Pecan Cake

 

Pecan cake is a popular American sweet pie/cake that is made with toasted pecans (nuts) and corn syrup as the main ingredients. This delicious cake is a specialty from the Southern part of US where it is usually served with whipped cream. Most of the pecan pie lovers, flavor the pies with vanilla and salt. This dish is generally prepared and served during Christmas, Thanksgiving and other special occasions; however, it is enjoyed at other times as well. The pecan pies/cakes are also made with chocolate and bourbon whiskey, which are popular inclusions to the dish. This pie is popularly also known as the “New Orleans Pecan Pie”.

 

 

Origin of Pecan Cake Recipe

It is believed that the Pecan cake was first made by the French who settled in the New Orleans region of America. They were introduced to the pecan nuts by Native Americans, which led to the first recipe of pecan pie. The recipe first came to be known only around the year 1925 and later on by 1940; some popular cookbooks such as ‘The Joy of Cooking’ and ‘Fannie Farmer’ featured the recipe of pecan pie. The recipe was further popularized by the manufacturers of the popular Karo syrup, who firmly believed that the dish was discovered by a corporate sales executive’s wife in the year 1930 as a new way to use corn syrup.

 

 

Pecan Pie – Ingredients Used & Preparation

The basic ingredients that go into the preparation of the traditional Pecan cake are, flour, pecan nuts, sugar, eggs (separated), raisins and corn syrup. This pie is prepared like any other baked dish. The flour is sifted with baking powder and salt. Butter and sugar are blended well. The egg yolks of the separated eggs help in making the batter smooth, while the egg white is beaten to stiff peaks and added towards the end. Once the butter and sugar mixture is ready, the sifted flour and egg yolk are added alternately and after a smooth batter is ready, pecans and raisins are added. This batter is baked like any other cake is a greased tin. The cake is coated with powdered sugar while it is still warm and served with whipped cream.

 

Another way to prepare pecan cake is to make a pie crust and fill it with the pecan & raisin filling that is prepared separately.

 

 

Variations to the Pecan Cake Recipe

The recipe of this cake has a popular variation that includes bourbon whiskey as one of the main ingredients, which adds flavor to the pie. Basically all the ingredients remain the same with just the exception of bourbon, which is added to the batter while it is being folded in. This wonderfully delicious pie is usually served with two types of sauces Lemon Bourbon Sauce and Praline Bourbon Sauce. These sauces can be served either warm or cold with the pecan cake, depending on one’s liking.