Butter Pecan Cake
 
Makes 1 (8-Inch) Cake
Ingredients
  • 1¼ cups unsalted butter, softened and divided
  • 2½ cups chopped pecans
  • 1½ cups granulated sugar
  • ½ cup firmly packed light brown sugar
  • 4 large eggs, room temperature
  • 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
  • 3 cups cake flour
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1 cup whole milk, room temperature
  • Brown Sugar Frosting (recipe follows)
  • Garnish: pecan pieces
Instructions
  1. In a large skillet, melt ¼ cup butter over medium heat. Add chopped pecans, and cook, stirring frequently, until fragrant and golden, about 10 minutes. Pour onto a rimmed baking sheet, and let cool completely.
  2. Preheat oven to 350°. Line bottoms of 3 (8-inch) round cake pans with parchment paper; spray with baking spray with flour.
  3. In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat sugars and remaining 1 cup butter at medium speed until fluffy, 3 to 4 minutes, stopping to scrape sides of bowl. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in vanilla.
  4. In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt. With mixer on low speed, gradually add flour mixture to sugar mixture alternately with milk, beginning and ending with flour mixture, beating just until combined after each addition. Stir in 1½ cups toasted pecans. Divide among prepared pans.
  5. Bake until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean, 25 to 30 minutes. Let cool in pans for 10 minutes. Remove from pans, and let cool completely on wire racks.
  6. In another medium bowl, fold together 2 cups Brown Sugar Frosting and remaining 1 cup toasted pecans.
  7. Place 1 cooled cake layer on a cake plate, and evenly spread half of frosting mixture on top, leaving a ½-inch border around edges. Top with second cake layer, and spread remaining frosting mixture on top. Top with remaining cake layer. Reserve 2 cups Brown Sugar Frosting for piping. Spread remaining Brown Sugar Frosting on top and sides of cake. Place reserved 2 cups Brown Sugar Frosting in a pastry bag fitted with a ½-inch open star piping tip. Pipe a border around top edge of cake as desired. Garnish with pecan pieces, if desired.
Recipe by Louisiana Cookin' at https://louisianacookin.com/butter-pecan-cake/