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Cherry-Pecan Cake

5 from 2 votes
1 (8-inch) cake
Thanks to a reverse creaming method and just egg whites in the batter, the layers of this cake bake evenly with a tender crumb that soaks up every drop of the sweet and crunchy filling.

Ingredients
  

Cherry-Pecan Cake

  • 2 1/4 cups (281 grams) unbleached cake flour*
  • 1 1/2 cups (300 grams) granulated sugar
  • 2 teaspoons (10 grams) baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoons (1.5 grams) kosher salt
  • 1/4 teaspoons (1.25 grams) baking soda
  • 3/4 cup (170 grams) unsalted butter, softened
  • 3/4 cup (180 grams) whole milk, room temperature
  • 3 large (90 grams) egg whites, room temperature
  • 3 tablespoons (45 grams) sour cream, room temperature
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons (6 grams) vanilla extract
  • 1 cup (150 grams) finely chopped maraschino cherries, patted dry
  • 1/2 cup (54 grams) finely chopped toasted pecans*

Vanilla-Almond Buttercream

  • 2 1/2 cups (565 grams) unsalted butter, softened
  • 2 teaspoons (6 grams) kosher salt
  • 7 3/4 cups (930 grams) confectioners' sugar
  • 3/4 cup (180 grams) heavy whipping cream
  • 2 1/4 teaspoons (9 grams) almond extract
  • 1 1/4 teaspoons (5 grams) vanilla extract

Instructions

Cherry-Pecan Cake

  • Preheat oven to 350°F (180°C). Spray 3 (8-inch) round cake pans with baking spray with flour. Line bottom of pans with parchment paper.
  • In the large bowl of a stand mixer, whisk together flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, and baking soda by hand. Add butter; using the paddle attachment, beat at medium-low speed until butter is incorporated and mixture resembles coarse crumbs, about 2 minutes.
  • In a medium bowl, whisk together milk, egg whites, sour cream, and vanilla. With mixer on low speed, add one-third of milk mixture (about 2/3 cup or 180 grams) to flour mixture. Increase mixer speed to medium, and beat until light and fluffy, 1 to 2 minutes. Gradually add remaining milk mixture, beating until well combined and stopping to scrape sides of bowl. Divide batter among prepared pans (about 1 1/2 cups or 356 grams each).
  • Bake until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean, 20 to 30 minutes. Let cool in pans on wire racks for 10 minutes. Remove from pans, and let cool completely on wire racks.
  • In another medium bowl, stir together 3 cups (690 grams) Vanilla-Almond Buttercream, cherries, and pecans.
  • Level cooled cake layers, if desired. Place 1 cake layer on a serving plate. Spread half of cherry buttercream mixture on top. Top with second cake layer, and spread remaining cherry buttercream mixture on top. Top with remaining cake layer.
  • In a small bowl, reserve 1 cup (212 grams) Vanilla-Almond Buttercream. Spread remaining buttercream on top and sides of cake. Using an offset spatula, scrape excess frosting off sides of cake to smooth and expose cake layers, if desired. Refrigerate assembled cake for at least 15 minutes.
  • Transfer reserved buttercream to a pastry bag fitted with a medium open star piping tip (Ateco #826). Pip buttercream on top of cake as desired. Cover and refrigerate for up to 3 days.

Vanilla-Almond Buttercream

  • In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat butter and salt at medium speed until smooth and creamy, 1 to 2 minutes. With mixer on low speed, add confectioners’ sugar, 1 cup (120 grams) at a time, alternately with cream and extracts, beating until combined after each addition and stopping to scrape sides and bottom of bowl. Increase mixer speed to medium-high, and beat until pale and fluffy, 1 to 2 minutes. Use immediately.

Notes

*We use King Arthur Unbleached Cake Flour and Schermer Pecans.
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