Description
Pecan dump cake is a gooey, buttery dessert that tastes just like pecan pie—without the fuss. With layers of brown sugar, pecans, cake mix, and caramel, it’s ready in under an hour and always a crowd-pleaser.
Ingredients
2¾ cups dark brown sugar, packed (divided into 2 cups and ¾ cup)
1 cup dark corn syrup
1¼ cup salted butter, melted and cooled (divided into ½ cup and ¾ cup)
3 large eggs, room temperature
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
4 cups pecan halves (divided into 3 cups and 1 cup)
15.25 ounces white cake mix (Duncan Hines Classic White)
1 cup hot water
Caramel topping, optional
Instructions
1. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Spray a 9×13 baking dish with nonstick spray.
2. Add 2 cups brown sugar, corn syrup, ½ cup melted butter, eggs, and vanilla to a bowl. Whisk to combine.
3. Stir in 3 cups of pecan halves. Evenly spread mixture in prepared baking dish.
4. Sprinkle dry cake mix over pecan filling.
5. Drizzle remaining ¾ cup melted butter over the cake mix.
6. Sprinkle remaining ¾ cup brown sugar on top.
7. Pour hot water evenly over everything. Do not mix; gently tilt pan if needed to distribute.
8. Top with remaining 1 cup pecan halves.
9. Bake 35–40 minutes or until golden brown and mostly set (center will be a little jiggly).
10. Cool completely before serving. Add caramel topping if desired.
Notes
Be careful when moving the cake to the oven—hot water on top can spill.
If the cake is jiggly at 40 minutes, it will firm up as it cools.
Serve warm or cold; leftovers keep well in the fridge for several days.
Great with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or whipped cream.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American, Southern
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 3/4 cup
- Calories: 480
- Sugar: 46g
- Sodium: 250mg
- Fat: 31g
- Saturated Fat: 13g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15g
- Trans Fat: 0.4g
- Carbohydrates: 52g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 4g
- Cholesterol: 70mg