Quick & Dreamy Praline Delight Cake Recipe for Sweet Moments

Praline delight cake tempts with its rich, velvety layers of Southern comfort and culinary artistry.

Sweet caramelized notes dance through each decadent slice, promising a sensory experience beyond ordinary desserts.

Nutty undertones whisper complex flavor profiles that elevate this classic confection to gourmet heights.

Creamy textures blend seamlessly with crunchy pecan elements, creating a harmonious balance of contrasting sensations.

Sophisticated yet approachable, this cake speaks to bakers who crave something extraordinary yet familiar.

Indulgent ingredients refine simple baking into a celebration of culinary creativity.

Prepare to embark on a delightful journey that will tantalize your taste buds and impress even the most discerning dessert enthusiasts.

Praline Cake: Key Ingredients

• All-Purpose Flour: Provides structure and texture for the cake base.
• Granulated Sugar: Adds sweetness and helps create a tender crumb.
• Baking Powder: Ensures the cake rises and becomes light and fluffy.
• Salt: Enhances overall flavor and balances the sweetness.
• Instant Coffee: Adds depth and subtle coffee undertones to the cake.

• Milk: Provides moisture and helps create a smooth cake batter.
• Butter (Softened): Adds richness and helps create a tender cake texture.
• Molasses: Contributes deep, complex flavor and moisture to the cake.
• Eggs: Bind ingredients together and provide structure to the cake.
• Vanilla Extract: Enhances overall flavor with its warm, sweet notes.

• Brown Sugar: Creates a rich, caramel-like flavor in the crumb topping.
• Pecans: Adds crunch and nutty flavor to the praline topping.
• Cornstarch: Helps thicken the filling and create a smooth consistency.
• Additional Flour (for topping): Helps create a crumbly texture for the praline topping.
• Additional Butter (for topping): Helps bind the crumb mixture together.

How to Make Praline Cake

Step 1: Prepare the Oven and Pan

Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease and flour a 13x9x2 inch baking pan thoroughly.

Step 2: Create Cake Batter

• Flour
• Sugar
• Baking powder
• Salt
• Instant coffee

• Milk
• Softened butter
• Molasses

• Remaining milk
• Eggs
• Vanilla extract

Beat on medium speed for 1.5 minutes.

Step 3: Bake the Cake

Pour batter into prepared pan. Bake for 35-40 minutes until golden and set.

Step 4: Craft Creamy Filling

• Flour
• Sugar
• Cornstarch

Stir in milk and cook over medium heat, stirring constantly until thickened.

Step 5: Temper Egg Yolks

Gradually mix hot mixture into egg yolks. Return to saucepan, cook on low heat for 2 minutes, stirring continuously.

Step 6: Finish Filling

Remove from heat. Stir in vanilla. Let cool to lukewarm. Blend into creamed butter until smooth.

Step 7: Create Praline Crunch Topping

• Butter
• Flour
• Brown sugar
• Pecans

Spread in a small baking dish. Bake at 350°F for 15 minutes. Cool and break into crunchy bits.

Step 8: Assemble Cake

Cool cake completely. Spread creamy filling. Sprinkle praline crunch topping over the surface.

Pro Tips for Praline Cake

• Measure Precisely: Use exact measurements for flour, sugar, and other ingredients to ensure the cake's texture and flavor remain consistent.
• Temper Carefully: When adding hot mixture to egg yolks, pour slowly and whisk constantly to prevent scrambling and create a smooth custard base.
• Room Temperature Matters: Bring eggs, butter, and milk to room temperature before mixing to help ingredients blend more evenly and create a lighter cake.
• Cool Completely: Allow the cake and frosting to cool entirely before assembling to prevent melting and maintain structural integrity.
• Pecan Praline Crunch: Toast pecans briefly before adding to the crumb mixture to enhance their nutty flavor and create an extra crispy topping.

Storing and Reheating Praline Cake

• Refrigeration: Store leftover Praline Delight Cake in an airtight container for up to 5 days. Cover the cake tightly with plastic wrap or aluminum foil to prevent drying out and absorbing other refrigerator odors. Keep the cake in the coolest part of the refrigerator, away from strong-smelling foods.
• Freezing: Wrap individual cake slices separately in plastic wrap, then place in a freezer-safe container. Freeze for maximum 2 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before serving to maintain the cake's moisture and texture.
• Reheating: Warm refrigerated cake slices in the microwave for 15-20 seconds on medium power.

Pairing Praline Cake with Perfect Sweets

• Brew Rich Coffee Companions: Pair this praline delight cake with a smooth, dark roast coffee or a creamy cappuccino to enhance the cake's deep molasses and coffee undertones.
• Nutty Liqueur Match: Complement the pecan crunch with a shot of hazelnut or amaretto liqueur, which will beautifully highlight the cake's nutty, caramel-like sweetness.
• Creamy Dairy Sidekick: Serve alongside a cold glass of whole milk or a dollop of vanilla bean whipped cream to balance the cake's rich, dense texture and provide a cool contrast.
• Sweet Wine Finale: Select a sweet dessert wine like a late harvest Riesling or a port, whose honeyed notes will harmonize perfectly with the cake's praline and brown sugar elements.

Praline Cake Variations to Explore

• Chocolate Praline Indulgence: Replace instant coffee with cocoa powder and add dark chocolate chips to the batter for a rich, intense chocolate flavor.
• Caramel Pecan Paradise: Swap molasses with caramel syrup and double the pecans in the crumb topping for a sweet, nutty experience.
• Spiced Coffee Sensation: Incorporate ground cinnamon and nutmeg into the cake batter, then garnish with a sprinkle of espresso powder for a warm, aromatic profile.
• Maple Walnut Wonder: Substitute molasses with pure maple syrup and use chopped walnuts instead of pecans in the crumb topping for a different nutty dimension.

Why You’ll Love Praline Cake

• Savor Multilayered Flavor Complexity: This cake delivers a rich, intricate taste profile combining coffee-infused cake, creamy vanilla filling, and crunchy pecan topping that dance together beautifully.
• Experience Texture Transformation: Enjoy the stunning contrast between the moist, soft cake base, silky smooth custard-like filling, and crispy caramelized pecan crumble that provides delightful textural surprises in every bite.
• Master Elegant Baking Technique: The recipe showcases sophisticated culinary skills like tempering egg yolks, creating a custard filling, and developing a praline-style crumb topping, making it perfect for bakers wanting to elevate their pastry crafting abilities.

Praline Delight Cake Recipe

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4.7 from 9 reviews

• Total Time: 1 hour
• Yield: 12 1x

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Description

Praline Delight Cake brings Southern charm to dessert tables with nutty caramel layers and silky buttercream. Sweet pecans and brown sugar create a luxurious experience you’ll savor with pure Southern comfort.

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Ingredients

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Main Ingredients:

• 2 cups (480 ml) all-purpose flour
• 1 cup (240 ml) milk
• 2 large eggs
• 1 stick (113 grams) unsalted butter (softened)
• 1 ¼ cups (250 grams) sugar

Flavor and Seasoning Ingredients:

• 2 teaspoons instant coffee
• 2 tablespoons molasses
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 2 teaspoons baking powder

Topping and Filling Ingredients:

• ⅓ cup (40 grams) all-purpose flour
• ⅔ cup (130 grams) sugar
• 2 tablespoons cornstarch
• 2 ¼ cups (540 ml) milk
• 3 egg yolks
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• ¾ cup (170 grams) unsalted butter (well creamed)
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
• ¼ cup (30 grams) all-purpose flour
• 2 tablespoons brown sugar
• ¼ cup chopped pecans

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Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C) and meticulously prepare a 13x9x2 inch baking pan by greasing and dusting with flour.
2. Sift the dry ingredients (flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, and instant coffee) into a spacious mixing bowl, creating a uniform powder base.
3. Incorporate of milk, softened butter, and molasses, blending on low speed for approximately 90 seconds until smooth.
4. Introduce the remaining of milk, eggs, and vanilla extract, then beat on medium speed for another 90 seconds until the batter achieves a silky consistency.
5. Transfer the batter into the prepared baking pan, ensuring even distribution, and bake for 35-40 minutes until a toothpick inserted comes out clean.
6. For the filling, combine flour, sugar, and cornstarch in a medium saucepan, creating a dry mixture.
7. Gradually pour in milk and cook over medium heat, continuously stirring until the mixture thickens and becomes glossy.
8. Carefully temper the egg yolks by slowly incorporating a portion of the hot mixture, whisking constantly to prevent curdling.
9. Return the tempered yolks to the saucepan, reducing heat to low, and continue cooking for 2 minutes while stirring.
10. Remove from heat, fold in vanilla extract, and allow the mixture to cool to a lukewarm temperature.
11. Blend the cooled mixture with creamed butter until achieving a smooth, consistent texture.
12. For the praline topping, combine butter and flour in a small bowl, cutting them together until crumbly.
13. Fold in brown sugar and chopped pecans to create a delicate crumb mixture.
14. Spread the crumb mixture in a small baking dish and bake at 350°F (175°C) for 15 minutes.
15. Allow the praline topping to cool completely, then gently break into small, crunchy fragments for garnishing the cake.

Notes

• This decadent cake combines rich coffee undertones with a creamy praline filling, creating a sophisticated dessert that balances sweet and nutty flavors.
• Precise temperature and timing are crucial for achieving the perfect cake texture, so use an oven thermometer and set a timer to prevent over or underbaking.
• Tempering egg yolks slowly prevents scrambling and ensures a silky-smooth filling that integrates seamlessly with the cake’s delicate crumb.
• Toasting the pecan crumb topping intensifies their natural oils and brings out a deeper, more complex nutty flavor profile.
• Allow each component to cool completely before assembling to maintain the cake’s structural integrity and prevent potential filling separation.
• Store the cake in an airtight container in the refrigerator, where it can remain fresh for up to 3-4 days, with flavors developing and melding over time.

• Prep Time: 20 minutes
• Cook Time: 40 minutes
• Category: Desserts
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: French

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 12
• Calories: 385 kcal
• Sugar: 28 g
• Sodium: 210 mg
• Fat: 22 g
• Saturated Fat: 12 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
• Trans Fat: 0.5 g
• Carbohydrates: 42 g
• Fiber: 1 g
• Protein: 6 g
• Cholesterol: 95 mg