Description
This mouthwatering butter pecan praline poke cake showcases Southern dessert charm with rich caramel and nutty layers. Pecan lovers will savor each sweet, indulgent bite of this classic Southern treat.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 box (15 oz) butter pecan cake mix
- 4 large eggs
- 3/4 cup vegetable or canola oil
- 1 cup milk
- 1 can (16 oz) coconut pecan frosting
- 1 cup (1/2 cup + 1/2 cup) finely chopped pecans
- 1 can (14 oz) sweetened condensed milk
- 1/4 cup unsalted butter (57 g)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F and grease a 9×13-inch baking dish thoroughly to prevent cake from sticking.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine cake mix, coconut pecan frosting, eggs, oil, and milk. Blend with an electric mixer until the batter becomes smooth and well-integrated.
- Gently fold chopped pecans into the cake batter, distributing them evenly throughout the mixture.
- Pour the prepared batter into the greased baking dish, spreading it uniformly to ensure even baking.
- Bake for 35-40 minutes, checking doneness by inserting a toothpick into the center. The toothpick should emerge clean when the cake is fully baked.
- Remove cake from the oven and immediately create multiple holes across the entire surface using the handle of a wooden spoon, ensuring deep and consistent punctures.
- In a medium saucepan over medium heat, melt unsalted butter until it becomes completely liquid and slightly golden.
- Add sweetened condensed milk to the melted butter, stirring continuously to create a smooth, cohesive sauce.
- Incorporate chopped pecans into the sauce, stirring until they are well distributed and the mixture begins to simmer.
- Remove sauce from heat and carefully pour over the warm cake, ensuring the liquid seeps into the created holes and covers the entire surface.
- Allow the cake to cool completely at room temperature, enabling the sauce to set and flavors to meld together before serving.
Notes
- Toast pecans beforehand to enhance their nutty flavor and provide a deeper, more complex taste profile to the cake.
- Use room temperature ingredients to ensure smoother batter mixing and more even cake texture.
- Check cake doneness early to prevent over-baking, which can lead to dry results.
- Consider substituting gluten-free cake mix for a celiac-friendly version of this decadent dessert.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Desserts
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 12
- Calories: 426 kcal
- Sugar: 37 g
- Sodium: 210 mg
- Fat: 27 g
- Saturated Fat: 8 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 44 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 5 g
- Cholesterol: 65 mg