This post may contain affiliate sales links. Please read my disclosure policy.
This Pecan Pie Layer Cake is made with moist layers of brown sugar cinnamon cake, homemade pecan pie filling and cinnamon frosting! It’s tastes like eating pecan pie, except you’re eating a delicious cake!
This post is sponsored by Challenge Dairy, but all opinions are my own.
Pecan Pie Meets Layer Cake
Pecan Pie Meets Layer CakeNow that Halloween has come and gone, it’s time to move on to the next holiday – Thanksgiving! The one problem is that I still have plenty of candy sitting in our kitchen. Our house sits at the top of a bit of a hill, so not as many kids come up to our house. Yet I still always get plenty of candy just in case. I just can’t help it.
This year I made the mistake of getting candy that I actually really like. With so many leftovers, I need to get rid of them quickly, otherwise I might eat it all myself! And that’s not good because I need to keep plenty of room for all the other holiday treats that will be coming in the next couple months. After all Thanksgiving is one of the best food holidays of the year!
So I’m kicking off the mad dash to Thanksgiving with this cake. It’s a fun twist on one of the classic pies. If you’re looking for a way to switch up your favorite pie, this cake is for you!
How to Make Pecan Pie Layer Cake
To start, there’s the pecan pie filling. It’s basically a straight pecan pie filling but it’s cooked over the stove, so it really is like eating pecan pie. The eggs serve as the thickener while the flavor is all about that dark brown sugar and pecans. You could use light brown sugar, but I definitely prefer the deeper flavor of the dark brown sugar.
The cake layers are a brown sugar and cinnamon spin on one of my favorite cakes. It’s wonderfully moist and fluffy! Just be sure to not skimp on the creaming of the butter and sugar. It adds air to the batter that helps give it the fluffiness that it needs. Speaking of the butter, I use Challenge butter. Challenge butter is 100% real cream and farm to fridge in two days. It really is so creamy! I always love that when I soften it to room temperature to bake with, I can really tell just how creamy it is and it stays that way, unlike other brands. Makes a wonderful cake! Find where to buy it using Challenge Dairy’s store locator.
And finally the cake is frosted with a cinnamon buttercream frosting. It finishes off the cake perfectly! The final combination is a wonderful twist on the pecan pie! The moist fluffy cake with the pecan pie filling and cinnamon frosting is a wonderful combination! I do recommend cutting the cake at room temperature. It will be a little easier to cut through the sticky filling.
This cake was a big hit for us, so I hope it’s a big hit for you as well!
Watch How To Make It
Print
Pecan Pie Layer Cake
- Prep Time: 2 hours
- Cook Time: 23 minutes
- Total Time: 2 hours 23 minutes
- Yield: 12-14 Servings
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Oven
- Cuisine: American
Description
This Pecan Pie Layer Cake is made with moist layers of brown sugar cinnamon cake, homemade pecan pie filling and cinnamon frosting! It’s tastes like eating pecan pie, except you’re eating a delicious cake!
Ingredients
PECAN PIE FILLING
- 3 large eggs
- 3/4 cup dark corn syrup
- 3/4 cup (108g) dark brown sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/4 cup Challenge unsalted butter, cubed
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 2 cups (200g) chopped pecans
CAKE LAYERS
- 3/4 cup (168g) Challenge unsalted butter, room temperature
- 1 1/2 cups (225g) packed light brown sugar
- 1/2 cup (104g) sugar
- 3/4 cup (173g) sour cream, room temperature
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- 6 large egg whites, room temperature
- 2 1/2 cups (325g) all purpose flour
- 4 tsp baking powder
- 1 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
- ½ tsp salt
- 3/4 cup (180ml) milk, room temperature
- 1/4 cup (60ml) water, room temperature
FROSTING
- 1 1/4 cup (280g) Challenge salted butter, room temperature
- 1 1/4 cups (237g) shortening
- 10 cups (1150g) powdered sugar
- 1 tbsp vanilla extract
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- 5–6 tbsp (75-90ml) water or milk
- Additional pecan halves, for decorating
Instructions
1. To make the pecan pie filling, combine all ingredients except the pecans in a saucepan. Heat over medium until it begins to boil, stirring constantly.
2. Add the pecans and allow to boil for 30 seconds.
3. Remove mixture from the heat and refrigerate until cool and thickened.
TO MAKE THE CAKE LAYERS:
4. To make the cake layers, prepare three 8-inch cake pans with parchment paper circles in the bottom and grease the sides. Preheat oven to 350°F (176°C).
5. In a large mixing bowl, cream the butter and sugars together until light in color and fluffy, about 3-4 minutes. Do not skimp on the creaming time.
6. Add sour cream and vanilla extract and mix until well combined.
7. Add egg whites in two batches, mixing until well combined after each. Scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed to be sure all ingredients are well incorporated.
8. Combine the dry ingredients in a separate bowl, then combine the milk and water in a small measuring cup.
9. Add half of the dry ingredients to the batter and mix until well combined. Add the milk mixture and mix until well combined. Add remaining dry ingredients and mix until well combined. Scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed to be sure all ingredients are well incorporated.
10. Divide the batter evenly between the cakes pans and bake for about 21-23 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out with a few crumbs.
11. Remove the cakes from the oven and allow to cool for about 2-3 minutes, then remove to cooling racks to cool completely.
TO MAKE THE FROSTING AND ASSEMBLE CAKE:
12. To make the frosting, combine the butter and shortening in a large mixer bowl until smooth.
13. Add about half of the powdered sugar and mix until well combined.
14. Add the vanilla extract, cinnamon and 3-4 tablespoons of water or milk mix until well combined and smooth.
15. Add the remaining powdered sugar and mix until combined.
16. Add additional water or milk as needed to get the right consistency and mix until well combined and smooth.
17. To assemble the cake, use a large serrated knife to remove the domes from the top of the cakes.
18. Place the first layer of cake on a serving plate or a cardboard cake round. Pipe a dam of frosting around the outside of the cake. I use Ateco tip 808 for the dam so that it’s tall.
19. Spread about 1/3 of the pecan pie filling evenly on top of the cake layer, inside the dam, then smooth out the dam of frosting so that it’s all even.
20. Add the second layer of cake and repeat the dam and pecan pie filling.
21. Add the final layer of cake on top, then smooth out the frosting around the sides of the cake.
22. Frost the outside of the cake. Feel free to use my tutorial for frosting a smooth cake.
23. Finish off the cake by piping a border around the top edge of the cake and filling it in with the remaining pecan pie filling. Press pecan halves into the sides of the cake.
24. Refrigerate cake until ready to serve. Cake is best for 2-3 days and best served at room tempe
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 Slice
- Calories: 1156
- Sugar: 122.9 g
- Sodium: 390.8 mg
- Fat: 62.6 g
- Carbohydrates: 145.8 g
- Protein: 9.6 g
- Cholesterol: 116.4 mg
Categories
Enjoy!
Yum!! I am making this for Thanksgiving!!!
I hope you enjoy it!
Totally making this for thanksgiving!! Do you toast the pecans for the filling or leave them raw?
They actually “toast” when they are cooked in the pan filling, so no need to pop them in the oven. I hope you enjoy the cake!
Can I double the recipe and make it Into a 9 in pan?
Doubling might be too much for 9 inch pans. You could either use the same amount of batter and have thinner cakes (that bake less time), or try using 1 1/2 recipes worth.
I was wondering what brand of sour cream you use. I find that different brands have different consistencies. I would imagine it could change the final product.
I’ve never found there to be an issue using different brands, but I do tend to use Breakstones.
Do you have this recipe in cupcake form??
I don’t. Sorry!
What a great cake. It will be on my thanksgiving list
Looks yummy! I LOVE the cake stand you used- can you share where you got it?
It’s from Home Goods
Oh, my! Pecan pie cake!!!! I wish I could try a piece right now! You hit this one out of the park, Lindsay! I just might add this to my Thanksgiving table. Thanks for sharing your wonderful recipes!
This looks delicious and positively elegant. I want to put on my party clothes to try this one. I love your videos demonstrating the frosting/icing dam that holds the filling exactly where it belongs, so every bite gets a taste of (in this case) the remarkable pecans. God knew what He was doing when He thought of pecans. I can’t wait to try this beauty; hubs loves pecans.
Thank you ( I think ) 🙂
Definite for the holidays !
I am going to get fat! Love the Pecan Pie Cake and plan on making it for our family get-together in December. Almost wish I had another occasion to make it sooner.
Now this is a cake I wish I could have a slice of!!!
I think you just saved me hours of searching for a dessert recipe for Thanksgiving.
This looks great! I love the flavors of pecan pie. Can I use butter in replace of shortening?
Absolutely!
Thanks for the reply! <3
ive never seen egg whites alone added to a cake unless they’ve been whipped. do you know why this recipe does that? just curious–id like to make this for thanksgiving!
There are actually plenty of cakes that use just egg whites. The whites and yolks perform different functions in baking and in this particular cake, whites are all that’s used. If you were to substitute whole eggs, the recipe wouldn’t turn out. I hope you enjoy it for Thanksgiving!
hey girl- this cake looks so divine! yummy!
Sounds wonderful! But with all these ingredients, it’s just too expensive to make.
Perhaps that makes it a great cake for a special occasion, like Thanksgiving! 🙂