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Sliced brown butter pecan praline Bundt cake with chunky pecan glaze on a cream plate

Brown Butter Pecan Praline Bundt Cake

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A golden Southern-style Bundt cake made with browned butter and toasted pecans, finished with a thick homemade brown sugar praline glaze.

  • Total Time: 3 hours 45 minutes
  • Yield: 12 to 14 servings

Ingredients

Scale

For the Cake

1 cup (226 g) unsalted butter

1 cup (200 g) packed light brown sugar

3/4 cup (150 g) granulated sugar

4 large eggs, room temperature

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

1 cup (240 g) sour cream

2 3/4 cups (345 g) all-purpose flour

2 teaspoons baking powder

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 cup (110 g) chopped toasted pecans

For the Praline Glaze

1/2 cup (113 g) unsalted butter

3/4 cup (150 g) packed light brown sugar

1/4 cup (60 ml) heavy cream

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/2 cup (55 g) finely chopped toasted pecans

Pinch of salt

Instructions

Brown the butter: Melt 1 cup of unsalted butter in a light-colored saucepan over medium heat, stirring occasionally, for 5 to 8 minutes, until it is golden brown and smells nutty. Pour it into a heatproof bowl, including the browned bits, and let it cool until it is no longer hot but still liquid.

Prepare the pan: Heat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Thoroughly grease and flour a 10-inch Bundt pan, especially the ridges and the center tube.

Mix the batter: Beat the brown sugar, granulated sugar, and cooled browned butter until combined. Add the eggs one at a time, mixing after each addition. Stir in the vanilla and sour cream.

Add the dry ingredients: In another bowl, whisk the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Gradually fold them into the wet mixture until just combined. Gently fold in the 1 cup of toasted pecans.

Bake: Pour the batter into the prepared pan and smooth the surface. Bake 50 to 60 minutes, until a wooden skewer inserted into the thickest part comes out clean or with a few moist crumbs. Cool in the pan for 15 minutes, then carefully invert onto a serving plate or a wire rack. Let the cake cool completely.

Make the praline glaze: In a saucepan over medium-low heat, melt the remaining 1/2 cup of butter with the brown sugar and heavy cream. Stir until smooth and gently bubbling. Simmer about 2 minutes, stirring frequently. Remove from the heat and stir in the vanilla, chopped pecans, and salt. Cool several minutes, until the glaze is thick but still spoonable.

Glaze and serve: Spoon the warm praline glaze over the completely cooled cake, allowing it to flow naturally down the ridges. Let it set for 15 to 20 minutes before slicing.

Notes

  • Timing: 30 minutes active prep + 55 minutes baking (the midpoint of the 50- to 60-minute window; start checking at 50) + about 2 hours of cooling (including 15 minutes in the pan) + 15 to 20 minutes for the glaze to set = about 3 hours 45 minutes until ready to slice. The browned butter can cool while you grease the pan and whisk the dry ingredients.
  • Browned butter loses some water as it cooks. The sour cream in the batter helps keep the crumb moist, so start checking the cake at 50 minutes and do not overbake.
  • The glaze is butter-heavy and can separate if it boils hard. Keep it at a gentle simmer and stir. If it separates, take the pan off the heat and whisk in a teaspoon of warm cream. If the glaze thickens too much as it cools, warm it gently with a splash of cream.
  • Toast the pecans for a richer flavor (about 6 to 8 minutes at 350°F, then cool) before chopping. The ingredient list already calls for toasted pecans.
  • Take the browned butter off the heat as soon as the milk solids turn golden. Grease every ridge of the Bundt pan, including the center tube, so the cake releases cleanly.
  • Always cool the cake completely before glazing. If you invert it onto a wire rack, move it to a serving plate before you spoon on the glaze.
  • The classic pan that matches the photos is a 12-cup Original Bundt (about 10.5 inches across). The recipe calls for a 10-inch Bundt; a much larger 15-cup pan will bake a shorter cake.
  • Store the cake covered at room temperature for up to 2 days, or refrigerate it for up to 5 days (the baker’s guidance). After serving, refrigerate perishable food within 2 hours (1 hour above 90°F). In a warm kitchen, prefer the refrigerator.
  • Author: Elian Cove
  • Prep Time: 30 minutes
  • Cooling Time: 2 hours
  • Cook Time: 55 minutes
  • Category: Dessert
  • Method: Baked
  • Cuisine: American
  • Diet: Vegetarian