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Butter Pecan Cake with Buttercream Frosting

This Butter Pecan Cake is so easy anyone can make it, even without prior decorating knowledge! It’s bursting with buttery flavors and is sure to impress. A classic moist white cake with brown butter toasted pecans and rich buttercream frosting.

A close up of a slice of Butter Pecan Cake on a plate garnished with chopped pecans

If you’re a fan of butter pecan ice cream like me, you’ll be in true bliss with this cake version of the ice cream. It takes all the best flavors and loads them into a rich, moist and oh so yummy pecan cake.

A luxurious buttercream frosting is layered between a homemade butter pecan cake mix. This pairing of textures and flavors is my favorite part of the recipe.

For even more butter pecan flavor, the pecans are literally browned in butter. This adds buttery goodness and roasted nuttiness to this layer cake.

Chopped pecans toasted in butter

Butter Pecan Cake recipe made easy

This looks like a fancy cake but can be made by anyone, with no decorating skills required. It’ll be sure to impress your guests this holidays season! You might want to serve it with Red Wine Marinated Prime Rib for holiday dinner!

There’s no need to cut the cake layers, which can be difficult because layers often break apart. Instead, use two cakes rounds to bake thinner layers.

The decorating is simple too. Buttercream is easy to spread and this cake will come out gorgeous, even if you are a beginning baker. I admit pipe frosting is not my strong point. I love this butter pecan cake because it’s not a struggle to frost and goes on in one smooth layer.

Browned butter…yes please!

Did I mention this cake has brown butter? This wonderful creation is simply made by browning butter in a pan over medium heat. It’s a great way to add richness and depth to any dessert.

The chopped pecans are cooked with butter to add iconic butter pecan flavor

Pro tip: You can also brown butter in savory recipes such as creams and sauces.

Horizontal image of decorated Butter Pecan Cake

Butter Pecan Frosting

Buttercream frosting is a great way to elevate any cake and desserts into something fancy like with my Peppermint Buttercream Chocolate Cookie recipe. It adds moisture, a nice creamy texture, and extra flavor to this butter pecan cake. Here’s how to make it:

You’ll need these ingredients

  • ¼ cup butter, at room temperature
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • 4 cups powdered sugar, divided
  • 5 tablespoons milk

How to make buttercream

  1. In a mixer, beat butter and vanilla on medium until light and fluffy.
  2. Reduce to low and slowly beat in 2 cups powdered sugar.
  3. Beat in 3 tablespoons milk.
  4. Gradually beat in remaining powdered sugar and milk.

How to decorate a layer cake

  1. Using an icing spatula, spread a thin layer of the buttercream frosting onto the top of one cake layer
  2. Add the second cake layer evenly over the top
  3. Frost sides and top with remaining buttercream until completely coated
  4. Sprinkle with remaining toasted butter pecans

Tips for making this cake

  • Greasing and flouring the cake pans prevents the cakes from sticking and makes removal easier. Or you could add a round cut-out piece of parchment paper to the bottom of the pan. 
  • When making the buttercream the butter must be at room temp. This will make mixing easier, create the correct texture and help to avoid any lumps.
  • On that note, make sure eggs are at room temperature when added the batter. This creates more even baking. Also, add eggs one at a time to evenly incorporate.
  • Add the confectioners sugar to the butter slowly in the stand mixer to avoid a mess and incorporate evenly
  • Let the cake to cool completely before frosting or the frosting will melt
  • If you don’t have pecans, substitute with walnuts or hazelnuts

Softened vs. Room Temp?

If you’ve seen recipes mention this in the ingredients it’s an important step to follow. It ensures ingredients evenly mix together and have the right texture. It also affects the baking process.

But what’s the difference? Actually, softened and room temperature means the same thing.

I’ve found the best way to soften ingredients such as butter and cream cheese is to let them sit at room temp. About 20 to 30 minutes is all that’s’ needed. Microwaving is not recommended as is can melt the butter.

An overhead shot of a Butter Pecan Cake surrounded by chopped pecansHow to serve

To serve: Once decorated the cake can be served immediately, but I find it’s best to let cakes chill a bit in the fridge. At least 30 minutes of chilling is recommended.

This helps firm up frostings and cakes like what I did in my Chocolate Peanut Butter Cheesecake recipe a bit and make slicing easier. Chilled desserts also taste less sweet, which lets the butter pecan flavors shine through without too much sweetness. 

For extra amazingness

Serve with a scoop of vanilla or butter pecan ice cream. Or you could even drizzle on a bit a caramel sauce…because why not.

How to store the leftovers

Leftovers must be stored in the fridge: Store cake in a sealed container in the fridge for no more than 3 days for the best flavor and texture.

When serving from the fridge: Let the cake sit at room temp for about 15 minutes before cutting and serving.

A tip for storing nuts

Nuts have lots of fats in them, which makes them tasty and healthy. But that also means they can spoil easily. Be sure to follow expiration dates. To make nuts last longer store sealed in the fridge or freezer.

An alternate way to bake this cake

Try placing the cake batter in a paper-lined muffin pan. Bake into butter pecan cupcakes, let cool, then top with the buttercream frosting.

A close up of a fork cutting into a slice of Butter Pecan Cake with Buttercream Frosting

There’s plenty of flavors and it all bakes into a rich, moist cake. Chopped butter toasted pecans in the batter and on top of the frosting add texture and buttery bits of flavor.

This easy butter pecan cake recipe is a classic white cake with a twist. Whether you’re an experienced baker or looking to try new recipes, this Butter Pecan Cake is a great place to start.

More delicious cake recipes you might like:

Really got a sweet tooth? Try these:

Or brown all my easy dessert recipes.

An overhead shot of aButter Pecan Cake with Buttercream Frosting

Butter Pecan Cake with Buttercream Frosting

Written by Matt | Plating Pixels
Classic moist white cake with butter toasted pecans and rich buttercream frosting.
5 from 6 votes
Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 35 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 5 minutes
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Servings 12 slices
Calories 590 kcal

Ingredients
  

Butter Pecan Cake

  • 3 tablespoons butter
  • 1 ⅓ cups chopped pecans
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 ½ teaspoons baking powder
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • cup butter softened
  • 1 ½ cups granulated sugar
  • 2 large eggs room temperature
  • 1 ½ teaspoons vanilla
  • 1 cup whole milk

Buttercream Frosting

  • ¼ cup butter softened
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • 4 cups powdered sugar divided
  • 5 tablespoons whole milk

Instructions
 

Butter Pecan Cake

  • Melt 3 tablespoons butter in a non-stick pan over medium-high heat. Add pecans and cook 4-6 minutes, stirring often, until toasted. Remove from heat and cool.
  • Preheat oven to 350° F. Grease and lightly flour two 8-inch round cake pans. In a medium bowl, stir together flour, baking powder and salt. Set aside.
  • Beat ⅔ cup softened butter in a large bowl stand or hand mixer on medium-high for 30 seconds.
  • Reduce to medium, add sugar gradually, until well combined. Scrape bowl and beat 2 minutes more.
  • Add vanilla and one egg, beating until combined. Beat in remaining egg.
  • Reduce speed to low. Alternately add in flour mixture and milk and beat just until combined.
  • Fold in 1-cup of the toasted pecans, pour batter evenly into prepared pans. Bake 30-35 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool pans on a wire rack for 10 minutes. Remove cake layers from pans and cool on racks to room temperature. Make the butter cream and decorate.

Buttercream Frosting

  • In a mixer, beat butter and vanilla on medium until light and fluffy. Reduce to low and slowly beat in 2 cups powdered sugar.
  • Beat in 3 tablespoons milk. Gradually beat in remaining powdered sugar and milk.

How to Decorate

  • Spread a thin layer of the buttercream onto the top of one cake layer.
  • Add the second cake layer evenly over the top. Frost sides and top with remaining buttercream until completely coated.
  • Sprinkle with remaining toasted butter pecans.

Notes

  • Greasing and flouring the cake pans prevents the cakes from sticking and makes removal easier. Or you could add a round cut-out piece of parchment paper to the bottom of the pan. 
  • When making the buttercream the butter must be at room temp. This will make mixing easier, create the correct texture and help to avoid any lumps.
  • Add the powdered sugar to the butter slowly in the stand mixer to avoid a mess and incorporate evenly
  • Let the cake to cool completely before frosting or the frosting will melt
  • An icing spatula works best for spreading the buttercream. If you don’t have one a regular spatula would work. 
  • If you don't have pecans, substitute with walnuts or hazelnut.
  • Once decorated the cake can be served immediately, but I find it's best to chill a bit in the fridge before serving to let the frosting firm up and make slicing easier. At least 30 minutes of chilling is recommended.
  • Leftovers must be stored in the fridge. Store cake in a sealed container in the fridge for up to 3 days for best flavor and texture.
  • When serving from the fridge: Let the cake sit at room temp for about 15 minutes before cutting and serving.
Nutrition Facts
Butter Pecan Cake with Buttercream Frosting
Serving Size
 
1 slice
Amount per Serving
Calories
590
% Daily Value*
Fat
 
27
g
42
%
Saturated Fat
 
12
g
75
%
Cholesterol
 
74
mg
25
%
Sodium
 
221
mg
10
%
Potassium
 
170
mg
5
%
Carbohydrates
 
84
g
28
%
Fiber
 
1
g
4
%
Sugar
 
66
g
73
%
Protein
 
5
g
10
%
Vitamin A
 
610
IU
12
%
Vitamin C
 
0.2
mg
0
%
Calcium
 
72
mg
7
%
Iron
 
1.5
mg
8
%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Keyword butter pecan cake, butter pecan cake recipe, easy pecan cake
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

This recipe for butter pecan cake is adapted from Better Homes and Gardens: Fall Baking. 2017. Print.

Butter Pecan Cake with Buttercream FrostingButter Pecan Cake with Buttercream Frosting
Dessert Recipes | Fall Recipes and Comfort Food | Recipes | Thanksgiving Recipes

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24 Comments

  1. Butter Pecan is my hubby favorite ice cream.
    So I am excited to give this a try.
    How many cupcakes do you think this would make and how long should I bake them for?
    TIA

    1. Thanks for the comment and sure he’ll love this! I haven’t tried making this as muffins, but guessing it would make at least a dozen. Bake at the same temp, 350º, and start with 15-20 minutes. Add time as needed until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Curious how it goes!

  2. 5 stars
    Made this cake today. I seldom make substitutions, but had buttermilk that I needed to use – so I used it instead of regular milk. This cake is simply amazing! So light!! Thanks for sharing your recipe.

    1. That’s a great question Fatima. I think that would work. The cake layers would be thinner, but the cake is tall enough where I’d should be fine. Since it’s a thinner cake try cutting back the baking time about 5 minutes. Thanks

    1. That’s a great question pat and assume it’s possible. Since you’re not cooking in thinner layers the baking time will most likely be slightly longer. You could add the frosting just on top.

  3. 5 stars
    Hey Matt, WOW!! Yummo. This is a delicious looking cake. I agree that you have to have a bit of balance and it’s ok to live a little. I can almost taste the crunch of the pecans in my mouth from all the way over here in Australia!!

  4. 5 stars
    I cannot stop drooling! I’ve only had butter pecan ice cream and not cake! Oh man and then you top it with butterceam! YUMMMMM

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