Pecan pie pudding cake is a cobbler cake with that that makes its own pecan pie pudding as it bakes. Great Thanksgiving dessert that isn’t pie!
Pudding cakes are awesome! Sometimes called “cobblers” or “cobbler cakes”, these yummy desserts practically make themselves.
You just mix up the cake batter and top it with the sauce ingredients. Then pour water over the top, and they make their own sauce while they bake. It’s like delicious magic!
This pecan pie pudding cake has a layer of cake that bakes on top of the pecan pie pudding layer. The buttery edges are my favorite part of this cake.
It’s perfect on its own or topped with a little whipped cream or ice cream, and it makes an easy Thanksgiving dessert that has the flavors of pecan pie without the work.
How to make pecan pie pudding cake
For the pecan pie pudding cake, begin by whisking the dry ingredients (flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt) together.
Whisk in the milk and vanilla to make a thick batter.
Pour the melted butter into the bottom of the baking dish. Then spread the batter over the butter.
The easiest way to do this is to drop dollops of batter over the butter and then carefully spread them together.
Then, the batter is topped with pecans and brown sugar. Finally, hot water is poured over the top of the whole thing.
Tips for making this pudding cake
The batter for this cake is on the thicker side. Be careful when measuring your flour because too much flour will give you a cake batter that’s really difficult to work with.
If that does happen, simply thin the batter out a little with more milk until it’s spreadable. You just won’t want the batter to be too thin because there’s liquid under it (melted butter) and on top of it (the hot water). So, a thin batter wouldn’t hold up.
Also, it’s really tempting to want to stir the water in, but don’t do it! The water mixes with the brown sugar to help create the pudding layer.
More Pecan Pie recipes!
If you like this cake, you might also like pecan pie brownies or pecan pie updside-down cake.
More pudding cake recipes!
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Pecan Pie Pudding Cake
Ingredients
- 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 oven to 350 F.
- Pour melted butter into a 9x13-inch baking dish. Set aside.
- In a medium bowl, whisk flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt together.
- Make a well in the center.
- Add milk and vanilla extract, and whisk until just combined. Batter will be on the thicker side.
- Add batter to pan.****
- Sprinkle with brown sugar and then pecans.
- Pour hot water over the top. DO NOT STIR.
- Bake for 30-40 minutes, or until the top looks set. You will see the pudding bubbling up in spots, and that's ok.
- Let sit 10 minutes before serving. The pudding portion will continue to thicken as it sits.
Notes
Nutrition
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Heavily adapted from Taste of Home.
Reader Interactions
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Comments & Reviews
Judith Bolster says
The recipe does not tell how long to cook.
Kate says
Hi! It sounds like you may have made it to the step-by-step photos above the actual recipe. The cook time is listed in step 9 of the recipe. I hope that helps!
Gabriella says
This sounds delicious ! Could I bake this in a deeper round or square dish maybe adding another 5 – 10 minutes to the baking time ?
Kate says
Thank you! I haven’t tried it to say for certain, but I would guess that it would be ok.
Shannon Schultz says
Does this have to be refrigerated afterwards?
Kate says
I don’t, but you could.
Christina says
Is it supposed to be very thin. And it stuck to the bottom. What should I have done differently.
Kate says
No, it shouldn’t be very thin. Did you make any changes or substitutions to the recipe?
Neha says
Can you please mentioned baking temperature …
Kate says
Hi! In step 1, you’ll preheat the oven to 350F.
Ellen says
Hi! Can the milk be substituted with oat milk or almond milk?
Kate says
It can! I’ve had great success using almond milk when baking.
Tara Perkins says
Very good, I would’ve liked it more sweet. But that’s just me!
Kate says
Thanks! You could add a scoop of vanilla ice cream or sweetened whipped cream (that’s how my husband prefers it).
Teresa Zike says
Was delicious and easy
Kate says
Thank you! So glad you liked it.
Holly says
Delicious❤️ I was afraid maybe too sweet, but is perfect. The quantity of nuts brings balance.
Kate says
Thank you! I’m glad that you liked the cake. =) Thanks for commenting!
Beth says
So freaking good!! I made this to try it out for a Friendsgiving party. It rocks!!!
Kate says
Thank you! I’m so glad that you liked it! I hope it’s a hit at your party. =) Thank you for taking the time to leave a comment.
Lisa C says
Do you think I can make this the night before?
Sounds so yummy!
Kate says
Thanks! You can! I warmed the leftovers up in the microwave, and they still tasted good/fresh the next day. Hope that helps! =)
Lisa C says
Thanks for the quick response.
I’m going to make for Thanksgiving, but the night before.
Karl says
I love pecans and this looks so easy. Hope the kids don’t like it so there is more for me
Kate says
Thank you! LOL Sometimes I hope the same thing. ;)