Southern Pecan Cake

Description

Because pecan trees are such an iconic symbol in Texas, this recipe is a classic in any Southern home. I remember eating this cake as a baby, even picking the pecans myself from the trees in my grandmother’s backyard. When I chose to enter it in at the County Fair, my grandmother gave her coveted recipe secrets to me. And, now, this award-winning cake can be enjoyed in your home, too!

Ingredients

  • 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
  • 1 cup milk
  • ¼ cup coconut milk
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 2 cups cake flour
  • 1 cup white sugar
  • 2 tablespoons cornstarch
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 5 egg yolks
  • 2 cups white sugar
  • ½ (12 fluid ounce) can evaporated milk (such as Carnation®)
  • ½ cup unsalted butter, softened
  • 3 egg yolks
  • 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 4 cups pecans, very finely chopped

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour two 8-inch round cake pans.
  2. Mix butter
  3. milk
  4. coconut milk
  5. and vanilla extract together in a large bowl. Combine flour
  6. sugar
  7. cornstarch
  8. baking powder
  9. and salt in a separate bowl. Slowly mix into the milk mixture. Add egg yolks one at a time
  10. beating well after each addition.
  11. Divide batter between the prepared cake pans.
  12. Bake cakes in the preheated oven until tops are golden yellow and spring back when lightly pressed
  13. 25 to 30 minutes.
  14. Prepare frosting while cakes are baking. Combine sugar
  15. evaporated milk
  16. butter
  17. egg yolks
  18. and flour in a saucepan. Heat over medium-low
  19. stirring constantly
  20. until mixture starts to thicken. Add vanilla and stir for 1 minute. Pour in pecans; cook and stir for 2 minutes more.
  21. Remove frosting from heat and let cool. Remove cakes from the oven and set aside to cool
  22. 20 to 30 minutes.
  23. Place 1 cooled cake layer on a serving plate. Cover with some of the cooled frosting. Top with the second cake layer. Frost top and sides with remaining frosting.

Prep Time: 20 mins

Cook Time: 25 mins

Total Time: 1 hr 5 mins

Servings: 16

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