Description
This Chocolate Pecan Praline Cake features ultra-moist chocolate cake layers filled with gooey salted pecan praline and finished with a rich chocolate fudge frosting for an unforgettable dessert.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 cups granulated sugar
- ¾ cup unsweetened dark cocoa powder
- 2 tsp baking powder
- 1 ½ tsp baking soda
- 1 tsp salt
- 2 large eggs, room temperature
- 1 cup whole milk
- ½ cup vegetable oil
- 2 tsp pure vanilla extract
- 1 cup boiling hot water or hot brewed coffee
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 6 tbsp unsalted butter, cubed
- ½ cup heavy whipping cream
- 1 tsp sea salt
- 1 ½ cups pecans, coarsely chopped and toasted
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 3 cups powdered sugar
- ½ cup cocoa powder
- ¼ cup heavy cream
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 180°C (350°F).
- Grease and line two 9-inch round cake pans with parchment paper.
- Whisk together flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
- Add eggs, milk, vegetable oil, and vanilla extract and beat for 2 minutes.
- Stir in boiling water or hot coffee until fully incorporated.
- Divide batter evenly between the prepared pans.
- Bake for 30–35 minutes until a toothpick inserted comes out clean.
- Cool cakes completely.
- In a saucepan, melt sugar over medium heat until deep amber.
- Whisk in butter until melted.
- Slowly add heavy cream and boil for 1 minute.
- Remove from heat and stir in sea salt and toasted pecans.
- Cool praline mixture until thick and spreadable.
- Beat softened butter and cocoa powder until smooth.
- Alternate adding powdered sugar and heavy cream until a thick frosting forms.
- Place one cake layer on a serving plate.
- Pipe a border of frosting around the edge.
- Spread the cooled praline filling inside the frosting border.
- Top with the second cake layer.
- Frost the top and sides of the cake with remaining frosting.
- Garnish with whole pecans and a drizzle of caramel if desired.
- Chill for 1 hour before slicing and serving.
Notes
Hot coffee enhances the chocolate flavor without making the cake taste like coffee. Allow the praline filling to cool completely before assembling to prevent it from leaking between the layers.
- Prep Time: 35 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baked
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 690
- Sugar: 58g
- Sodium: 360mg
- Fat: 37g
- Saturated Fat: 18g
- Unsaturated Fat: 16g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 86g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 7g
- Cholesterol: 105mg