Description
A decadent self-saucing dessert that magically creates its own caramel-like sauce while baking. The buttery cake layer topped with crunchy pecans and a gooey pudding base offers the perfect combination of textures and flavors reminiscent of pecan pie.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1/2 cup butter, melted
- 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 2/3 cup granulated sugar
- 1 tablespoon baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 2/3 cup milk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 1/2 cups coarsely chopped pecans
- 1 cup brown sugar, packed
- 1 1/2 cups hot water
Instructions
- Preheat the oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). This ensures the cake will bake evenly and develop the perfect texture.
- Prepare the baking dish: Pour the melted butter into a 9×13-inch baking dish, ensuring it covers the entire bottom. This creates a rich base for your cake and helps prevent sticking.
- Mix the dry ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, granulated sugar, baking powder, and salt until thoroughly combined. This creates the foundation for your cake batter.
- Add wet ingredients: Make a well in the center of the dry ingredients, then add the milk and vanilla extract. Whisk until just combined, being careful not to overmix. The batter will be somewhat thick, which is exactly what you want.
- Assemble the layers: Spread the batter evenly over the melted butter in the baking dish. The layer will seem thin, but it will rise during baking.
- Add toppings: Sprinkle the brown sugar evenly over the batter, followed by the chopped pecans, distributing them as evenly as possible.
- Pour hot water: Carefully pour the hot water over the entire mixture. It will look strange, but don’t stir! This creates the magical pudding layer.
- Bake: Bake for 30-40 minutes, or until the top appears set and golden brown. You’ll notice pudding bubbling up around the edges and in spots, which is perfectly normal.
- Rest before serving: Allow the cake to rest for 10 minutes after removing it from the oven. This resting period allows the pudding portion to thicken to the perfect consistency.
Notes
- The hot water creates the pudding layer by sinking to the bottom during baking while the cake batter rises to the top.
- For extra flavor, try adding 1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon or a pinch of nutmeg to the dry ingredients.
- This dessert is best served warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.
- Store leftovers covered in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat individual portions in the microwave for 20-30 seconds.
- For a more intense caramel flavor, use dark brown sugar instead of light brown sugar.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Desserts
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 28g
- Sodium: 180mg
- Fat: 17g
- Saturated Fat: 6g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 40g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 3g
- Cholesterol: 25mg