Butter Pecan Spice Cake
Butter Pecan Spice Cake is a great dessert for celebrations, holidays and get togethers with friends and family. A simple made from scratch cake that is lightly glazed and topped with toasted pecans.
Butter Pecan Spice Cake
If you need an easy dessert to feed a crowd, this easy spice cake is just the ticket. It uses simple pantry ingredients and is so simple to make. Sheet cakes are my favorite for holidays and cookouts.
Just take me to the recipe! Scroll all the way to the bottom of the post for the printable recipe card with full ingredients and instructions. Read on for step by step photos and details on making this delicious dessert.
This sheet cake recipe comes from my husband’s grandmother. My mother in law bakes this cake often and it’s an instant favorite with anyone who tries it.
You might also love this Pear Cake with Brown Sugar Icing for an easy fall dessert and these Chocolate Pecan Pie Bars are always a crowd favorite.
How to Make Butter Pecan Spice Cake:
- Mix shortening and brown sugar together with an electric mixer until combined.
- Add hot water and beaten eggs, mixing well.
- Next, add flour, ground cinnamon, ground nutmeg, baking powder and kosher salt and mix until all combined, about 2 minutes.
- Fold in 1 cup chopped pecans.
- Pour into a well greased rimmed sheet pan.
- Bake for 20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.
- Toast 1 cup of chopped pecans in 1 tablespoon of butter.
- Mix icing together in a small bowl by combining melted butter, powdered sugar, milk and vanilla extract.
- Pour icing over warm cake and top with toasted butter pecans.
- Serve warm or at room temperature.
Spice Cake Variations:
- Add 1 cup of raisins to the batter before baking.
- Pecans can be omitted in the batter and the topping, walnuts can also be substituted.
- If you aren’t adding chopped pecans to the top, sprinkles make a festive dessert.
- This sheet cake recipe can be halved and baked in a jelly roll pan. It makes a super thin cake that is almost like a cookie. It makes a great snack and is pretty irresistible.
- Bake this cake in a 9 x 13 pan and increase cooking time to 22-25 minutes.
How to Store Butter Pecan Sheet Cake:
Cover cake with plastic wrap or foil and store at room temperature. Cake will stay fresh up to 3 days but probably won’t last that long.
More Sheet Cake Recipes to Try:
Texas Sheet Cake is always a crowd favorite. Perfect for potlucks and holiday parties.
Easy Strawberry Cake is a pretty dessert for any occasion and so simple to make. The strawberry icing makes it over the top amazing.
Pineapple Sheet Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting starts with a cake mix and is crazy-delicious. Great for pineapple lovers.
Easy Pumpkin Cake will steal the show at any holiday dinner. This cake is topped with cinnamon cream cheese icing and is so good that we make it all year long!
The great thing about this sheet cake is that it isn’t overly rich. It’s just the right amount of sweet and is so flavorful and delicious. It is sure to become a family favorite at your house too. If you are are a chocolate lover, this Chocolate Praline Cake is a must-try.
If you love this Recipe as much as I do, please leave a comment and a five star review, and be sure to help me share on Pinterest!
Butter Pecan Spice Cake
Ingredients
- 2 cups brown sugar
- 1 cup shortening
- 1 cup hot water
- 2 eggs beaten
- 3 cups all purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 2 teaspoons ground nutmeg
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 2 cups chopped pecans divided use
- 2 tablespoons melted butter
- 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
- 1/3 cup milk
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°.
- Mix sugar and shortening together with an electric mixer until combined.
- Add hot water and eggs and beat until smooth.
- Add flour, cinnamon, nutmeg, baking soda and salt and mix well.
- Fold in 1 cup of chopped pecans.
- Pour into a well greased rimmed cookie sheet and spread evenly.
- Bake for 18-20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean.
- Cool on a wire rack.
- Toss chopped pecans with 1 tablespoon of melted butter and toast in oven for 10 minutes.
- For the icing, mix melted butter, powdered sugar, milk and vanilla together and pour over warm cake, spreading evenly. Sprinkle with toasted pecans.
- Serve warm or at room temperature.
Notes
- Add 1 cup of raisins to the batter before baking.
- Pecans can be omitted in the batter and the topping, walnuts can also be substituted.
- If you aren't adding chopped pecans to the top, sprinkles make a festive dessert.
- This sheet cake recipe can be halved and baked in a jelly roll pan. It makes a super thin cake that is almost like a cookie. It makes a great snack and is pretty irresistible.
- Bake this cake in a 9 x 13 pan and increase cooking time to 22-25 minutes.
Thanks. Great Content!
This classic is an all time favorite in our family!