Print

Butter Pecan Cake Layers

Print Recipe

A luscious Butter Pecan Cake featuring the rich flavor of browned butter and crunchy, finely chopped pecans, layered with creamy frosting.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter
  • More butter for greasing
  • 2 ¾ cups cake flour
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 cup packed light brown sugar
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 ½ cups buttermilk, at room temperature
  • 2 large eggs, at room temperature
  • 1 ½ teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 1 ½ cups pecan halves, very finely chopped (divided)
  • 1 ½ cups unsalted butter, softened (for frosting)
  • 6 oz full-fat brick-style cream cheese, softened
  • ⅓ cup packed light brown sugar (for frosting)
  • 1 ½ teaspoons vanilla extract (for frosting)
  • ¼ teaspoon salt (for frosting)
  • 4 ½ cups confectioners’ sugar, sifted
  • 1 tablespoon heavy cream

Instructions

  1. Brown the Butter: In a saucepan, melt the unsalted butter over medium-low heat. Stir until it turns deep amber brown for a rich flavor. Pour into a heatproof bowl and let cool.
  2. Preheat the Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease three 8-inch round cake pans with butter to prevent sticking.
  3. Mix Dry Ingredients: In a bowl, combine the cake flour, granulated sugar, brown sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Whisk until well mixed.
  4. Combine Wet and Dry Ingredients: Blend the cooled browned butter into the dry mixture until well combined.
  5. Prepare Wet Mixture: In another bowl, whisk the buttermilk, eggs, and vanilla extract together. Gradually mix this into the flour mixture until smooth. Fold in 1 cup of finely chopped pecans.
  6. Bake the Cake: Divide the batter evenly among the prepared pans. Bake for about 30 minutes or until a skewer comes out clean.
  7. Cool the Cakes: Allow the cakes to cool in the pans for 15-20 minutes, then transfer to wire racks to cool completely.
  8. Prepare the Frosting: In a mixing bowl, beat the softened butter, cream cheese, brown sugar, vanilla extract, and salt until smooth and creamy. Gradually add the sifted confectioners’ sugar and mix until fluffy.
  9. Assemble the Cake: Place one layer on a serving platter, spread frosting between the layers, and cover the top and sides of the cake with the remaining frosting. Chill for 30-60 minutes before serving to set the frosting.

Notes

Be sure to let the browned butter cool slightly before mixing it with the dry ingredients to avoid cooking the eggs. Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.

Nutrition

Keywords: Butter Pecan Cake, dessert, baking, holiday cake, cream cheese frosting

Find it online: https://swifttasty.com/butter-pecan-cake-layers/