🥧🍰 Pecan Pie Dump Cake
Buttery, gooey, and loaded with crunchy pecans, this easy Pecan Pie Dump Cake combines the best parts of classic pecan pie with a golden, tender cake topping.
With a rich brown-sugar pecan filling underneath and buttery cake mix baked over the top, this effortless dessert is perfect for holidays, Thanksgiving, potlucks, or whenever you’re craving something warm and indulgent.
Recipe Information
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Bake Time: 50–60 minutes
- Total Time: About 1 hour 15 minutes
- Servings: 12
- Difficulty: Easy
- Method: Dump Cake
- Pan: 9×13-inch baking dish
- Oven Temperature: 350°F (175°C)
🥣 Ingredients
- Cooking spray, for the baking dish
- 4 large eggs, room temperature
- 1 cup dark corn syrup
- ¾ cup packed brown sugar
- 2 tbsp heavy cream
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 cup (2 sticks / 226 g) unsalted butter, melted and divided
- 3½ cups pecan halves, divided
- 1 box (15.25 oz / 432 g) butter yellow cake mix
- 2 tsp pumpkin pie spice
Optional for Serving
- Vanilla ice cream
- Caramel sauce or caramel drizzle
- Extra toasted pecans
- Whipped cream
👨🍳 Directions
1. Prepare the Oven and Baking Dish
Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
Lightly coat a 9×13-inch baking dish with cooking spray.
Set the prepared dish aside.
2. Make the Gooey Pecan Filling
In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the eggs, dark corn syrup, brown sugar, heavy cream, and vanilla extract.
Whisk until the mixture is smooth and the brown sugar is well incorporated.
Add 2 cups of the pecan halves and stir to distribute them evenly.
3. Build the Pecan Layer
Pour the pecan mixture evenly into the prepared baking dish.
Spread it gently with a spatula so the pecans are distributed across the bottom.
This mixture will become the rich, gooey pecan-pie-like layer underneath the cake.
4. Add the Cake Mix
Open the butter yellow cake mix and sprinkle it evenly over the entire surface of the pecan mixture.
Do not stir the cake mix into the filling.
Sprinkle the pumpkin pie spice evenly over the cake mix.
Important:
Try to cover the filling completely with the dry cake mix for the most even bake.
5. Add the Butter
Drizzle the melted butter evenly over the entire cake mix.
Take your time and distribute it as evenly as possible so there aren’t large areas of completely dry cake mix.
Sprinkle the remaining 1½ cups pecan halves over the top.
6. Bake
Place the baking dish in the preheated oven.
Bake for 50–60 minutes, or until:
- The top is golden brown.
- The pecans are toasted.
- The edges are bubbling.
- The center is mostly set but still slightly soft and gooey.
Don’t Overbake
The center should retain some softness. It will continue to firm up as the cake cools.
7. Cool
Remove the cake from the oven and place it on a wire rack.
Allow it to cool for at least 20–30 minutes before serving.
This gives the gooey pecan layer time to thicken slightly while keeping its luscious texture.
🍨 8. Serve
Spoon generous portions of the warm cake onto serving plates.
Top each serving with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.
Drizzle with warm caramel sauce for an extra-indulgent finish.
For an elegant presentation, add a few toasted pecan halves on top.
👩🍳 Chef’s Tips
Distribute the Butter Evenly
The butter helps transform the dry cake mix into a golden, buttery topping. Drizzle slowly across the entire surface.
Don’t Stir the Layers
The beauty of a dump cake is that the layers bake together naturally. Keep the cake mix on top of the pecan mixture.
Use Room-Temperature Eggs
Room-temperature eggs blend more smoothly into the syrup mixture.
Watch the Edges
The edges may become deeply golden before the center is completely set. If the top begins browning too quickly, loosely tent the dish with foil for the final portion of baking.
Let It Rest
Don’t serve immediately after removing it from the oven. A short resting period allows the filling to thicken while keeping the dessert wonderfully gooey.
🌰 Delicious Variations
🍫 Chocolate Pecan Dump Cake
Add 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips between the cake mix and pecan topping.
🥃 Bourbon Pecan Cake
Add 1–2 tablespoons bourbon to the pecan filling for a deeper, more complex flavor.
🍎 Apple Pecan Dump Cake
Add 1½ cups finely diced apples to the pecan filling before adding the cake mix.
🧂 Salted Caramel Pecan Cake
Drizzle caramel sauce over the finished cake and sprinkle lightly with flaky sea salt.
🍁 Maple Pecan Cake
Replace 2 tablespoons of the corn syrup with pure maple syrup and add an extra ½ teaspoon vanilla.
🍽️ Serving Suggestions
This dessert is especially delicious served warm with:
- Vanilla ice cream
- Whipped cream
- Caramel sauce
- Chocolate sauce
- A dusting of powdered sugar
- Toasted pecans
For a holiday dessert table, serve small warm squares alongside coffee or tea.
🥡 Storage
Cover the cooled cake tightly and refrigerate for up to 4 days.
Because of the egg-based pecan filling, keep leftovers refrigerated.
🔥 Reheating
For that fresh-from-the-oven texture, place an individual serving in the microwave and heat for approximately 20–30 seconds.
Serve immediately with vanilla ice cream and caramel drizzle.
You can also reheat larger portions gently in a 300°F (150°C) oven until warmed through.
❄️ Freezing
Allow the cake to cool completely.
Wrap individual portions tightly in plastic wrap and place them in a freezer-safe container.
Freeze for up to 2 months.
Thaw overnight in the refrigerator and gently reheat before serving.
⭐ Final Result
This Pecan Pie Dump Cake is everything a cozy dessert should be: buttery, gooey, nutty, warmly spiced, and wonderfully easy to make.
The rich pecan filling tastes like classic pecan pie, while the golden butter cake topping adds a soft, tender contrast.
Serve it warm with vanilla ice cream and caramel drizzle for an absolutely irresistible dessert! 🥧🌰🍨✨