Chocolate Praline Layer Cake

Created by a university professor of music, this easy-to-prepare cake is spectacular to serve and marvelous to eat! It's best if made a few hours ahead and refrigerated before serving.

Prep: 25 min | Bake: 45 min | Yield: 16 servings

Ingredients

Cake

• 1/2 cup butter
• 1/4 cup whipping cream
• 1 cup firmly packed brown sugar
• 3/4 cup coarsely chopped pecans
• 1 (18.25 ounce) box Pillsbury™ Moist Supreme™ Devil's Food cake mix*
• 1 1/4 cups water
• 1/3 cup oil
• 3 eggs

Topping

• 1 3/4 cups whipping cream
• 1/4 cup powdered sugar
• 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 16 pecan halves, if desired
• 16 chocolate curls, if desired

Instructions

1. Heat oven to 325 degrees F.

Cake

1. In small heavy saucepan, combine butter, 1/4 cup whipping cream and brown sugar. Cook over low heat just until butter is melted, stirring occasionally.
2. Pour into two 8 or 9 inch round cake pans; sprinkle evenly with chopped pecans.
3. In large bowl, combine cake mix, water, oil and eggs; beat at low speed until moistened. Beat for 2 minutes at medium speed.
4. Carefully spoon batter over pecan mixture.
5. Bake at 325 degrees F for 35 to 45 minutes or until cake springs back when touched lightly in center.
6. Cool for 5 minutes; remove from pans.
7. Cool for 1 hour or until completely cooled.

Topping

1. In small bowl, beat 1 3/4 cups whipping cream until soft peaks form.
2. Add powdered sugar and vanilla extract; beat until stiff peaks form.

Assembly

1. Place 1 layer on serving plate, praline side up. Spread with half of whipped cream.
2. Top with second layer, praline side up; spread top with remaining whipped cream.
3. Garnish with whole pecans and chocolate curls.
4. Store in refrigerator.

Notes

* 18.25 ounce boxes of cake mix have been replaced by 16.5 ounce and 15.25 ounce boxes. To compensate for the volume loss in a 16 ounce box, whisk 6 tablespoons all-purpose flour into the dry cake mix before proceeding with the recipe. To compensate for the volume loss in a 15.25 ounce box, add 1/2 cup + 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour and 1/4 teaspoon baking powder.

Nutrition

Per serving: Calories 460 Calories from Fat 270 Total Fat 30g Saturated Fat 13g Cholesterol 95mg Sodium 340mg Total Carbohydrate 43g Dietary Fiber 2g Sugars 32g Protein 4g

% Daily Value*: Vitamin A 15% Vitamin C 0% Calcium 10% Iron 10%

Exchanges: 1 Starch; 2 Fruit; 6 Fat

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.

Attribution

Recipe and photo used with permission from: Pillsbury