Pecan Pie Cake With Browned Butter Frosting Recipe

Active Time:

40 mins

Total Time:

7 hrs 45 mins

Servings:

For those who have a hard time choosing between a frosted layer cake and a pecan pie, this pecan pie cake has your name on it. Show-stopping? Absolutely. Crowd-pleasing? You bet. The fragrance and taste of this pecan pie cake will transport you back to Grandma's kitchen.

Tart and creamy buttermilk, the secret ingredient in many baked goods, helps create the tender cake layers which are filled and topped with a rich pecan pie filling, then enveloped with a creamy browned butter frosting.

Here are some tips from the Test Kitchen that will help you create a dessert that will have your guests begging for a second slice.

When making your cake batter, beat the egg whites only until stiff peaks form—don't overbeat. Then gently fold them into the batter. The egg whites help make the cake layers light and tender.
When browning your butter, be sure and immediately pour it into a small glass bowl to prevent the butter from becoming too dark and burning in the pan.
Lastly, if your pecan pie filling won't easily spread, use a spatula to "work it" in the bowl to loosen it up and make it more malleable.

Pecan Pie Cake With Browned Butter Frosting — Antonis Achilleos; Prop Stylist: Kay Clarke; Food Stylist: Rishon Hanners

Ingredients

Pecan Pie Filling:

3/4 cup dark corn syrup
1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
1/3 cup (about 1 1/2 oz.) cornstarch
4 large egg yolks
1 1/2 cups half-and-half
1/4 tsp. table salt
3 Tbsp. salted butter
2 tsp. vanilla extract
1 cup chopped toasted pecans

Pecan Pie Cake:

Cooking spray
1 cup (8 oz.) salted butter, softened
1 cup granulated sugar
1 cup packed light brown sugar
5 large eggs, separated
1 Tbsp. vanilla extract
2 cups (about 8 1/2 oz.) all-purpose flour, plus more for pans
1 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. table salt
1 cup buttermilk
1 cup finely chopped toasted pecans

Browned Butter Frosting:

1 cup (8 oz.) salted butter
1 (16-oz.) pkg. powdered sugar
5 to 6 Tbsp. heavy cream
1 tsp. vanilla extract

Directions

Prepare the Pecan Pie Filling:

Whisk together corn syrup, brown sugar, cornstarch, egg yolks, half-and-half, and salt in a heavy 3-quart saucepan until smooth. Bring mixture to a boil over medium; whisking constantly until thickened, about 1 minute. Remove from heat; whisk in butter and vanilla, and fold in pecans. Place wax paper or plastic wrap directly on surface of mixture to prevent a film from forming, and chill 4 hours.
Prepare the Pecan Pie Cake:

Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease (with cooking spray) and flour 3 (8-inch) round cake pans and line bottoms with parchment paper; lightly grease parchment paper with cooking spray. Beat butter with a stand mixer fitted with paddle attachment on medium speed until creamy, 1 to 2 minutes. Gradually add granulated sugar and brown sugar, beating until light and fluffy, 3 to 4 minutes. Add egg yolks, 1 at a time, beating just until blended after each addition. Beat in vanilla just until blended.
Mix batter:

Whisk together flour, baking soda, and salt in a medium bowl; add to butter mixture alternately with buttermilk, beginning and ending with flour mixture. Beat on low speed just until blended after each addition. Gently fold in pecans.
Whip egg whites:

Beat egg whites with an electric mixer on medium speed until stiff peaks form; fold one-third of egg whites into batter. Gently fold in remaining beaten egg whites just until blended. Pour batter evenly into prepared pans.
Bake cake layers:

Bake in preheated oven until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean, 22 to 25 minutes. Cool in pans on wire racks 10 minutes; remove from pans, and discard parchment paper. Cool completely on wire racks, about 1 hour.
Meanwhile, prepare the Browned Butter Frosting:

Cook butter in a small heavy saucepan over medium, stirring constantly, until butter melts and begins to turn golden brown, 6 to 8 minutes. Remove pan from heat immediately, and pour butter into a small heatproof glass bowl. Cool 10 minutes at room temperature. Cover and chill until butter begins to solidify, about 1 hour.
Beat chilled browned butter:

Beat chilled browned butter with stand mixer fitted with paddle attachment on medium speed until fluffy, about 1 to 2 minutes. Gradually add powdered sugar alternately with 5 tablespoons cream, beginning and ending with powdered sugar. Beat mixture on low speed until well blended after each addition. Beat in vanilla. If needed, add up to 1 tablespoon cream, 1 teaspoon at a time, and beat until desired consistency is reached.
Assemble cake:

Place 1 cake layer on a cake plate or platter. Spoon 1 cup buttercream into a pastry bag fitted with a star tip (2D), or spoon frosting into a heavy-duty ziplock plastic freezer bag, and snip 1 corner to make a small hole. Pipe a ring of frosting around cake layer just inside top edge. Spread cake layer with about 1 cup chilled filling, spreading to edge of piped frosting. Repeat with remaining 2 cake layers. Spread remaining frosting over sides of cake. Pipe any remaining frosting in a decorative pattern on top of cake. Chill at least 1 hour or up to 48 hours. Let stand at room temperature 30 minutes before serving. Store leftovers, covered, in refrigerator.