Pecan Praline Cake Recipe - A Spicy Perspective (2024)

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Decadent Pecan Praline Cake Recipe with crusty pecan topping. It’s the perfect edible gift or holiday dessert for family gatherings.

Pecan Praline Cake Recipe - A Spicy Perspective (1)

Decadent Pound Cake

Looking for a unique holiday treat to serve after holiday meals?

Or possibly to wrap and give as tasty presents this season?

I thought you might be. Today’s Pecan Praline Pound Cake is a show-stopper at the dinner table and can be easily packaged and carted around (or shipped) for edible gifts.

There’s nothing like a buttery pecan cake to usher in the holiday spirit!

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A Fresh Fall Favorite

I used my favorite classic pound cake recipe, yet substituted brown sugar for the granulated sugar to give it a deeper richness of flavor.

Then I simmered an easy pecan praline topping that is poured over the pound cakes, giving them a crumbly crusty nut finish.

Buttery-sweet and crunchy on top. Dense and tender below. The perfect pound cake combo!

You can wrap each Pecan Praline Pound Cake in cellophane to give away. Gift them in a decorative loaf pan.

Or offer them with a lovely wooden cutting board like those seen in today’s post from Shop Dog USA.

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Pecan Cake with Pralines Ingredients

  • Softened Unsalted Butter
  • Brown Sugar
  • Large Eggs
  • All-Purpose Flour – A good Gluten-Free Baking Mix could be used as well!
  • Whole Milk – You can substitute buttermilk or cashew milk if you like.
  • Vanilla extract
  • Salt
  • Baking Powder
  • Powdered Sugar
  • Broken Pecan Pieces

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How to Make This Pecan Cake

  1. Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F and grease your baking loaf pans with nonstick cooking spray.
  2. Cream the butter and sugar, in an electric stand mixer, until it is fluffy and light. This will take just a few minutes. Scrape the sides of the bowl and then add in the eggs, milk, vanilla extract, salt, and baking powder until it is all mixed in and combined well. Slowly add in the flour and continue to beat the mixture until it becomes smooth.
  3. Equally distribute the cake batter into your two baking loaf pans and bake for about 65 to 80 minutes. A wooden skewer should come out clean when poked in the center of the cake. Let it cool in the pan for about 10 minutes and then transfer to a cooling sheet to finish the cool down process.
  4. Next you will prepare the praline portion that goes on top by combining butter, brown sugar and milk into a saucepot on the stove until it comes to a low boil. Keep it on boil for a few minutes and then take it off the heat to whisk in some vanilla and powdered sugar until it is smooth. Then add in the broken pecan pieces.
  5. Take the warm praline mixture and pour it over the tops of both pound cakes. Let them cool before serving or wrapping.

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Get the Complete (Printable) Pecan Praline Cake Recipe Below! Enjoy!

Pecan Praline Cake Recipe - A Spicy Perspective (6)

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does this pecan cake last?

Keep this pound cake in an airtight container at room temperature for up to three days, or wrapped with plastic wrap and aluminum foil in the fridge for up to a week.

If you want to freeze this recipe, I would recommend not adding the pralines on the top and just wrapping the pecan cake in plastic wrap and foil and it will stay in the freezer for up to 6 months.

Can this pecan cake be made in a bundt pan?

Yes, if you use a large 12-15 cup capacity bundt pan the whole recipe will fit. The pan should be no more than 2/3 full. Make sure to grease and flour the bundt pan well, so the cake comes out easily. Baking time will be about the same length of time, 65-80 minutes.

Can I make mini loaf cakes?

Yes, this cake recipe makes enough batter for 2 standard loaf cakes, or 6 mini (5 1/2 X 3 inch) loaf cakes. The baking time should run between 40-55 minutes.

Does this pecan cake travel well?

Yes, pounds cakes are famous for their sturdy take-a-long texture that holds up to being lifted and carried. This is a wonderful cake to take to potlucks and holiday parties.

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Other Cake Recipes

  • Easy Cream Cheese Pound Cake Recipe
  • Pumpkin Pound Cake with Chocolate Ganache Recipe
  • Blueberry Lemon Pound Cake Recipe
  • Green Chili Peach Pound Cake Recipe
  • Mint Chocolate Chip Pound Cake Recipe
  • Apple Cake with Salted Caramel Frosting Recipe
  • Pumpkin Texas Sheet Cake with Buttercream Frosting Recipe

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These stunning cutting boards are custom-made by a master woodworker here in the mountains of North Carolina and can be used as cheese boards, charcuterie boards, and foraging boards.

They come in all different shapes and sizes. The smaller sizes are perfect for gifting with a Pecan Praline Pound Cake on top.

Check them out on Instagram and Facebook at @ShopDogUSA!

Pecan Praline Cake Recipe - A Spicy Perspective (9)

Pecan Praline Cake Recipe - A Spicy Perspective (10)

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Pecan Praline Pound Cake

Prep Time: 15 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 1 hour hour 5 minutes minutes

Total Time: 1 hour hour 20 minutes minutes

Decadent Pecan Praline Pound Cake Recipe with crusty pecan topping. It's the prefect edible gift or holiday dessert for family gatherings.

Servings: 24 slices (2 loaves)

Ingredients

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Spray two 9 X 5 loaf pans with nonstick cooking spray.

  • Place 3 sticks butter and 2 1/2 cups brown sugar in the bowl of an electric mixer. Beat on high to cream the butter and sugar together until light and fluffy, about 3-5 minutes. Scrape the bowl, then mixin the eggs, 1 cup milk, 2 teaspoons vanilla extract, salt and baking powder. Slowly add in the flour. Scrape the bowl, then beat until smooth.

  • Divide the batter into the two loaf pans. Bake for 65-80 minutes, until a wooden skewer inserted into the center comes on clean. Cool in pans for 10 minutes. Then flip out onto a cooling rack.

  • Once the cakes are out of the oven, place the remaining 1 stick of butter, 1/2 cup of brown sugar, and 1/4 cup milk in a small sauce pot. Heat over medium heat until the mixture comes to a low boil. Boil for 4-5 minutes, then remove from heat and whisk in 1 teaspoon vanilla and 2 cups powdered sugar. Whisk until smooth, then stir in the pecan pieces.

  • While the praline mixture is still warm, pour it over the top of both pound cakes. Allow them to cool to room temperature before cutting or wrapping.

Nutrition

Serving: 1slice, Calories: 408kcal, Carbohydrates: 54g, Protein: 5g, Fat: 20g, Saturated Fat: 11g, Cholesterol: 83mg, Sodium: 177mg, Potassium: 129mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 37g, Vitamin A: 555IU, Vitamin C: 1mg, Calcium: 61mg, Iron: 1mg

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: American

Author: Sommer Collier

Making this recipe?Follow us on Instagram and tag @ASpicyPerspective so we can share what you’re cooking!

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Pecan Praline Cake Recipe - A Spicy Perspective (2024)

FAQs

What does pecan praline taste like? ›

Some dip their pralines in chocolate or sprinkles, but these additions are not traditional. These treats have a smooth caramel-like flavor, and with the satisfying crunch of pecan in the mix, plenty of fans are hooked on them.

How to soften pecan pralines? ›

Since the problem is mostly that the sugar in the pralines gets hard and crystallized, you might try softening them the way you'd soften hard brown sugar. Place a terracotta sugar saver in the container or something else that's slightly damp, like a few slices of apple or a slice of fresh bread.

Are praline pecans good for you? ›

Being that pecans are the main ingredient; the snack contains essential vitamins & minerals, can aid in long-term heart health, can be enjoyed by gluten intolerant consumers, can provide a high number of antioxidants, and can supply a large amount of protein & fiber.

What is praline cake made of? ›

What is praline cake? This praline layer cake is made with a to die for vanilla cake (which we conveniently broke down in a step by step tutorial to answer alllll your questions), salted homemade caramel filling with toasted pecans (UM HELLO), and a perfectly tangy cream cheese frosting.

Is praline a spice? ›

Pralines are a type of candy, but depending on where they're made, different ingredients can be used and even the pronunciation can change.

What is the difference between pecan pralines and praline pecans? ›

For one, pecan pralines are a patty-shaped candy made from pecans and several other ingredients, typically sugar, butter, and cream. Praline pecans, on the other hand, are individual pecan nuts with a praline-flavored coating.

Why won't my pecan pralines harden? ›

If you beat too long, the candy will seize and start to crumble. If you don't beat it long enough, then pralines won't set properly and will stay soft and sticky.

Why do pralines turn white? ›

Pralines are a much-appreciated festive treat, but come to think of it, they're simply delicious at any time of the year. When your pralines turn white, you are seeing the recrystallization of sugar. And you are right that honey does technically slow down the rate at which crystals form in candy.

Why is my praline bitter? ›

Keep an eye on the batch, the caramel must not become too dark, otherwise it will be bitter. (The ideal is to have a pan large enough so that the sugar is distributed in a thin layer.) Pour the hot caramel over the hazelnuts and almonds and coat them. Then let cool completely.

Are pecan nuts good for the kidneys? ›

Use the chart on the next page to choose nuts and seeds that will fit your kidney diet plan. For example, macadamia nuts and pecans are lower in potassium and phosphorus than peanuts and almonds. These types of dialysis can remove more potassium, so you may need to eat more potassium foods.

Are pecans anti-inflammatory? ›

Almonds, hazelnuts, peanuts, pecans, pistachios and walnuts contain high amounts of fiber, calcium, magnesium, zinc, Vitamin E and Omega-3 fats which all have anti-inflammatory effects.

How many pecans can a diabetic eat? ›

A one-ounce serving of pecans (about 19 pecan halves) contains about 3g of fiber, which can help slow sugar absorption into your bloodstream. This can help prevent blood sugar spikes and crashes, which are common in people with diabetes.

What's the difference between a praline and a praline? ›

A praliné is a paste that is a mixture of nuts, chocolate and sugar. While in Belgium, a 'praline' is defined as a filled chocolate candy. Note that the term 'praline' is of Belgian origin.

What's the difference between candied pecans and pralines? ›

What is the difference between candied pecans and pralines? Candied pecans are pecans coated in egg whites, sugar, and spices, then baked until crispy. Pralines are a drop-candy with a caramel-like base and crunchy pecans mixed in.

Why is praline called praline? ›

Praline may have originally been inspired in France by the cook of Marshal du Plessis-Praslin (1602–1675), with the word praline deriving from the name Praslin. Early pralines were whole almonds individually coated in caramelized sugar, as opposed to dark nougat, where a sheet of caramelized sugar covers many nuts.

Is pecan praline like butter pecan? ›

Butter pecan is a flavor combination of pecans, butter, and pure vanilla flavoring, making this a sweet treat you want to bite your teeth into. Pecan pralines are another popular treat option using pecans. However, pecan pralines are much sweeter and more sugar forward compared to butter pecan.

How would you describe praline? ›

Praline is a sweet candy made from pecans and a whole lot of sugar. A fudgy, cream-based kind of praline is especially popular in the southern part of the United States. Officially, praline can refer to any confection that combines nuts and sugar.

Are pecan pralines chewy? ›

They say it has a soft sweetness and is delectably chewy with plenty pecans.

Does praline taste like caramel? ›

What do pralines taste like? A traditional American praline is sweet, creamy and delicious. It has a rich caramel flavor, and the pecans add a touch of savory crunchiness. No wonder so many people cite it as their favorite candy.

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