Southern Pecan Praline Cake with Butter Sauce
This Southern Pecan Praline Cake with Butter Sauce is so scrumptious that no one will know it’s made with a cake mix! All topped with an easy, sweet butter sauce!
AN EASY SOUTHERN STYLE CAKE
I promise you have never had a cake like this before. This cake is so incredibly moist and flavorful. It might seem weird to add frosting to the cake batter before baking but it totally works and makes this such a unique and absolutely delicious cake. The butter sauce is optional because this cake is so delicious on its own but I think it adds a little something special when serving. I promise this will become a new favorite cake and everyone will be begging for the recipe!
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
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 and you don’t even see the pieces of coconut in 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. I suppose you could try to make the frosting homemade and just maybe leave out the coconut.
If you or someone are serving this to just cannot stand any type of coconut at all or if you are allergic, then this cake is definitely not for you.
This recipe really relies on these specific ingredients. It just won’t taste the same with substitutes because I’ve tried. Again, this cake is reliant on using these exact ingredients.
Yes it can. It would need to be frozen without the sauce on top through. Wrap it very well to prevent freezer burn and it will keep in the freezer for up to 3 months.
Yes. Bake for about 50 minutes. I highly recommend spraying he bundt pan very well with a nonstick spray that has flour in it (like Baker’s Joy or Pam Baking Spray.)
When I first shared this recipe in 2012, cake mixes were 18.25 ounces. Some brands, like Betty Crocker, are now 13.25 ounces. As of writing this, Duncan Hines is 15.25 ounces. I believe only Betty Crocker makes the butter pecan flavor. This recipe still works without any changes. The cake may not be as thick but it will works the same way. Just keep an eye on baking time as all ovens can bake just a bit differently since many have hot spots. So you may need to adjust the baking time slightly.
It does not unless you’ve poured the sauce on top. I prefer to pour the sauce on to individual toppings. But if you’ve opted to pour it over the entire cake, then you’ll need to keep the cake refrigerated. Otherwise, just cover and it can be kept on the counter for up to 3 days.
INGREDIENTS NEEDED: (SEE RECIPE CARD BELOW FOR THE FULL RECIPE)
- butter pecan cake mix – it has to be the butter pecan cake mix. Unfortunately I have not found a good substitute. This is just one of those recipes where you must use the ingredients as listed. If you can’t find them then I would not try making this recipe.
- coconut pecan frosting – this recipe only works with this type of frosting. If you don’t like coconut then this recipe is not for you.
- eggs – if you have time, let the eggs come to room temperature. This helps them mix into the batter easier.
- oil and water – you are NOT using the amounts on the back of the box. Please use the amounts that I have listed exactly.
- chopped pecans – if you are not a huge fan of pecans you can leave them out but remember that there is pecan flavor in the cake mix and there are pecans also in the frosting so you will to be getting rid of the pecans completely.
- sweetened condensed milk – you don’t have to make the sauce if you don’t want since this cake is super flavorful on its own but it is nice to have on the side for anyone who would like some.
- butter – it needs to be real butter and not margarine.
HOW TO MAKE PECAN PRALINE CAKE:
Preheat oven to 350F degrees. Spray a 9×13-inch baking dish with nonstick cooking spray (I like the kind with flour in it). 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! I just dump it all in there then let the mixer do the work.
Once it’s all combined, stir in 1/2 cup chopped pecans.
Pour batter into greased baking dish. Bake for about 35-40 minutes. As with most baked goods, oven times vary but cake should spring back to the touch and be golden brown. And if you insert a toothpick into the middle it should come out clean.
This cake is perfectly good just like this. It is moist and yummy. But we’re gonna take it up a notch with some butter sauce. In a small pot over medium heat, melt 2 Tablespoons of butter. Pour in can of sweetened condensed milk with the melted butter and stir. Continue to stir until heated thoroughly, then add 1/2 cup chopped pecans. Stir again then take off heat.
Then spoon this deliciously yummy sauce over individual slices of cake. I pour the sauce over the individual slices instead of just pouring it over the whole cake because I love to be able to scoop up some of the sauce off my plate as I eat it and I don’t want the sauce to just become part of the cake. But you can definitely do that if you need to take this to a gathering.
CRAVING MORE RECIPES?
- Southern Pecan Pralines
- Butter Pecan Poke Cake
- Southern Pecan Cake Bars
- Italian Cream Cake
- Southern Pecan Pie
- Southern Pecan Pound Cake
- Pistachio Cake
- Italian Love Cake
- White Texas Sheet Cake
- Southern Pound Cake
Originally published: November 2012
Updated photos & republished: February 2024
Southern Pecan Praline Cake with Butter Sauce
Ingredients
For the cake:
- 1 box butter pecan cake mix
- 1 tub coconut pecan frosting
- 4 large eggs
- ¾ cup vegetable oil
- 1 cup water
- ½ cup chopped pecans
For the sauce:
- 2 Tablespoons salted butter
- 14 ounce can sweetened condensed milk
- ½ cup chopped pecans
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350F degrees. Spray a 9"x 13" baking dish with nonstick cooking spray.
- In a medium bowl (or your stand mixer bowl), combine 1 box butter pecan cake mix, 1 tub coconut pecan frosting, 4 large eggs, 3/4 cup vegetable oil and 1 cup water. Mix very well.
- Then stir in 1/2 cup chopped pecans.
- Pour batter into prepared baking dish.
- Bake for about 35-40 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 (or in a microwave), melt 2 Tablespoons salted butter.
- Pour in 14 ounce can sweetened condensed milk with the melted butter and stir.
- Continue to stir until heated thoroughly, then add 1/2 cup chopped pecans. Stir again then take off heat.
- Then spoon this deliciously yummy sauce over individual slices of cake when serving. Or pour it all over the whole cake.
Video
Notes
- Please refer to my FAQ’s (Frequently Asked Questions) and ingredient list above for other substitutions or for the answers to the most common questions.
- You can also make this in a bundt pan. Bake for about 50 minutes.
- I prefer to pour the sauce over the individual slices. I think it makes a prettier presentation but you don’t have to do that. You can just pour all of the sauce over the entire cake.
Nutrition
Nutritional Disclaimer
“The Country Cook” is not a dietician or nutritionist, and any nutritional information shared is an estimate. If calorie count and other nutritional values are important to you, we recommend running the ingredients through whichever online nutritional calculator you prefer. Calories and other nutritional values can vary quite a bit depending on which brands were used.
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?