Description
Delectable homemade pecan upside down cake delivers Southern comfort with caramelized pecans and rich brown sugar glaze. Warm spices and moist crumb create a memorable dessert you’ll want to savor slice after slice.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 package instant vanilla pudding
- 1 box yellow cake mix
- 3 large eggs
- 1 cup (240 milliliters) water
- ½ cup (120 milliliters) vegetable oil
- ½ cup (113 grams) butter, melted
- 1 cup (220 grams) light brown sugar, enough to cover the bottom of the pan
- Pecan halves for arranging in a pattern
Instructions
- Preparation: Position oven rack centrally and preheat to 350°F (175°C), creating optimal baking environment.
- Batter Creation: Combine yellow cake mix, vanilla pudding mix, eggs, vegetable oil, and water in a large mixing bowl. Utilize electric mixer on medium speed for 2-3 minutes until batter achieves silky, uniform consistency.
- Pan Preparation: Thoroughly coat 9-inch bundt pan or 9×13-inch baking dish with non-stick spray, ensuring comprehensive coverage to prevent potential sticking.
- Caramel Foundation: Melt unsalted butter and distribute evenly across pan bottom, then sprinkle light brown sugar uniformly to create a rich, golden caramel base layer. Artfully arrange pecan halves across the sugar-butter surface, forming an elegant decorative pattern.
- Baking Process: Carefully pour prepared cake batter over pecan-sugar layer, gently spreading with spatula to maintain bottom layer’s integrity. Transfer to preheated oven and bake 35-45 minutes, depending on pan selection, until toothpick inserted into center emerges with minimal moist crumbs.
- Cooling and Serving: Allow cake to rest in pan for 10-15 minutes, enabling caramel layer to slightly set. Invert onto serving plate, gently tapping to release any adhered pecans. Let cake cool completely for approximately 1 hour before slicing and presenting this decadent dessert.
Notes
- Butter Pan Properly: Use non-stick spray generously to ensure easy cake release and prevent sticking.
- Arrange Pecans Carefully: Create a beautiful, intentional pattern of pecan halves for visual appeal and even distribution.
- Check Baking Time Precisely: Oven temperatures vary, so watch cake closely and use toothpick test to prevent over or underbaking.
- Cool Strategically: Let cake rest in pan for 10-15 minutes before inverting to help caramel layer set and maintain cake structure.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Category: Desserts
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 9
- Calories: 319
- Sugar: 21 g
- Sodium: 370 mg
- Fat: 16 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 39 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 3 g
- Cholesterol: 45 mg