This buttery Pecan Praline Buttermilk Pound Cake is filled with toasted pecans and toffee bits then drizzled with a sweet pecan praline glaze. It's the kind of cake ideal for serving at any special event from tea parties with friends, holiday brunch, a church potluck or a "just because" dessert.
Pecan Praline Buttermilk Pound Cake Recipe
Pound cakes were once made with a pound of flour, a pound of butter, a pound of eggs and a pound of sugar. That simple combination turned pantry staples into one of the most beloved Southern cakes of all-time. I still love the thrill of mixing up those same simple ingredients to create a cake that will delight my dessert eaters. It's one of the small pleasures in life that never gets old. I truly believe that when you make a dessert from scratch it really shows the love, doesn't it? It just screams that you thought it was important enough to go the extra mile to make something delicious for everyone to enjoy.
How to Make the Best Pecan Praline Pound Cake
If you've been cooking with me for a while, you know how much I love caramel and pecans. It was just a matter of time before I combined my love of caramel, pecans and pralines and turn it into a pound cake. Voila, this beautiful pound cake actually exceeded my expectations.
- Why start with a cold oven for baking pound cakes? This is a hundred year old technique that allows the cake batter to heat and rise slowly giving the leavening time to develop and lighten the texture of the cake. While it's not necessarily fitting for every pound cake recipe it works beautifully for this one that's dense and buttery.
- Do I have to use a stand mixer to make a Southern pound cake? While a stand mixer is so simple to use you can certainly make this, or any cake, using a hand mixer.
- How do you toast pecans for pound cake? It's really a simple process. Spread chopped pecans on a baking sheet in a single layer. Place into a preheated 350°F oven toasting for 6-8 minutes or until lightly golden and fragrant. Allow to cool completely before adding to the batter.
- Store this cake in an airtight container chilled or at room temperature for up to 1 week. When storing chilled, bring to room temperature for serving to allow time for the praline glaze to soften.
Other Southern Pound Cake Recipes to Make
This decadent cake is not for the butter or sugar shy as it celebrates both in abundance. Save this for a special occasion and enjoy a piece with the special people in your life. They'll be so glad you did.
- Million Dollar Pound Cake
- Lemon Sour Cream Pound Cake
- Coconut Cream Pound Cake
- You may also like these 8 No-Fail Pound Cakes on Parade.
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Helpful Kitchen Items:
Pecan Praline Buttermilk Pound Cake
Ingredients
- 1 cup salted butter softened
- ½ cup solid vegetable shortening
- 2 cup packed light brown sugar
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 6 large eggs
- 3 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 cup whole buttermilk
- 1 ½ cup toasted roughly chopped pecans
- ½ cup toffee bits
- Praline glaze: Made in a 1100 watt microwave
- 2 tablespoon salted butter
- ½ cup packed light brown sugar
- ¼ cup heavy cream
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- ¼ cup finely chopped toasted pecans
Instructions
- Do not preheat the oven. Liberally butter and flour a tube pan. Set aside. (See Cook's note)
- In the bowl of a stand mixer cream together the butter, shortening, vanilla, brown and granulated sugars. Beat for 2 minutes or until creamy and light beige in color..
- Add the eggs one at a time beating well after each addition stopping to scrap the sides of the bowl as needed.
- Sift together the flour, baking powder and salt. Lower the speed of the mixer and add to the creamed mixture alternately with the buttermilk. After all has been added increase the speed of the mixer to medium and beat until fully combined around 45-60 seconds.
- By hand mix in 1 ½ cup pecans and toffee bits. Spread into the prepared pan.
- Place the cake into a cold oven. Bake at 325F for 1hr 30min to 1hr 45min or until a long skewer inserted into the center comes back clean.
- Cool in the pan on a cooling rack for 30 minutes then turn onto the rack to cool completely.
- To make the glaze. In a deep microwave safe bowl melt the butter in the microwave. Whisk the brown sugar and heavy cream into the melted butter then return to the microwave..
- Cook on high for 2 minutes. Remove from the microwave and stir in the vanilla and ¼ cup pecans. Allow to cool slightly then drizzle over the cake.
Notes
Nutrition
Julie Smith
I have just recently started baking a few cakes from scratch. This is only the 3 one in my life. I must say, the recipe was easy to follow and my cake turned out absolutely perfect!! Everyone has raved about it! I REALLY love the topping! Next I want to try your pecan praline recipe-minus the bourbon. Thank you for the extra tips you give with the recipe and the questions you answer in the comments!
Melissa
I'm so happy you enjoyed it, thanks.
Betty Moore
My son made me this cake for my birthday .This wCake was so very good tender and so pretty ! I will be making it myself soon !
Melissa
What a great son, I'm so happy you enjoyed it! (Happy Birthday!)
Juanita Seguin
I don't get the unheated oven. That is really unusual. Why do you do that?
Melissa
From the narrative: Why start with a cold oven for baking pound cakes? This is a hundred year old technique that allows the cake batter to heat and rise slowly giving the leavening time to develop and lighten the texture of the cake. While it's not necessarily fitting for every pound cake recipe it works beautifully for this one that's dense and buttery.
Yovonda Wimbley
This cake is absolutely amazing!
Melissa
Thanks so much!
Carl
Having trouble with pea cans in cake going all to the top. Can you tell me why?
Melissa
Hmm I've not had that issue however, you could dust them in a small amount of flour prior to adding them to the batter to see if that helps. A tsp of flour would work.
Judy
Do you have to store this cake in the fridge ?
Melissa
Store chilled, then bring to room temperature for serving.
susan
can I use self rising flour or cake flour instead of all purpose flour. if so, do I use baking power of soda.
Melissa
You can't interchange self rising and all purpose flour. You can use cake flour in place of all purpose, if desired.