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Best Butter Pecan Praline Poke Cake – Buttery, Sweet & Irresistible

Best Butter Pecan Praline Poke Cake slice with caramel and pecans
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A rich, buttery Southern dessert packed with praline flavor, crunchy pecans, and a creamy caramel topping — perfected over 18 years and 52 trials for the ultimate crowd-pleasing Butter Pecan Praline Poke Cake that stays moist for days.

Ingredients

Scale

For the Cake:

  • 1 box Butter pecan cake mix (or yellow cake mix + butter extract)
  • 3 large eggs, room temperature
  • ½ cup vegetable oil
  • 1 cup water
  • 1 teaspoon butter extract (optional)
  • ¾ cup chopped pecans (folded into batter)

For the Praline Sauce:

  • 1 cup brown sugar (light or dark)
  • ½ cup heavy cream (or milk)
  • 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 pinch salt
  • ¾ cup chopped pecans (stirred into sauce)
  • 1 tablespoon corn syrup (optional)

For the Topping:

  • 1 can sweetened condensed milk (14 oz)
  • ½ cup caramel sauce (homemade or store-bought)
  • 1 tub whipped topping (thawed if frozen)
  • ¼ cup pecans (for garnish, optional)

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven according to the cake mix instructions and grease a 9×13 inch pan.

2. Prepare the cake batter by mixing cake mix, eggs, oil, water, and butter extract until smooth.

3. Fold in chopped pecans and pour batter into the prepared pan.

4. Bake according to package directions (usually 30–35 minutes) until a toothpick comes out clean.

5. Cool the cake for 15 minutes on a wire rack.

6. In a saucepan, melt butter, then stir in brown sugar and cream.

7. Simmer until smooth and bubbly, then remove from heat.

8. Stir in vanilla, salt, pecans, and optional corn syrup to make the praline sauce.

9. Use the handle of a wooden spoon to poke holes evenly across the warm cake.

10. Slowly pour the warm praline sauce over the cake, letting it soak into the holes completely.

11. Let the cake cool to room temperature.

12. Mix condensed milk and caramel sauce together and spread over the cooled cake.

13. Top with whipped topping and garnish with chopped pecans.

14. Chill for at least 1 hour or overnight before serving.

Notes

Nutrition information is an estimate and may vary depending on ingredients and portion sizes.

 

To enhance flavor, use butter pecan cake mix if available. Otherwise, yellow cake mix plus butter extract works well.

 

The cake stays moist for several days and is great for making ahead.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://paulakitchen.com/best-butter-pecan-praline-poke-cake/