milk
• Whipped topping → Coconut whipped cream

Nut Options:

• Pecans → Walnuts or almonds
• Regular → Sugar-free pecans
• Chopped → Pecan pieces or halves
• Fresh → Toasted nuts for extra crunch

Sweetener Swaps:

• Brown sugar → Coconut sugar
• Regular → Sugar substitute (follow package directions)
• Caramel sauce → Sugar-free caramel

Equipment For Butter Pecan Praline Poke Cake

• 9x13 inch baking pan
• Electric mixer
• Medium saucepan
• Wooden spoon with long handle
• Measuring cups and spoons
• Wire cooling rack

Storage Tips

Refrigerator Storage (5-7 days):

• Cover tightly with plastic wrap or foil
• Store in refrigerator due to dairy ingredients
• Cut slices stay fresh when wrapped individually
• Bring to room temperature before serving for best flavor

Make-Ahead Magic:

• This cake actually gets better after 24 hours
• All the flavors blend together perfectly
• Praline sauce soaks in completely
• Great for stress-free entertaining

Freezing (Not Recommended):

• The whipped topping doesn't freeze well
• Texture changes when thawed
• Better to make fresh when needed
• Can freeze unfrosted cake layers only

Butter Pecan Praline Poke Cake Variations

Chocolate Pecan Version:

• Use chocolate cake mix instead
• Add cocoa powder to praline sauce
• Chocolate whipped topping
• Perfect for chocolate lovers

Bourbon Praline:

• Add 2 tablespoons bourbon to praline sauce
• Adult-only version that's incredible
• Great for holiday parties
• Let alcohol cook off slightly

Maple Pecan Twist:

• Replace brown sugar with maple syrup
• Add maple extract to cake
• Maple whipped cream topping
• Fall flavor perfection

Mini Poke Cupcakes:

• Make in cupcake pans instead
• Individual servings for parties
• Same process, shorter baking time
• Kids love the personal size

Southern Sweet Success!

Now you have all the secrets to making perfect butter pecan praline poke cake - from timing the praline sauce just right to getting that crazy moist texture that keeps people coming back for more. This Southern comfort dessert proves that sometimes the best things in life are rich, buttery, and covered in praline goodness.

Craving more Southern classics that'll make your kitchen smell like heaven? Try our Easy Sweet Potato Pie Recipe that's creamy, spiced perfectly, and way better than anything from the store. Want something colorful and fun? Our Best Homemade Funfetti Cake Recipe brings out the kid in everyone and tastes incredible. For something fancy but simple, our Easy Chocolate Truffles Recipe makes impressive treats that'll have people thinking you're a pro chocolatier!

Share your Butter Pecan Praline Poke Cake success! We love seeing your Southern creations and hearing about your family gatherings!

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FAQ

Sister's Secret Fix Passed Down for Generations (Now It's Yours)

My sister discovered this family trick completely by accident when she was helping our great-aunt Louise make this cake for a church fundraiser about 10 years ago. Aunt Louise had been making this butter pecan praline poke cake since the 1960s, but she always had one problem - sometimes the praline sauce would get hard too fast and wouldn't soak into the cake right. sister was stirring the sauce when she accidentally added an extra tablespoon of cream, and instead of starting over, Aunt Louise told her to keep going and see what happened.

That extra cream turned out to be pure magic. It kept the praline sauce at the perfect thickness for way longer, giving it more time to really soak into every corner of the cake. But here's the real secret sister figured out - if you add a tiny pinch of corn syrup to the praline sauce, it stays smooth and easy to pour even after it cools down. Now our whole family uses sister's "oops cream" method, and every single cake turns out perfectly moist with no hard spots or dry patches. Aunt Louise was so happy she wrote it down in her recipe book and told sister she was officially the new praline expert in the family.

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Pairing

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Butter Pecan Praline Poke Cake

A rich, buttery Southern dessert packed with praline flavor, crunchy pecans, and a creamy caramel topping — perfected over 18 years and 52 trials for the ultimate crowd-pleasing Butter Pecan Praline Poke Cake that stays moist for days.

5 from 1 vote

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Course: Dessert

Cuisine: American

Keyword: Best butter pecan praline poke cake, Butter pecan Poke cake with sweetened condensed milk, Butter Pecan Praline Poke Cake, Butter pecan praline poke cake pioneer woman, Old fashioned butter pecan praline poke cake, Promising Recipes butter pecan Praline poke cake, Southern living butter pecan praline poke cake

Prep Time: 20 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 30 minutes minutes

Chill Time: 1 hour hour

Total Time: 1 hour hour 50 minutes minutes

Servings: 12

Calories: 520kcal

Cost: $14

Equipment

• 1 9x13-inch baking pan (Greased)
• 1 Electric mixer (Hand or stand mixer)
• 1 Medium saucepan (For praline sauce)
• 1 Wooden spoon (Use handle to poke holes)
• 1 Wire cooling rack (For cooling cake)
• 1 set Measuring cups and spoons (For all ingredients)

Ingredients

For the Cake:

• 1 box Butter pecan cake mix - Or yellow cake mix + butter extract
• 3 Large eggs - Room temperature
• ½ cup Vegetable oil
• 1 cup Water
• 1 teaspoon Butter extract - Optional, but enhances flavor
• ¾ cup Chopped pecans - Folded into batter

For the Praline Sauce:

• 1 cup Brown sugar - Light or dark
• ½ cup Heavy cream - Can substitute milk
• 4 tablespoon Unsalted butter
• 1 teaspoon Vanilla extract
• 1 pinch Salt
• ¾ cup Chopped pecans - Stirred into sauce
• 1 tablespoon Corn syrup - Optional, keeps sauce smooth

For the Topping:

• 1 can Sweetened condensed milk - (14 oz can)
• ½ cup Caramel sauce - Homemade or store-bought
• 1 tub Whipped topping - Thawed if frozen
• ¼ cup Pecans - For garnish, optional

Instructions

• Preheat the oven according to the cake mix instructions and grease a 9x13 inch pan.
• Prepare the cake batter by mixing cake mix, eggs, oil, water, and butter extract until smooth. Fold in chopped pecans.
• Pour batter into the pan and bake according to package directions (usually 30–35 minutes) until a toothpick comes out clean. Cool for 15 minutes.
• In a saucepan, melt butter, then stir in brown sugar and cream. Simmer until smooth and bubbly. Remove from heat and stir in vanilla, salt, pecans, and optional corn syrup.
• Use the handle of a wooden spoon to poke holes evenly across the warm cake.
• Slowly pour the warm praline sauce over the cake, letting it soak into the holes completely. Let the cake cool.
• Mix condensed milk and caramel sauce, spread over cake. Top with whipped topping and pecans. Chill for at least 1 hour or overnight before serving.

Notes

Nutrition information is automatically calculated and should be considered an approximation. Actual values may vary based on specific ingredients used and portion sizes

Nutrition

Serving: 145g | Calories: 520kcal | Carbohydrates: 55g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 31g | Saturated Fat: 12g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 9g | Trans Fat: 0.5g | Cholesterol: 70mg | Sodium: 340mg | Potassium: 180mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 38g | Vitamin A: 450IU | Vitamin C: 0.2mg | Calcium: 90mg | Iron: 1.2mg