Pecan Praline Cake with Butter Sauce is so scrumptious that no one will know it's made with a cake mix! All topped with a sweet butter sauce!
SOUTHERN PECAN PRALINE CAKE WITH BUTTER SAUCE
I'm gonna start this recipe by saying I am nuts about nuts. Alright now, get your brains outta the gutter! I'm talking about pecans and walnuts and macadamia - you name it. But my absolute favorite is the pecan. And if you love pecans like I do, you are in for a treat!
VIDEO INCLUDED BELOW:
WHAT IF I DON'T LIKE COCONUT?
I get this question a lot. All I'm gonna say is I have made this cake SO many times for coconut haters and they love it. You can't even really taste the coconut that is in the frosting. However, if you're the one making it and you know it's in there, you almost are trying hard to taste it. Unfortunately, I have not found an acceptable substitute yet for this flavor and consistency. It's the same frosting used for German chocolate cake. This cake is full of pecan flavor and the sauce just takes this cake over the top.
INGREDIENTS NEEDED: (FULL RECIPE AT THE BOTTOM OF THE POST)
For the cake:
butter pecan cake mix
coconut pecan frosting
eggs
oil
water
chopped pecans
For the sauce:
sweetened condensed milk
butter
chopped pecans
HOW TO MAKE PECAN PRALINE CAKE WITH BUTTER SAUCE:
Enjoy!
CRAVING MORE RECIPES LIKE THIS ONE? GIVE THESE A TRY!
FRUIT COCKTAIL CAKE
SWEET SOUTHERN PECAN CAKE
BROWN SUGAR PECAN POUND CAKE
ITALIAN CREAM CAKE WITH BUTTERCREAM FROSTING
HOMEMADE PECAN PIE CUPCAKES
PECAN PRALINE CAKE WITH BUTTER SAUCE
Ingredients
For the cake:
- 1 box box Butter Pecan Cake Mix
- 1 tub Coconut Pecan Frosting
- 4 eggs
- ¾ cup oil
- 1 cup water
- ½ cup chopped pecans
For the sauce:
- 1 (14 oz) can sweetened condensed milk
- 2 tbsp butter
- ½ cup chopped pecans
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350F degrees.
- Spray a 9 x13 baking dish with nonstick cooking spray.
- In a medium bowl (or your stand mixer bowl), combine all the cake ingredients except for the chopped pecans.
- Don't forget to add the tub of coconut pecan frosting.
- That goes into the cake batter too! Mix well then stir in ½ cup chopped pecans.
- Pour batter into greased baking dish.
- Bake for about 40 minutes.
- Oven times vary but cake should spring back to the touch and be golden brown.
- Or insert a toothpick into the middle it should come out clean.
- For the sauce: In a small pot over medium heat, melt 2 tbsp. Butter.
- Pour in can of sweetened condensed milk with the melted butter and stir.
- Continue to stir until heated thoroughly, then add ½ cup chopped pecans.
- Stir again then take off heat.
- Then spoon this deliciously yummy sauce over individual slices of cake.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
Originally published: November 2012
Updated & republished: May 2019
Have made these many times. We love it! Great to take to social potlucks or to make someone feel special
I made this cake today. It is so moist. Great flavor. The only thing I changed was I used one cup of half and half. Will definitely make again.
Thanks so much Renea! I appreciate you taking the time to come back and comment!
Have made it for three years now. Go to potluck dish. Won plenty of awards that YOU deserve and I’m sooo thankful. I owe you two and a half. Thankyou for blessing us with this gem.
Sounds great - I can't find Butter Pecan Cake - is there a substitute I can use?
I can’t wait to make this cake for my father in law on Father’s Day. Thank you for this recipe. I’m a pecan big fan as well as my family. Can I use milk instead of water to mix the cake?
This cake is so easy and delicious! This is my second time making it and I made cupcakes this time. Baked for 13 to 15 minutes and they turned out perfect!
Excellent recipe! I added a teaspoon of butter pecan flavor to the batter and the frosting. Delish with vanilla ice cream. Hint to the non Coconut eaters: if the recipe call for coconut try pureeing the coconut, which mean you have to make the frosting from scratch. Just a thought...
Could you add bourbon to the butter sauce?
hello,
i have made this cake 3 times , easy to make and very delicious..i poked holes in cake after done and pour sauce and let it set....was excellent...will definitely try other recipes
Love it! Thank you so much Rena!!
I have made this cake in a bundt pan...many times.
And I have made it gluten free. I use a King Arthur gf yellow
cake mix and toast pecans in butter. I do not use that yummy
sauce. Too sweet for my taste. The cake is
delicious without it.
Thank you so much Jane! I appreciate you taking the time to come back and leave feedback on the recipe. Folks always ask me about gluten free so it's good to know that it worked for you!
This is a GOOD cake. The first time I made it I thought it was a little too sticky or gooey but still delicious. The next time I made it I only mixed a little less than 3/4 cup of the frosing in the cake. I liked.the less frosting best because the cake was just the right amount of gooeyness. Also you can cut the cake easier and it makes a much neater cake when serving to guests. . So if you want a less gooey or sticky cake then put less frosting in the cake. I still rated it 5 stars because it is an EXCELLENT cake.
I have looked on line and in tons of stores. No where around here do they sell the cake mix. Any substitution recommendations? I bought all the other ingredients already
Hi Suzette, I just recently purchased it at Walmart. Also at Kroger. I haven't tested it with any other type of cake mix. I suppose you could use a yellow cake mix but I don't think it would be nearly as good.
I'm going to bake this cake. It looks delicious. I have a recipe for the coconut pecan icing. I just leave the coconut out, since I don't like coconut.
Great idea Sarita!
I hate anything coconut but could not taste any coconut in this cake. It was delicious!
FYI, I made this cake the first time without reading the instructions completely. Therefore, I added the sweetened condensed milk to the cake - not the icing. I realized it the moment I took another look at the icing recipe. Luckily I had another can of the milk to make the icing, but I was afraid I had ruined the cake. I baked it without much hope of it being edible. Was I surprised when the cake cooled and I cut a piece. YUM! This was the moistest cake I've ever eaten, and the best tasting. Thanks so much for this recipe. (I baked it in a 9x13" pan.)
Could you poke cake with fork before pouring icing over the top so it could soak in the day before I take to work.
I don't see why not. 🙂
This is by far the best recipe I have ever tried!!!! The only thing I did different was that I poured the sauce over the whole cake! It was like we were eating at a fine dining restaurant defiantly will make again, and again, and again...... but you better have a big glass of milk handy!!
I love this recipe! It is without a doubt the favorite of all of my family. Would love to see your cookbook!! Thanks for a great recipe! It is quite the crowd pleaser.
I am so happy you love this recipe as much as I do! It really is absolutely one of my favorite recipes on my site. Thank you!
Can this be done as a layer cake?
Hi Kim! It is a super tender cake. I'm not sure that it is stable enough to be a layer cake. But having said all of that, I haven't actually tried it so can't say for certain. If you try it, please let me know!
I poured the sauce over the cake the first time I made this and it was awesome, even better the next day. I am going to make it again today! Can't wait!
Getting ready to make it again, per husbands request! We love this cake!
Woo hoo!!!
I’m guessing this would need refrigerated since the sauce is made with milk?
Hi Denise, I usually don't refrigerate it if I will be eating it within a day or two. If not, then you'll want to refrigerate it. 🙂
Bundt cakes should not be completely cool before being unmolded.Ten or fifteen minutes of cooling is recommended;then carefully turn the cake out on a cooling rack and allow to cool thoroughly. I am a retired cake decorator and this always worked for me. Good Luck.
Thanks for your input Doris!
I guess I could be labeled a "coconut hater." From the time I was a child, I could taste coconut oil in a cookie, and it was a taste I did not like.. With that said, I have made a version of this recipe and substituted oatmeal for the coconut in a homemade German Chocolate Frosting with good results. Just a thought...
Is there anyway you could omit the coconut frosting and just use a caramel Pecan frosting
Most caramel pecan frostings have coconut in them (as far as I am aware) but if you find a thick one that doesn't have coconut - go for it! 🙂
I have substituted oatmeal for coconut in a homemade German Chocolate Frosting recipe with good results. Since it is baked into the cake, appearance does not matter. PJ
Thanks so much for the tip PJ!
I’d like to make this recipe the day before an event. Will it still be good, or should it be served the day of?
Thanks!
You can make it the day before. I would just maybe add the butter sauce right before serving or pour it on individual slices when serving. 🙂
Thank you!
I made this cake and it was delicious! I tried it in a bundt pan. However, after letting it cool for an extended amount of time I tried to pop it out and it completely fell apart. Like into large chunks of crumbs. Do you think the center may have been too warm still? I want to take this to a gathering and would like to dress it up a bit, but am nervous to try it in the bundt pan again. Any thoughts? Thanks!
Does this cake have to be refridgerated, due to the glaze? If, so how long can it sit out in room temperature?
I've made this cake several times and it is a winner! I was wondering if you thought it would work to make this a layer cake with the sauce as filling and cream cheese frosting on the outside. I'd like to make this as a birthday cake for a friend and want something more formal than a 9x13.
Hi Kacie! I have never done that but I'd love to know if you try it out!!
We love this cake and I always get compliments and requests for the recipe. One change I make sometimes if the cake is going to an adult function is to add whisky or rum to the butter sauce. That really puts it over the top.
Trish - I like the way you think! Ha!
OMG!!!! I made this cake and it was a HIT! This cake so so so moist, I actually poked holes all over so the glaze could drip inside the cake! I will definitely be making this cake again!
I made this cake and it is a hit! To the butter pecan cake mix and coconut pecan frosting, along with the other ingredients, I added a box of French vanilla pudding, 2 tsps each of vanilla, butter, butter pecan, and coconut extracts. To the butter sauce, instead of regular sweetened condensed milk, I added the caramel flavored sweetened condensed milk.
This recipe is absolutely amazing! I made it for a bbq and once it was cut it was gone in 10 mins. Even though the recipe calls for box cake mix once people taste it they will think it is homemade! I am actually making another one as we speak! I received a special request. The only thing i will do differently this time is let the butter icing cool down longer before I pour it on the cake. Thx for this Awesome recipe!
Woo hoo!! I love when they think it's totally from scratch! LOL! Way to go Melanie!
This cake is AWESOME! I have one in the oven right now. I've made 6of these cakes within the pass month. You totally rock. God Bless
Addicted to this cake. My husband is not a fan of coconut and never even knew it was in this cake. I kept half out and froze the other. It came out of the freezer just as perfect as the fresh cake. Thank you for all the wonderful recipes that inspire me.
Oh my word, this cake is even better the next day after all the butter sauce soaked in!! I made it last night and only one piece was left! My dinner for tonight!! HAha I made a Bundt version of it- wish I could post a pic, it turned out so pretty much to my surprise (I'm not a baker!)
I'm making this cake for someone and giving it to them the next day. Should I keep the Butter Sauce separate and have them pour it on when they get ready to eat it or just pour it on after baking it?. I'm just thinking will it make the cake soggy.
It soaks in, the day after, but I think it's better! It makes it so moist
Does this keep? Could I make it a day or 2 in advance for a family reunion?
Thanks!!!
Vicki
Hi Vicki! You could make it a day in advance. Just cover tightly. 🙂
So I didn't have a butter pecan cake mix but I did have dark chocolate fudge 🙂 so I used it instead OMG yummy, did everything else as written in recipe took it to a work luncheon everyone loved it thanks for sharing!!!
I never baked this cake but after seeing its positive reviews, I will surely bake this cake in this weekend.
If I'm not serving this cake until tomorrow should I refrigerate the cake?
Loved this recipe, thanks for sharing!!!!
I made this cake today for the church pot luck. It was AMAZING! My daughter-in-law said that this will now have to be the cake I bring to all of our family functions, which is saying something because your Pea Pickin' Cake has been our family favorite now for a couple of years. This would be scrumptious served without the butter sauce on top, too.
This is the best cake ever and easy. And the butter cream is to die for.
This is the second time making this cake. I love this recipe and it's a winner at home and when we have guests. They never guess it's a box cake with frosting added in. Thank you so much.
I just took this cake out of the oven. It smells wonderful, I can't wait to dig in. Thank you for this and all your recipes.
Yay! Thanks so much Lisa!!
Looks & sounds delicious! Went to get ingredients...and couldn't find Butter Pecan cake mix. ???? So I tried German Chocolate ...we'll see how it turns out. Do you put icing on while cake is hot/warm?
I would love to know how it turned out for you Jackie! When you put the icing on is totally up to you. It's good either way. You can put it on while warm or you can drizzle it on individual servings. Either way is good 🙂
If you go to Amazon.com, you can find both the cake mixes and the frosting. I now have to order Splenda Blend through Amazon; no store around here carries them.
Happy Hunting and baking!
This cake is in my oven now to take to a neighborhood July 4 party. I figured that way I can keep a bit out and get to taste it but not eat the whole thing by myself!
This cake has made me very popular in my office and church. I make it in a bundt pan and it looks very fancy. It is so good and so easy. The hardest part is resisting the large piece. Thanks!!
I poke holes in the bundt cake when I take it out of the oven. Then I spoon the sauce over the cake, let it sit to soak up the sauce and then turn it out on a serving plate. Yummmm !
So glad this cake is a winner with your family.
If you opt for glazing the entire cake, do you pour it on when the cake is hot or cooled?
Made this for Christmas! Everyone was here today and loved it!!!!! Thanks for great recipe.
This is the absolute best cake I have ever made. I ended up getting a printout of this recipe to a nurse I work with and everyone at work loved this it's such a huge hit we make it whenever possible. Thanks for all the great recipes.
This cake is absolutely delicious. I've made it several times and received a thumbs up from everyone who has tried it. Thank you! 🙂
Hi. Your recipe says use 4 eggs but the cake box says use 3. It's the supermoist pudding in the mix variety. Also can I make it a couple days on advNce and serve at room temp with hot butter sauce on the side? Thks
Yay Joanna!! What an awesome review! Thank you SO much!
This cake is amazing! I couldn't find the icing with coconut so I used buttercream and it was so good. I also poked small holes in the cake so it could soak up the sauce. I am making it again this weekend for a party for a friend. I also learned it works well with other cake flavors. I made a bundt cake with chocolate cake and added caramel icing in to the batter then drizzled melted salted caramel chips on top. So delicious. Thanks for sharing.
lokia - you are so sweet - thank you!! I am so thrilled you loved this recipe!
Brandy... I can't find Butter Pecan Cake Mix in ANY brand. Suggestions?
I stumbled upon this recipe on pinterest after purchasing the butter pecan cake mix the other night. I wanted to make something that would stand out. This is one of the most amazing cakes that I've ever tasted. I never knew that you could add frosting to the cake mix. The butter sauce was a great addition as well. I'll definitely be making this for the upcoming holiday season.
thankyou for this recipe
I made this for a work picnic dessert contest and won 2nd place. Everyone enjoyed it. Great recipe! Thanks for sharing!
I'm making this for a weekend BBQ. Are there any issues with the topping being put on early before transfering? Does it...harden or anything weird?
Just finished making this cake! So easy and so ridiculously good. This will definitely make an appearance at our next family get together. Wonder how it would do as cupcakes.
Hello,
What can you use instead of butter pecan cake mix? I can't find it in the stores!
Thanks
Glynis
Thank you for this delicious cake recipe. We took it to a family get-together and it was everyone's favorite. Fortunately I doubled the recipe so there was enough. I even had family begging to take the last few pieces home. This is one of our top 3 favorite cakes. THANK YOU!
IF i need to omit dairy due to food allergies...what can be a comparable substitute for the condensed milk? Is there one? Thank you in advance.
This is absolutely the best cake ever! I've made it 3 times for work and it is a huge hit. Thanks for such an easy and delicious recipe!
Made this for work and everyone raved about it! People could not get enough of it! Best served warm. The only changes I made were: I did NOT add pecans into the batter only into the sauce. I doubled the sauce to make sure I did not run out. I thinned the sauce out with some milk as it was a little too thick for me and I added just about 2 tbs butter in addition to what the recipe calls for.
Thank God for you and Pinterest. I just found this recipe and my entire family agrees it is the best cake they have ever had. I couldn't find the butter pecan cake mix at Tom Thumb and used yellow butter cake mix. Still delicious though. When I find the butter pecan mix, I will buy 12, one for each month or till they are used up. Which I am sure will be fast! I am trying to figure out a way to make a bit more sauce. If I double that recipe would I have to freeze it. How long do you think it would keep in the fridge? Thank you again for sharing.
I have baked this cake several times over the last couple of years. It is very easy to make. I poke holes in the cake and pour the sauce over as icing. It seeps down in the cake and it is really yummy. My sister has requests to bake this cake all the time for the firemen and policemen where she lives.
This is one of the best cakes i've ever had..easy to make..my son loved it..thanks.....
Love all this blog������
I've made this cake three times already. I have a request from the third time I made it to bring it back for a birthday girl. It is easy to make, adults love it and kids love it. The last time I made it was for Thanksgiving. There was 1/4th of the cake left and I heard it was going to be eaten for breakfast, lunch and dinner the next day. Haha! Thank you very much for sharing this recipe :-).
I made this last year for our work Thanksgiving potluck and it was a huge hit. My question is would it work as cupcakes? How long would the baking be?
I just HAD to click on this recipe when I saw it in your sidebar. I love praline and when I saw how easy it was I printed it out! Thanks for the recipe. I can't wait to try it.
Today is my husband's birthday and he loves German chocolate cake, so guess what? I'm gonna try that combo!
can you use milk instead of water
This cake is fantastic! I had it at a church luncheon and there wasn't a crumb left on the cake plate when the luncheon was over! The person who made it served the sauce on the side, which I really liked because it made the cake something really special. Since I found out how easy it was, I am going to make this for my family soon!
My cousin made this cake for our reunion everyone loved it. Now I am going to make it so I can have more than one slice.
For those who are having trouble finding a butter pecan cake mix, I think you could use a good grade yellow cake and add a teaspoon of butter pecan extract.
I made this cake for a church pot luck and everyone loved it. I have been asked several times to make it again. I've even had people offer to pay me to make it. I always make mine in a bundt pan. Fabulous recipe!!
I've never seen butter pecan cake mixes at the store. What other cakemix could you use?
Woo hoo! I love that y'all love this one as much as I do. It really is my most favorite cake recipe on the blog. I think it surprises folks on how good it tastes. Thank you!
I found both the frosting and butter pecan cake mix at Walmart. This cake is incredible! Thanks so much for the recipe.
I made this cake today and OMGosh!!! SO GOOD. The sauce really makes it BETTER!!! I will be making this again.
Pecan meal and chopped pecans are $3 a pound in the roadside stands in the Florida panhandle
happy to give you contact info.
advacak@gmail.com
I go thru 2 0r 3 lbs a month
I found this wonderful recipe on pinterest and have made it at least 8 times. It's great for taking to functions at the drop of the hat. I've only gotten 1 piece because it's gone in a flash. I have it baking in the oven right now to serve at a church function tomorrow. I poke holes in the warm cake and pour the rich sauce over it. I'd love to have the chance to actually eat it warm! I can only find the cake mix at Walmart and I always have at least 2 boxes in my pantry so I'm ready to go at a moment's notice. Thanks so much for sharing this fantastic recipe!
Just made this today. It is amazing. Couldn't be easier to mix up. I liked the bowl so clean I almost didn't have to wash it. Left the pecans out of the sauce, and had one, okay, maybe two, pieces while it was still warm. You all have to try this. Also, unbelievably moist. Thanks for a great recipe 🙂
Wondering how a spice cake mix would taste. I have one and don't know what else to use it for. Thoughts?
OMG this cake is so wonderful. Just made it for the first time tonight. Will definitely make it again.
I've made this a couple times, and I've gotten famous at work for it. It's my oven right now. They requested I bring it tomorrow! I also take it as a poke cake for easy serving. The only variation I've ever tried is doing it with a German chocolate cake mix instead: turns out just as good as you'd imagine! This is amazing!
This cake is fantastic! I wanted something yummy to take to a community gathering, and this seemed like it would be a winner. Because I didn't have the "individual slices" option for the topping, and wanted each piece to get equal amounts of topping, I rolled the dice and turned it into a poke cake! Mixed the sweetened condensed milk and butter to pour into the holes, and topped with a thin layer of cool whip and the chopped pecans. It was so very good. Thank you for sharing!
Absolutely amazing cake!! A friend brought this to our church dinner last night, still warm. And, I assure you it didn't even get a chance to cool; it was gone that fast. Delicious!! Went straight from church, bought the ingredients to make it for my husband tomorrow! Can't wait to check out your other recipes!
Finally, after searching for a week for the cake mix I found it. And bought the last 2 containers of icing that they had. Can't wait to make this cake this weekend.
This is one of the best cakes I've ever made. Absolutely delicious.
I made this gluten free using Betty Crocker's gluten free yellow cake mix instead of the butter pecan cake mix. I followed the recipe as written and it turned out fabulous! I baked it about 30 minutes. My family loved it and my husband commented a few times, "that sure was good cake!" Thanks for giving me another option using the gluten free cake mix.
I made this piece of deliciousness for a 31 party at my home. Every last morsel was gobbled up. I think I emailed the recipe to 6 people!!! The sauce....oh my...the sauce!!! I was licking the bowl!
This is the bomb! Love it! My sissy made it this past weekend and it was just what the doctor ordered! A new favorite in our family! Thank you! <3
To Anonymous...have you tried walmart? That's where I found mine
Brandie, this looks absolutely sinful....got my cake mix, however I REALLY dislike coconut. Do you have any suggestions for a homemade plain pecan frosting?
Thanks so much
I so want to make this cake...but I can't find that flavor of cake mix anywhere in the Northwoods of Wisconsin!!! Guess I'll just have to wait until we go to Milwaukee and check it out down there ;(
I made this cake before and everyone loved it. Today I mistakenly used fat free evaporated milk and didn'tnotice tip after pecans were added. Anybody have a quik no-waste remedy?
just made this in a sunflower bunt pan and it came out beautiful!!! I had just enough batter left over to put in a mini bread pan and we sampled from that tonight and it is wonderful! will make the sauce for it tomorrow and put on each slice as you recommended. I found my butter pecan cake mix at walmart.
thanks for the great recipe,
Lisa
Thank you so much for coming back to let me know Lisa. So happy you loved this one!
Can anyone tell me if this cake needs to be refrigerated afterwards? Im making it for all the guys hubby works with and wont be delivering it till tomorrow.
Thanks
I don't refrigerate this cake. If it were going to sit out longer than a day, then I would probably refrigerate it.
I made this awhile ago and it was delicious! My whole family loved it. The glaze/frosting reminded me of the Applebee's Blonde Brownie Sauce....yum!
This is what I call my caramel cake. I make it in a bundt pan and use a Vanilla nut butter glaze but the cake is the same! Moist, delicious and sooo easy! My recipe calls for 1 cup of oil but I only use 3/4 cup. This is my husband's absolute favorite cake!!
Thanks so much Trish!
omg I just Love Love Love this recipe, simply amazing, and I love love love your creativity, You Rock!!!
Awww shucks - thank you so very much!! 🙂
Just made this. It's really good! Thanks for the recipe. And to the above I used Betty Crocker's Butter Pecan Cake Mix and found it at Wal-mart.
Does anyone know if Betty Crocker even still make the Butter Pecan Cake Mix? Went to our 2 grocery stores and neither one had it. Is there a way of finding out? I went to the Betty Crocker site and tried sending in the question.
Yes they do. I just bought a box at my local Wal-mart last week. You could ask your store manager about ordering it for you. But if all else fails, you could use french vanilla instead but you do lose some of that buttery-pecan flavor. Hope that helps!
It is still available though my grocer rarely carries more than a few boxes. I get it at Ingle's and Bi-Lo
I got both the cake mix and the frosting at Food Lion.
I have a request to make this cake for one of the cakes in a 3 tier wedding cake. Do you think the sauce will be ok to put some between the split layers in the one cake and then ice with a butter cream icing?
Oh goodness, this might be a tricky one to do that with. You might be able to, I would just worry about the stability of the layers with the sauce in between.
Oh my Lord!! This cake was divine!!! I will be making it again, and again. I love the fact that it doesn't taste like a boxed cake mix... Just the right add-ins, the perfect sauce to spoon over the top.. Brandie, thank you for sharing this recipe.. Love it!!!
Thanks so much for the thumbs up Barb!!
This recipe looks amazing. I've pinned it! 🙂 Thanks for sharing it at the Weekend Potluck!
This looks awesome, and using a cake mix makes it even better! I am always looking for recipes that I can make gluten free, and I will definitely try this one with a gluten free mix. Thanks for posting!
Sounds so good! If I make this as a bundt cake, can I drizzle over the whole cake as a glaze? Or will it all pool at the bottom?
My children ask for this cake instead of birthday cake for their birthdays. Thank you for the recipe.
OH My-Lanta!! My house smelled SO good while this cake was in the oven..which it almost didn't make it to the oven because the batter is delicious by itself!! Made this for my husband who will be home tonight after a week away for work but he had better hurry it up or there won't be any cake left. Thank you so much for this recipe the cake is delish =)
I can not find the Butter pecan cake mix. Do you have any suggestions?
Hi Jane. Just use a yellow cake mix. It won't taste exactly the same but that's really the only other substitution I could offer. If you can find some pecan extract, you could add about a teaspoon and a half of that to the batter to get it to come close to the butter pecan cake mix flavor.
This was sooooo good but with the price of pecans it is a bit pricey, so definitely a special occasion cake. Try it you certainly will not be disappointed!
Made it .... Loved it ....
Thank you for coming back to let me know! 🙂
good looking I will try this
I can't have coconut, so just use a butter cream frosting and some pecans to the frosting?
I made this cake a couple of days ago. Turned out perfect. My husband says this is his new favorite cake. Thanks for sharing.
I can't find the Butter Pecan Cake Mix either, so I guess I will try the yellow cake mix.
Couldn't find the Butter Pecan cake Mix, but had already bought all the other ingredients, so I went ahead and tried it using a yellow butter cake mix and it was delicious! got rave reviews from my guests!
How long should the cake cool if pouring sauce over entire cake? Sounds so yummy; can't
wait to try. Thanks.
I made the cake today...I had to bake it for 50 minutes, it was not done at 40 mins....but one question....do you refrigerate the leftovers??? I am going to since it has sweetened condensed milk in it...and I will try a piece after supper...thanks for the recipe
I am going to try this recipe too , but my Mom takes the can of condensed milk and boils the unopened can for 2 hours ( making sure the can always has water over it ) this makes a thick caramel , and then add the nuts and butter to it . I think it will be even better ... Thanks for crashing my diet yet again , but can't wait to try it 😉
I just bought the stuff at walmart to make this later today. I can't wait. It looks so good.
Karen
I am going to try this cake with yellow cake mix and homemade cream cheese icing.
Would love to know how it turns out for you!
I make a cake similar to this but use jarred caramel sauce over it...super easy and sooooo good. I will have to try this with the pecans. As for the coconut you can't even tell it is in there, no one in family even noticed.
Thanks for posting, I am new to your site and just love it.
Ooooh caramel, sounds heavenly! And thank you for mentioning about not being able to taste the coconut. I tell people that all the time. The frosting really just adds great flavor but no one ever can usually detect the coconut. 🙂
Does this need to be made in a glass dish? I wanted to make it to take and I have a great "carrier" cake pan where you bake & take, but it is metal. By the way, I LOVE your site and have made so many of your recipes! Thank you!!
Renee, that shouldn't be a problem at all. I have a carrier cake pan that is metal and it turns out fine. As long as you spray it really well with nonstick spray 🙂
can you use individual servings of the sauce and maybe put it in the fridge for a while. Will this keep for a couple of days to heat just what you need at the given time?
I just found your blog and have enjoyed looking at all of your recipes. My question is this : does the coconut pecan frosting play an integral part in the flavor of the cake or can I substitute another flavor since I am allergic to coconut and would like to be able to enjoy this with my family.
Hi Amber! Oh no! I'm so sorry to hear that you are allergic to coconut. It really is a big part of this cake. I wonder if you could make your own pecan frosting but without the coconut? and add that to it. I don't know if you want to go through all that trouble though and I'm not sure how much it would change the consistency. Or you could try making this cake without the frosting and then while warm, poke small holes in the cake and add the sweetened condensed milk on top followed by chopped pecans. It won't taste exactly the same but I'm sure it would still be pretty yummy!
Amber Reilly, I do not like coconut flavor at all. The first time I baked this delicious cake, I did use the coconut pecan frosting . . . and YES, I could taste it. ????
So this time I used Salted Caramel Frosting- I think it will taste amazingly awesome. Try it!
I just made this this evening for my husbands birthday because he is a butter pecan LOVER! We have had the butter pecan cake mix and store bought icing before and it was really good. So I could wait to make this with these variations. It was WONDERFUL!!!! It is amazing how something so SIMPLE could taste this good. I think I will try it as a poke cake next too. I was worried that since it is so watery that it may make the cake mushy. Anyone tried it as a poke cake yet?
Thank you so much!! This would be great if you poked holes and poured the sweetened condensed milk on top. 🙂
I am making this tonight to take to work tomorrow as a treat. Not going to be really feasible to keep the sauce heated for pouring over individual slices. Any thoughts or ideas on maybe doing the "poke" type cake or just pouring over the top as a glaze? Should I wait til in morning or go ahead and do it tonight? Help!
I think that should work just fine. It will be great as a poke cake or even just drizzling it on top 🙂
I made this with a German chocolate cake mix and it was great... I think I will try doing it as a poke cake next 🙂
Thank you for letting me know how it turned out with the German Chocolate Cake. Sounds really good!
I am wondering how this would be as a poke cake letting the butter sauce ooze down into the cake? I want to take this to work and think it would be easier to have the sauce already on the cake. What do you think?
Donna, sorry I am so late in seeing this. I hope it worked out good for ya. But yes, a poke cake or even just drizzling it on top would be great!
I found your Cheesy Chicken Tater Tot Casserole recipe a few months ago and finally got around to making it today. But while I was digging up the recipe before my run to the grocery store, I started poking around at your other recipes, and I just couldn't pass this one up. So I bought the ingredients for this as well, and made it after dinner tonight. OMG, YUM!!!! Just amazing. I did make a bit of a tweak to the sauce, though - I realized as I was putting it together that it appealed to me b/c it reminded me of one of my favorite restaurant desserts, Applebee's Maple Butter Blondie. So on a whim, I added some more butter (another 2-3 Tbsp, I think) and then around 1/2 cup of maple syrup. It turned out so similar to their sauce - we all just loved it! Applebee's serves theirs with vanilla ice cream and pours the sauce over that, too. I think I may have to try that next time!
Sounds amazing!
This was a birthday cake for the pecan-loving boyfriend's 30th birthday, and it came out so beautiful and delicious. I was scared of the sweetened condensed milk because I hate the flavor but a few minutes stirring over the heat with the butter and then the pecans and it became a delicious sweet sauce with no trace of its origins. I used your example and baked in glass rather than metal and it prevented my temperamental bottom-burning oven from ruining the cake. Another hit, thank you!
That is so great to hear Beverly! Thank you for letting me know!
I have this cake in the oven right now! I will let you know how it turns out.
This looks so yummy! I think I might try adding a little cinnamon to the icing mixture! 🙂
This a great recipe. Something quick to bake and has a great taste. And the glaze with thepecans makes it extra special, if you like nuts.
This cake is wreaking havoc on my weight loss goals! I've already eaten two pieces. It's incredible. Is the sauce supposed to be thin (like milk) or thicker (like a glaze)? I couldn't seem to get it to thicken, no matter how long I let it cook. It was still phenomenal, though! The sauce soaked into the cake and... mmm! I better quit, before I talk myself into another piece! Thanks for sharing the recipe!
Oh Brandi...You had me at "dump a tub of coconut pecan frosting" into the cake batter!
Haha Kari!
I can't find the cake mix anywhere. Can u use just a butter flavored cake mix?
I would think that you could use a yellow cake mix and put a little pecan extract and a tiny bit of coconut extract and get the same result. Maybe not "quite" as good as the original cake mix but if you haven't had them that way, you would probably love it!
How about putting Butterscotch Instant Pudding and pecans in a white cake mix. That might mimic the butter pecan flavor.
Sounds good to me! Let me know if you try it!
It is remarkable!! I found a can of milk with caramel in it. That added to the flavor. Thanks
They sell it at Walmart
I will say that I have only ever made this with the Pecan Cake Mix. So truthfully your guess is as good as mine whether it will be yummy with another kind of cake mix. The pecan cake mix has such a unique flavor that I just don't know how this will turn out with another flavor. If you try it, I'd love to know how it turns out for you!
My family LOVES every single recipe Ive tried from you and I know this cake will not disappoint either. I am going to make this one right now... Thank for sharing 🙂
You, ma'am, for no reason in particular...are awesome! I am going to try this recipe. I am a decent country cook, but as a guy, I cannot bake to save my life, but I think you and this recipe may be my shot at a second chance at baking!
AC
This recipe was delicious, but I found it impossible to find any store that carried the Butter Pecan cake mix. I had to order from a private company and then had to order a minimum of 6. I tried Walmart and every other market.
I found the cake mix at Walmart but I had to get the icing at Kroger.
I found it and the icing at Walmart just a week ago.
I order mine through shop foods ex.and you can offer box
What makes a butter pecan cake mix different from a butter cake mix? I have a butter mix. Don't ever remember seeing butter pecan mix at the store. Is there something I could just add to the butter? THANKS
Omg this looks soooo yummmy...one question do you wait till the cake cools down before adding the sauce or do you eat the cake warm with the sauce.....love your blog...jasmine
Adding ing. to my gro list ...plan on making this for our church family Christmas get-together next Sun..can not wait. Normally pecans are a luxury item..but I just happen to have about 3full bags in the freezers..I just live it when I don't have to skimp on the pecans.
Pinned!
I want to thank you for this recipe. I cook all the dinners and special events for our church and today was a women's event and I made this as one of the desserts and it was a big hit! There is a grouchy lady who is not very kind and when she ate this cake she smiled and asked for another piece. Got me to thinking how much of an effect food really does have on people.
I am baking this cake as we speak! I can not wait to taste it, and i hope the family enjoys it!! I'll post later.Happy Thanksgiving everyone!!
Made this for Thanksgiving dinner and it was a big hit, everyone loved it and requested it to be on the menu again next year. I spread the butter sauce on the entire cake rather than on individual pieces. Thanks for a great recipe. I was thinking this recipe might also be good in a German chocolate cake mix.
This dessert was a HIT during my holiday festivities.
The butter sauce takes this cake to another level!!!
This will definitely be a staple recipe for my family to enjoy year after year!!!!
This cake is baking in the oven as I type! I can't wait to surprise my family today with this scrumptious recipe!!! Thanks for sharing! PS: The smell while it's baking is oh so yummy!!!! My mouth is watering RIGHT NOW! 🙂
So happy y'all like this one!! Anonymous - since you are going somewhere where you can heat the sauce up before serving, I would put the sauce in a microwave safe container, then warm it up before serving. This cake is fine at room temperature but I think it is even yummier when you pour the warm sauce over top before serving. 🙂
Sounds awesome! Question - if I take this to my in-laws' for Thanksgiving, should I make the sauce but keep separate, then reheat and pour over before serving after we get there? Will it get too mushy if I pour it over ahead of time?
I'd make it after arriving!!
I saw this on your blog yesterday and made it when I got home from work. We ate a piece after dinner, hubby had another piece for TV, and then breadfast with coffee. Tonight, we finished off the cake except for one piece and my husband has claims on it for breakfast with coffee. We have a house guest that HATES coconut and never even realized there was coconut in it!! I actually like it just as much without the sauce on top. It's moist, wonderful flavor and is great for anytime of the day. This will go in my list of favorites! I have already bought the stuff to make it again! Thanks for sharing the recipe! NOW, who is going to pay for my new stretch pants???
I am always looking for new recipes. This looks really good! I would LOVE for you to come share at my Farm Girl Blog Fest: http://fresh-eggs-daily.blogspot.com/2012/11/farm-girl-blog-fest-9.html
Lisa
Fresh Eggs Daily
Oh Sweet Sister (I do mean that literally!=) thanks for another yummy yummy cake recipe. You are Da Cake Queen for sure! I have never heard or read a recipe like this before. YUM-OOOOOO!
Wow!!! Im Happy that I stumbled across your blog... You have just made my day.. I have just recently started back to work and thought how am I go to still cook for my girls without slaving in the kitchen... Well The Country Cook is the answer... Thank You, Thank You... 🙂
I am definitely going to make this when someone is coming to visit or maybe when I have to take a cake to someone for dessert. I wouldn't be safe having it alone in my house with me because I could feel my hips expanding as I was reading the recipe....imagine what they would do if I was eating it!!! Anyway, I'll be trying as soon as the proper occassion presents itself....like Hunting Season has begun and "let us eat cake"
Just one question. How do you manage not to eat half the tub of frosting before you get it into the cake batter??? OMG, this looks soooooo good!
I been making this cake for a while minus the sauce. Warm the icing up in the microwave for about 45 seconds (my microwave is strong) & pour it right in. This is one delicious cake. Definitely have to make the sauce next time. Thanks Brandie for all the great recipes you share with us. Keep on posting them.
That is one pretty tasty looking cake.
IT IS BEYOND DELICIOUS!!
I love your recipes!!! I have copied so many of them, and the ones I have made are wonderful. YUM
Oh my, I've been following your blog for a couple days, and just wanted to tell you THANK YOU! I don't remember how I came upon it, but I'm so tickled pink that I did! I made the red velvet poke cake last night and I am now officially addicted to any cake that has the word "poke" in it! Thanks again for sharing all these wonderfully easy things! Will be making the chicken/tater tot cass. this weekend:)
Now y'all know how to make a girl's day! Thank you so much!! I really hope you love this recipe as much as we do! Katie - I don't warm the frosting up at all. It scoops right out of the tub and mixes just fine with the batter as is. I hope you like this with the sauce when you make it again! Thank you again for your comments! 🙂
My dad loves pecan cakes! I'll have to make this for him!
This looks REALLY good with one exception -- my family does not like coconut. Do you have any suggestion for a substitute frosting to use in place of the coconut pecan?
There's so much going on in this cake i doubt they would even know it's in there.
Pat yourself on the back!! This is brilliant and in a year of pecan shortage this is going to substitute for out pecan pie this season.
Thank you for the sweet comments everyone! Always love hearing from you!! Connie - unfortunately the coconut pecan frosting is essential in this. It gives it so much flavor & moistness. I can tell you that my husband (who does not like coconut) ate it & had no idea it was even in there! And I took it to a potluck recently and several people asked me for the recipe & when I gave it to them, they were surprised that coconut pecan frosting was an ingredient! And one of those ladies is a very savvy baker and she said she knew there was something she just couldn't put her finger on in the taste. Guess what? It was coconut! 🙂
Should this cake be refrigerated
Good grief I think I just gained 5 pounds looking at that! Might have to make that one real soon...and I LOVE nuts, too. But pecans are ridiculously expensive right now. Thanks for nothing Mr. Drought! Cute kitchen helper you have there...
Im going to try this. 🙂 this looks amazing. Thanks for sharing.
I made this cake. It is sooo good..
Its amazing!!!!