Description
Gooey Southern pecan dump cake delivers pure comfort straight from grandma’s kitchen. Layers of buttery cake mix, crunchy pecans, and caramel-like sweetness guarantee instant dessert satisfaction you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 3 large eggs
- 4 cups pecan halves
- 15.25 ounces white cake mix
- 1 cup dark corn syrup
- 2.75 cups dark brown sugar
Wet Ingredients:
- 1.25 cups salted butter, melted and cooled
- 1 cup hot water
- 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
Optional Topping:
- Caramel topping
Instructions
- Prepare the oven and baking dish by heating to 350°F and coating a 9×13-inch pan with nonstick spray to prevent sticking.
- Create the pecan filling by whisking dark brown sugar, dark corn syrup, melted butter, eggs, and vanilla extract until smooth in a medium bowl. Fold in pecan halves until evenly distributed.
- Transfer the pecan mixture to the prepared baking dish, spreading it into an even layer that covers the entire bottom of the pan.
- Distribute the dry white cake mix uniformly across the pecan filling, allowing it to rest without mixing or disturbing the underlying layer.
- Enhance the cake’s texture by drizzling remaining melted butter over the cake mix, ensuring complete coverage. Scatter the additional dark brown sugar across the top to create a caramelized crust.
- Gently pour hot water over the entire surface, allowing it to distribute without stirring. Sprinkle the remaining pecans on top for added crunch and visual appeal.
- Bake for 35-40 minutes, monitoring closely after 30 minutes. The cake should develop a golden-brown color with a slightly jiggly center that will set as it cools.
- Remove from the oven and let the cake cool completely before cutting to allow proper setting and flavor development.
Notes
- Toast pecans before adding to enhance their nutty flavor and add extra crunch to the dessert.
- Substitute corn syrup with maple syrup or honey for a more natural sweetness and unique flavor profile.
- Use gluten-free cake mix to make this recipe celiac-friendly and accessible for those with wheat sensitivities.
- Reduce sugar content by using half the amount of brown sugar and adding mashed ripe bananas for natural sweetness.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Desserts
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 12
- Calories: 357
- Sugar: 20 g
- Sodium: 180 mg
- Fat: 15 g
- Saturated Fat: 7 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 52 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 4 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg