One-Pot Butter Pecan Pound Cake: Easy Thanksgiving Treat

Introduction

A slice of Butter Pecan Pound Cake instantly evokes the warmth and nostalgia of fall gatherings. Imagine all the rich, buttery flavor and nutty crunch of your favorite pecan pie, wrapped in the tender crumb of a classic pound cake. This one-pot recipe keeps things streamlined—minimal fuss, maximum flavor—making it an irresistible, easy Thanksgiving treat your guests will adore.

Why Make One-Pot Butter Pecan Pound Cake?

What sets this recipe apart is its stellar simplicity. With just one pot, you cut down on cleanup without sacrificing flavor. The buttery batter absorbs the toasted pecans beautifully, while a hint of vanilla brings everything together for a cake that’s moist, rich, and aromatic. It’s the perfect dessert when you need something showstopping but don’t have time for complicated steps.

Building Depth with Toasted Butter Pecans

The secret to this cake’s unforgettable flavor is toasting the pecans in butter before adding them to the batter. This extra step amplifies their nuttiness and infuses the entire cake with a deep, caramelized taste. Let the pecans cool briefly before folding them in for the perfect balance of texture—crisp pecans nestled in a soft, buttery crumb.

Effortless Cake Baking in One Pot

After toasting the pecans in your mixing pot, the rest of the ingredients are simply layered in and mixed. No need to dirty additional bowls or mixers. It’s a perfect solution for busy holiday kitchens where every bit of counter space counts. Pour the batter into a bundt pan or loaf pan—both work well, ensuring versatility for whatever bakeware you have on hand.

Serving Suggestions: Dress Up Your Pound Cake

Give your Butter Pecan Pound Cake an elegant touch by drizzling it with a simple glaze made from powdered sugar and milk, or serve it plain to let its rich flavors shine. A scoop of vanilla ice cream or a dollop of whipped cream adds a festive finish. This cake is equally at home on the Thanksgiving dessert table or as a cozy snack with coffee the next morning.

Nutritional Information and Serving Size

This recipe yields one large loaf or bundt cake, perfect for 10 to 12 generous slices. Each serving typically includes about 350-400 calories, depending on the amount of glaze and serving size. It’s a crowd-pleasing indulgence, just right for the holiday season.

One-Pot Butter Pecan Pound Cake (Recap)

This easy Thanksgiving treat combines melt-in-your-mouth richness with the irresistible crunch of toasted pecans—all in one pot for effortless cleanup. It’s perfect for sharing, gifting, or making ahead to ease your holiday prep.

💡Meal Planning Tip: Save this recipe to automatically generate an organized shopping list with all ingredients sorted by store section—perfect for efficient grocery trips and stress-free holiday meal planning.

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour a loaf or bundt pan.
2. In a large pot over medium heat, melt the butter. Add chopped pecans and cook, stirring frequently, until the nuts are fragrant and lightly toasted (about 4–5 minutes). Remove the pot from heat and cool for 2–3 minutes.
3. Whisk in sugar, eggs, and vanilla extract into the butter-pecan mixture until smooth and well combined.
4. Stir in sour cream until incorporated.
5. Sift together flour, baking powder, and salt, then add to the pot. Gently fold until no streaks remain—do not overmix.
6. Pour the batter into your prepared pan and smooth the top. Bake for 55–65 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
7. Cool in the pan for 15 minutes, then turn out onto a wire rack to cool completely.
8. For optional glaze, whisk powdered sugar with milk until smooth. Drizzle over the cooled cake before serving.

Weekly Meal Planning

This Butter Pecan Pound Cake isn’t just a Thanksgiving star—it’s ideal for your weekly meal planning too! Save and schedule this recipe to plan your holiday baking or sweet treats for the week and instantly generate a smart shopping list that merges duplicate ingredients and organizes your grocery trip.

Planning Benefits:

• Automatically calculates total ingredients needed for all planned recipes
• Sorts your shopping list by grocery store sections for efficiency
• Prevents overbuying and forgotten items—great for holiday prep
• Makes it easy to plan desserts, mains, and sides all together

Pro tip: Schedule this and other recipes to see how ingredients overlap, reducing food waste and guesswork, and making your holiday and weekly baking truly stress-free.

Cook and Prep Times

Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 55-65 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 20 minutes