Buttered Pecan and Vanilla Cake

This is one of my most favorite and cherished recipes which my mom use to make. I have such fond memories attached to it. Aroma of freshly baked cake around the home takes me back to childhood and all things nostalgic. This is a very easy-peasy recipe which can be lot of fun because you can add a lot of things to it and try a lot of combinations.

Ingredients for Cake:

• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1 tsp salt 
• ½ cup + 1tbsp unsalted butter at room temperature
• ½  cup sugar
• 2 eggs  
• ½ cup milk
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 2.25oz or ½ cup chopped pecans

Ingredients for Vanilla Buttercream Frosting:

• ½ cup unsalted butter at room temperature
• 2 cup icing sugar
• 1tsp vanilla extract
• ½ tsp salt
• 1-2 tbsp milk

Tips:

1. Put a parchment paper baking sheet in the cake pan after greasing the pan and lightly grease the parchment paper also. This helps to get the cake out easily after its baked.
2. For best results and easy maneuvering use ingredients at room temperature.
3. Duration of baking may change with different ovens, so let the cake cook for 16 minutes straight and from then on check every minute so that the cake doesn’t burn.

Directions:

• Preheat oven at 350°F.
• Place chopped pecans in a baking pan and spread 1tbsp of butter on it.

• Toast the pecans for 6-10 mins without burning them by stirring frequently. Set them aside to cool.

• Prepare a square cake pan by greasing and laying with parchment paper on the bottom of the pan.
• Whisk sugar and butter together in a large bowl. Add the eggs, milk and vanilla extract, and mix it well.

• Sift all the dry ingredients that is flour, baking powder, salt and add it to the wet mixture.

• And in the end, add and fold in the buttered pecans ever so slightly.

• Pour the batter in the greased pan and tap the pan to release air bubbles.

• Bake at 350°F for 16-20 minutes. Test the cake with a knife or skewer in the center to make sure the cake is well cooked.

• Prepare the frosting. In a large bowl, cream the butter and icing sugar together. Add salt and vanilla extract to the mixture to get rid of any lumps. Adjust the consistency by adding a little amount of milk at a time.
• Cover the cake with frosting and decorate it with some pecans or fresh fruit.