Pecan Praline Pound Cake
by Sommer Collier — last updated on Feb 21, 2025 
Decadent Pecan Praline Cake Recipe with crusty pecan topping. It’s the perfect edible gift or holiday dessert for family gatherings.
Pecan Praline Pound Cake
Looking for a unique holiday treat to serve after holiday meals?
Or possibly to wrap and give as tasty presents this season?
I thought you might be. Today’s Pecan Praline Pound Cake is a show-stopper at the dinner table and can be easily packaged and carted around (or shipped) for edible gifts.
There’s nothing like a buttery pecan cake to usher in the holiday spirit!
A Fresh Fall Favorite
I used my favorite classic pound cake recipe, yet substituted brown sugar for the granulated sugar to give it a deeper richness of flavor.
Then, I simmered an easy pecan praline topping that I poured over the pound cakes, giving them a crumbly, crusty nut finish.
Buttery-sweet and crunchy on top. Dense and tender below. The perfect pound cake combo!
You can wrap each Pecan Pound Cake in cellophane and give it away, or you can gift them in a decorative loaf pan.
Or, offer them a lovely wooden cutting board like the one in today’s post from Shop Dog USA.
Pecan Pound Cake Ingredients
- Softened Unsalted Butter
- Brown Sugar
- Large Eggs
- All-Purpose Flour – A good Gluten-Free Baking Mix could be used as well!
- Whole Milk – You can substitute buttermilk or cashew milk if you like.
- Vanilla extract
- Salt
- Baking Powder
- Powdered Sugar
- Broken Pecan Pieces
How to Make Pecan Praline Cake
- Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F and grease your baking loaf pans with nonstick cooking spray.
- Cream the butter and sugar in an electric stand mixer until fluffy and light. This will take just a few minutes. Scrape the sides of the bowl and then add the eggs, milk, vanilla extract, salt, and baking powder until they are all mixed in and combined well. Slowly add the flour and continue to beat the mixture until it becomes smooth.
- Equally distribute the cake batter into your two baking loaf pans and bake for about 65 to 80 minutes. A wooden skewer should come out clean when poked in the center of the cake. Let it cool in the pan for about 10 minutes, and then transfer it to a cooling sheet to finish the cool-down process.
- Next, you will prepare the praline portion that goes on top by combining butter, brown sugar, and milk in a saucepot on the stove until it comes to a low boil. Keep it on boil for a few minutes, and then take it off the heat to whisk in some vanilla and powdered sugar until it is smooth. Then, add the broken pecan pieces.
- Take the warm praline mixture and pour it over the tops of both pound cakes. Let them cool before serving or wrapping.
Get the Complete (Printable) Pecan Praline Cake Recipe Below. Enjoy!
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does this pecan cake last?
You can keep this pound cake in an airtight container at room temperature for up to three days or wrapped with plastic wrap and aluminum foil in the fridge for up to a week.
If you want to freeze this recipe, I recommend not adding the pralines on top and just wrapping the pecan cake in plastic wrap and foil. It will stay in the freezer for up to 6 months.
Can this pecan cake be made in a bundt pan?
Yes, if you use a large 12-15 cup capacity bundt pan, the whole recipe will fit. The pan should be no more than 2/3 full. Make sure to grease and flour the bundt pan well so the cake comes out easily. Baking time will be about the same, 65-80 minutes.
Can I make mini loaf cakes?
Yes, this cake recipe makes enough batter for 2 standard loaf cakes or 6 mini (5 1/2 X 3 inch) loaf cakes. The baking time should be 40-55 minutes.
Does this pecan cake travel well?
Yes, pound cakes are famous for their sturdy take-a-long texture that holds up to being lifted and carried. This is a wonderful cake to take to potlucks and holiday parties.
Other Amazing Cake Recipes
- Easy Cream Cheese Pound Cake Recipe
- Pumpkin Pound Cake with Chocolate Ganache Recipe
- Blueberry Lemon Pound Cake Recipe
- Fluffy Japanese Sponge Cake
- Strawberry Bundt Cake
- Blueberry Muffin Cake
- Mint Chocolate Chip Pound Cake Recipe
- Apple Cake with Salted Caramel Frosting Recipe
- Pumpkin Texas Sheet Cake with Buttercream Frosting Recipe
- Chocolate Pudding Cake
- Strawberry Crunch Cake
- Pistachio Pudding Poke Cake
Pecan Pound Cake Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 pound unsalted butter (4 sticks) softened and divided
- 3 cups brown sugar, packed and divided
- 6 large eggs
- 4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 1/4 cups whole milk, divided
- 3 teaspoons vanilla extract, divided
- 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- 1 cup broken pecan pieces
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Spray two 9 X 5 loaf pans with nonstick cooking spray.
- Place 3 sticks butter and 2 1/2 cups brown sugar in the bowl of an electric mixer. Beat on high to cream the butter and sugar together until light and fluffy, about 3-5 minutes. Scrape the bowl, then mix in the eggs, 1 cup milk, 2 teaspoons vanilla extract, salt and baking powder. Slowly add in the flour. Scrape the bowl, then beat until smooth.
- Divide the batter into the two loaf pans. Bake for 65-80 minutes, until a wooden skewer inserted into the center comes on clean. Cool in pans for 10 minutes. Then flip out onto a cooling rack.
- Once the cakes are out of the oven, place the remaining 1 stick of butter, 1/2 cup of brown sugar, and 1/4 cup milk in a small sauce pot. Heat over medium heat until the mixture comes to a low boil. Boil for 4-5 minutes, then remove from heat and whisk in 1 teaspoon vanilla and 2 cups powdered sugar. Whisk until smooth, then stir in the pecan pieces.
- While the praline mixture is still warm, pour it over the top of both pound cakes. Allow them to cool to room temperature before cutting or wrapping.
One of my favorite pound cakes
Can you half this recipie?
Hi Vicki,
We actually have a “servings slider” in the recipe form that will allow you to adjust the servings from 24 to 12… That will give you the proportions for one loaf.
This cake looks so delicious! I love a good ol’fashioned pound cake but this pecan topping takes it to another level. Yum!
DROOOL, DROOOL ,DROOOL. Can’t wait to make this!
<3 I will be making these, I have saved the recipe, thank you :)
That praline topping is making my mouth water!
WOW- this looks incredible- especially that topping!
Delicious recipe! Thank you for sharing this!
This looks like a perfect recipe for the holidays!
I certainly enjoy me some pound cake and this topping looks fantastic.What a way to change up a classic.
I am so into that praline topping!
This cake looks amazing!!!