Description
This Butter Pecan Cake is a rich, moist dessert featuring a buttery cake base enhanced with browned butter and finely chopped pecans. It is baked to perfection and pairs beautifully with a creamy cream cheese frosting, making it a delightful treat for any occasion.
Ingredients
Scale
Cake Ingredients
- 1 cup unsalted butter
- 3 cups cake flour
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 cup light brown sugar
- 1 ½ teaspoons baking powder
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 ½ cups buttermilk
- 2 large eggs
- 1 ½ teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1 ½ cups finely chopped pecans
Frosting
- Cream cheese frosting (optional, amount as desired)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven and prepare pans: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and line three 8-inch round baking pans to prevent sticking and ensure even baking.
- Brown the butter: In a saucepan over medium-low heat, melt the unsalted butter and cook until golden specks form, releasing a nutty aroma. This browned butter adds a deep, rich flavor to the cake.
- Mix dry ingredients: In a large bowl, whisk together the cake flour, granulated sugar, light brown sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt until well combined.
- Combine browned butter with dry ingredients: Pour the browned butter into the dry ingredients and mix thoroughly until fully incorporated.
- Whisk wet ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the buttermilk, eggs, and vanilla extract. Gradually add this wet mixture to the butter and dry ingredient mixture, stirring until just combined.
- Add pecans and divide batter: Fold in the finely chopped pecans evenly throughout the batter. Then, divide the batter equally among the three prepared baking pans.
- Bake the cakes: Place the pans in the preheated oven and bake for approximately 30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
- Cool and frost: Allow the cakes to cool completely in the pans before removing them. Once cooled, frost with cream cheese frosting as desired.
Notes
- Ensure the butter is browned carefully to avoid burning, which can impart a bitter taste.
- Use cake flour for a tender crumb; all-purpose flour will alter the texture.
- Chilling the batter for 15 minutes before baking can help improve texture, though it is optional.
- Allow cakes to cool completely before frosting to prevent melting the frosting.
- You can toast the pecans lightly before chopping to enhance their flavor further.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: Butter Pecan Cake, Browned Butter Cake, Pecan Dessert, Cream Cheese Frosting Cake, Homemade Cake
