Description
Sweet Southern charm meets dessert perfection in this pecan upside down cake, a delightful blend of caramelized nuts and moist golden cake. Warm spices and rich caramel create a memorable finale that invites you to savor each indulgent slice.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 1 cup pecan halves
- 1 cup light brown sugar
- 1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, melted
Cake Base:
- 1 box yellow cake mix
- 1 package instant vanilla pudding mix
- 3 large eggs
- 1/2 cup vegetable oil
- 1 cup water
Instructions
- Warm the oven to a moderate temperature of 350°F, creating an ideal baking environment for the cake.
- Integrate the cake mix, pudding mix, eggs, vegetable oil, and water into a mixing bowl, whisking vigorously with an electric mixer until the batter achieves a silky, uniform consistency, approximately 2-3 minutes.
- Thoroughly coat a bundt or square baking vessel with non-stick spray to prevent potential adhesion.
- Drizzle melted butter across the pan’s surface, ensuring a comprehensive and uniform distribution.
- Generously cascade brown sugar over the butter layer, creating a sweet foundation.
- Meticulously position pecan halves across the sugar-butter base, arranging them with precision.
- Gently cascade the prepared batter over the pecan arrangement, using a spatula to spread the mixture evenly and cover the nuts completely.
- Transfer the pan to the preheated oven, allowing the cake to bake for 45 minutes (reducing to 35 minutes for a square pan), monitoring for a clean toothpick test.
- Remove from the oven and permit the cake to rest within the pan for 10-15 minutes, allowing initial cooling and set stabilization.
- Carefully invert the cake onto a decorative serving plate, revealing the caramelized pecan topping.
- Allow the cake to cool completely, ensuring optimal texture and flavor development before serving.
Notes
- Swap pudding mix with Greek yogurt or sour cream for a tangier, less sweet cake with enhanced moisture.
- Toast pecans beforehand to intensify their nutty flavor and bring out deeper, richer notes in the dessert.
- Use gluten-free cake mix and verify pudding mix ingredients for a celiac-friendly version that maintains the original cake’s delicious texture.
- Experiment with maple syrup instead of brown sugar for a more complex caramel-like bottom layer that complements the pecans’ natural sweetness.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Category: Desserts
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 12
- Calories: 300
- Sugar: 20 g
- Sodium: 250 mg
- Fat: 15 g
- Saturated Fat: 3 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 36 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 4 g
- Cholesterol: 40 mg