Pecan Upside Down Cake

This Pecan Upside Down Cake is a classic dessert that never goes out of style. With its moist, buttery cake and gooey caramelized pecan topping, it’s the perfect dessert for any occasion.

slice of pecan upside down cake on a small plate.

We love desserts that are made with pecans. And, let me tell you this gooey caramelized cake is always a hit with our whole family. And, we know it will be with yours also.

uncut pecan upside down cake on a cake stand.

❤️ Why You’ll Love This Recipe

  • The base of the cake is made with a boxed cake mix so you don’t have to worry about a long ingredient list.
  • It’s great for holidays, Thanksgiving, potlucks, or even birthdays.
  • No special baking skills are required so even beginners can make it.

If you love pecan cake recipes like this one, then you may also enjoy this Butter Pecan Pound Cake recipe.

🛒Ingredients

pecans, butter, cake mix, corn syrup, salt, vanilla, cinnamon, eggs, brown sugar, sour cream, oil and milk on a counter.

You will need a few simple ingredients to help you make this delicious cake recipe. Gather these ingredients on your next trip to the grocery store so that you can whip up this pecan bundt cake in no time.

  • melted butter
  • brown sugar
  • corn syrup
  • chopped pecans
  • white cake mix or yellow
  • milk
  • oil
  • sour cream
  • eggs
  • vanilla
  • cinnamon

See the recipe card below for quantities.

🔪 How to Make Pecan Upside Down Cake

This is a quick overview of the steps needed to make this recipe. You can find the full list of steps in the recipe card at the bottom of this post.

pecan topping in a greased bundt cake pan.

Make the pecan topping. In a large bowl, whisk the melted butter, brown sugar, and corn syrup. Stir in the pecans and pour in the bottom of the bundt pan.

cake mix, sour cream, and eggs being mixed together with a hand mixer in a glass mixing bowl.

In a large bowl, beat the cake mix, milk, oil, sour cream, eggs, and vanilla.

cinnamon and brown sugar being mixed together in a small bowl.

In a small bowl, stir together the brown sugar and cinnamon.

cake butter in a bundt cake pan.

Pour about half of the cake mix over the top of the pecan mixture.

cinnamon and sugar swirl in a bundt pan.

Sprinkle the brown sugar and cinnamon in a ring.

cake batter in a bundt cake pan ready for the oven.

Pour the remaining cake mix over the top and bake for 40-45 minutes, or until a skewer comes out clean. Remove and let sit in the pan for about 10 minutes, before turning out on a cooling rack.

🥄 Equipment

This is a quick overview of the tools that you will need to make this delicious recipe:

  • 10 cup bundt pan
  • mixing bowls
  • Electric mixer

🥫 Storage

Storage – Store this cake in an airtight container at room temperature for up to three days.

Freezing – You can also freeze the cake in a freezer-safe container for up to three months.

Serve With

This delicious pecan upside down cake goes great with a cup of your favorite coffee or tea. However, you can also serve it after your favorite meal such as these Leftover Thanksgiving Crescent Rolls.

slice of pecan upside down cake being removed from the pan.

💭 Tips

Here are a few tips that you can use to ensure that this recipe turns out perfectly for you when you make it.

  • Use room temperature ingredients so that your cake batter mixes smoothly.
  • Don’t overmix the cake batter, otherwise you will have a tough or dense cake. Mix for no more than 2 minutes.
  • Grease your bundt cake pan well so that the cake doesn’t stick.

⁉️ FAQ

Do you have questions about this recipe? Here are the answers to the most commonly asked questions.

What’s the best way to freeze cake?

We’ve found that it’s best to freeze individual slices. So, we wrap each piece of cake in plastic wrap and then store it in a freezer bag.

🍽 More Pecan Recipes

Do you enjoy pecans? If so, try these delicious recipes:

🧾Recipe Card

Want to make this recipe? Print the recipe card below, or pin this recipe, so you can find it later.

slice of pecan upside down cake on a small plate.

Pecan Upside Down Cake

This Pecan Upside Down Cake has all the flavor of pecan pie baked right into a soft and moist cake. It’s a great dessert for any time of the year.
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Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 40 minutes
Total Time: 55 minutes
Servings: 12 Servings
Calories: 474kcal

Equipment

  • 10 cup bundt pan
  • mixing bowls
  • Electric mixer

Ingredients

  • ½ cup melted butter
  • ½ cup brown sugar
  • cup corn syrup
  • 1 ½ cup chopped pecans
  • 13.25 ounces white cake mix or yellow
  • ½ cup milk
  • cup oil
  • 1 cup sour cream
  • 3 eggs
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla

Cinnamon Sugar Mixture

  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon
  • ¼ cup brown sugar

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Spray a 10 cup capacity bundt pan with cooking spray containing flour. Set aside.
  • In a large bowl, whisk the melted butter, brown sugar and corn syrup.
  • Stir in the pecans and pour in the bottom of the bundt pan.
  • In a large bowl, beat the cake mix, milk, oil, sour cream, eggs and vanilla.
  • In a small bowl, stir together the brown sugar and cinnamon.
  • Pour about half of the cake mix over the top of the pecan mixture.
  • Sprinkle the brown sugar and cinnamon in a ring.
  • Pour the remaining cake mix over the top and bake for 40-45 minutes, or until a skewer comes out clean.
  • Remove and let sit in the pan for about 10 minutes, before turning out on a cooling rack.
  • Serve while warm.

Notes

Any nutritional data I provide is an approximation and actual dietary information can vary based on ingredients and proportion sizes.

Nutrition

Serving: 1Serving | Calories: 474kcal | Carbohydrates: 50g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 30g | Saturated Fat: 9g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 5g | Monounsaturated Fat: 13g | Trans Fat: 0.5g | Cholesterol: 74mg | Sodium: 313mg | Potassium: 152mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 36g | Vitamin A: 440IU | Vitamin C: 0.3mg | Calcium: 133mg | Iron: 1mg

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