Butter Pecan Cake

A rich, moist Butter Pecan Cake layered with cream cheese frosting and studded with double-toasted pecans. This Southern favorite is elevated by a touch of caramel flavor and secret family techniques that ensure unforgettable taste and texture in every slice.

5 from 1 vote

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Course: Dessert

Cuisine: American, Southern

Keyword: Butter Pecan Cake, Butter pecan cake frosting, Butter pecan cake recipe, Butter pecan cake recipe with box mix, Caramel butter Pecan cake, Easy butter pecan cake, Old fashioned butter pecan cake, Southern butter pecan cake

Prep Time: 30

Cook Time: 25

Cooling & Frosting Time: 1

Total Time: 1 55

Servings: slices

Calories: 560kcal

Cost: $16

Equipment

8-inch round cake pans (Greased and dusted with crushed pecans)
Stand mixer or hand mixer (For batter and frosting)
Rubber spatula (For folding and scraping)
Cooling racks (To cool cake layers)
Offset spatula (For even frosting application)
Heavy skillet (For toasting pecans in butter)
Cake leveler or serrated knife (Optional, for even layers)
Rotating cake stand (Optional, for easier decorating)

Ingredients

Toasted Pecans:

2 cups Pecan halves - Divided: some chopped, some whole
3 tablespoon Unsalted butter - For toasting
1 pinch Sea salt - Enhances flavor
1 tablespoon Maple syrup Optional - Optional, for added caramel flavor

Cake Layers:

2¾ cups All-purpose flour - Or cake flour for lighter texture
1½ tablespoon Baking powder
½ teaspoon Baking soda
½ tsp Salt
¾ cup Unsalted butter - Room temperature
1 cup Granulated sugar
½ cup Light brown sugar - Packed
4 large Eggs - Room temperature
1 tbsp Vanilla extract
1 cup Buttermilk - Or milk + vinegar substitute
2 tbsp Reserved pecan butter - From toasting

Frosting:

8 oz Cream cheese - Softened
½ cup Unsalted butter - Softened
3–4 cups Powdered sugar - Adjust for sweetness
1 teaspoon Vanilla extract
1–2 tbsp Heavy cream - For texture
1 pinch Salt - To balance sweetness
½ cup Reserved pecans - Chopped, for topping

Instructions

Toast the pecans in oven and skillet with butter
Sift flour and mix dry ingredients
Cream butter with sugars until fluffy
Add eggs, vanilla, and pecan butter
Combine flour and buttermilk, fold in pecans
Divide into pans and bake cake layers
Beat cream cheese frosting until smooth
Stack, frost, and decorate the cake

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