Description
This Butter Pecan Praline Poke Cake is a rich, moist dessert soaked with a buttery brown sugar praline sauce and topped with whipped cream and crunchy toasted pecans. Perfect for holidays, potlucks, or whenever you’re craving something sweet and decadent, this cake comes together easily and always wows a crowd.
Ingredients
Scale
1. For the Cake:
- 1 box butter pecan cake mix (15.25 oz)
- 3 large eggs
- ½ cup vegetable oil
- 1 cup water
- 1 cup chopped pecans (toasted)
2. For the Praline Sauce:
- 1 can sweetened condensed milk (14 oz)
- ¾ cup brown sugar (packed)
- ½ cup unsalted butter
- 1½ teaspoons vanilla extract
- ¾ cup chopped pecans (toasted)
3. For the Topping:
- 8 oz whipped topping (thawed)
- ½ cup chopped pecans (toasted)
- Optional: caramel sauce for drizzling
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9×13-inch baking dish.
- Toast the pecans in a dry skillet over medium heat for 3-5 minutes. Set aside.
- In a large bowl, combine cake mix, eggs, oil, and water. Beat until smooth. Fold in 1 cup toasted pecans.
- Pour batter into the prepared dish and bake for 30-35 minutes. Cool for 10-15 minutes.
- Poke holes all over the cake using the handle of a wooden spoon.
- In a saucepan, melt butter over medium heat. Stir in brown sugar until dissolved. Add sweetened condensed milk and cook, stirring constantly, until thickened (3-4 minutes). Remove from heat, stir in vanilla and pecans.
- Slowly pour the warm praline sauce over the cake, making sure it seeps into the holes. Let cool completely.
- Spread whipped topping evenly over the cake. Sprinkle with toasted pecans and drizzle caramel sauce if desired.
- Refrigerate 15-30 minutes before serving for best results.
Notes
- Toasted pecans bring a rich, nutty flavor—don’t skip toasting them!
- If using homemade whipped cream, whip 2 cups heavy cream with 2 tbsp powdered sugar and 1 tsp vanilla extract.
- Chill before serving for clean slices and best flavor.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 12-16
- Calories: 420
- Sugar: 34g
- Sodium: 340mg
- Fat: 24g
- Saturated Fat: 8g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 47g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 5g
- Cholesterol: 50mg