Name: Pecan Upside Down Cake
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 45 min
Ingredients: Cooking spray; 2 tablespoons butter (melted); 1 ¼ cup granulated sugar (divided); 2 cups pecans; 1 ¼ cup all-purpose flour; 1 tsp baking powder; ¼ tsp baking soda; ¼ tsp salt; 1 tsp ground cinnamon; 2 large eggs; ¾ cup vegetable oil; ¼ cup sour cream; 1 tsp vanilla extract

Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

When you feel like treating yourself to something extra, but don’t want it to feel like work, make this fancy and easy pecan upside down cake.

This Pecan Upside Down Cake is soft, buttery, and topped with a sweet, crunchy pecan layer you’ll fall in love with. The perfect dessert for any occasion when you want something comforting, cozy, and unforgettable.

The best part about baking, is making beautiful things that taste as good as they look. And when you’re done, you get to enjoy every sweet bite! And this lovely cake is basically a vanilla cake with some cinnamon and pecans – but it looks like so much more!

Here on Secret Crunch, I’m all about making show-stopping desserts that are as easy as boxed mixes. And this cake falls right in line with that. It’s a tasty vanilla cake with the perfect balance of sweet and warm notes, but you won’t believe how easy it is.

Keep reading and I’ll show you how to turn a simple cake into a work of art!

Easy Upside Down Cake

After making my orange upside down cake, I knew I wanted to make one that wasn’t as sweet. I wanted a cake that had some saltiness to balance out the rich vanilla flavors.

Then I remember how much I love pecan pie, and I knew I had my answer! Instead of fruit on the bottom of the cake, let’s use pecans!

I didn’t take any shortcuts with this cake. It’s made with the perfect balance of flour, sugar, cinnamon, and a little bit of sour cream – just to keep it moist. Adding the pecans on top gives it a fun little crunch – and a whole lot of beauty!

A slice of homemade pecan upside down cake on a square white plate

Loving our recipes? Sign up to our newsletter to receive exclusive dessert content straight to your inbox! Plus, we’ll send you a FREE copy of The Sweet Six, my recipe e-book with six essential baking recipes for every kitchen!

Pecan Cake

Yes, this cake is a looker! In fact, after you place it on a pretty little serving tray, you’ll look for ways to show it off. If you post your cake online, please tag me on IG so I can see! Thank you!

If you’re going to show your cake off, pay close attention to how you place the pecans on the bottom of the pan. Try to arrange them in a pretty design. The pecans will be on the top of the cake, so you want them to look as good as possible.

I love making upside down cakes when I don’t have the time or energy to make homemade frosting and decorate a cake. As soon as you bring this cake out of the oven, it’s ready to show off. So easy!

The Secret To Upside Down Cake That Doesn’t Stick

If this is your first time making and upside down cake, then you might be a little worried. Will it stick to the pan? If it does, then all your hard work will be ruined! And no one wants that!

So, how do you make sure it won’t stick?

A fork going into a slice of homemade pecan upside down cake on a square white plate

First, coat the round cake pan with cooking spray. Then, add a round piece of parchment paper to the bottom of the pan. Finally, pour melted butter into the pan (on top of the parchment paper) and add some sugar.

After doing all this, you can finally start placing the pecans into the pan and then pour the cake batter on top.

Please don’t skip a single step. Every single part is essential to prevent it from sticking.

What Ingredients Do I Need To Make Pecan Upside Down Cake?

If you have ever made homemade cake before, you probably already have most of these ingredients. Here’s what you’ll need before you begin.

Cooking Spray
Pecans
Butter
Flour
Baking Powder
Baking Soda
Salt
Granulated Sugar
Eggs
Ground Cinnamon
Vegetable Oil
Vanilla Extract
Sour Cream

To get the specific measurements, scroll down to the recipe card and you can either copy and paste it, screenshot, or print out the card itself!

Shop our cutest printables, dessert-themed tags, and celebration-worthy details — and save 20% on your favorites – start browsing!

Sift The Dry Ingredients

If you read my recipe, you’ll see that I always sift the dry ingredients when I make cakes or cupcakes. Please don’t skip this step! Sifting dry ingredients, like flour, cocoa powder, or powdered sugar, may feel like an extra chore, but it’s one of those little steps that can make a big difference in your baking. (Psst: you’ll also want to make sure you’re measuring your flour right! Be sure to check out if you’re doing it correctly!)

Sifting gets rid of any clumps that happen when flour or sugar sits in the package. If you leave lumps of sugar, the batter won’t be smooth – and no one wants that.

Sifting also adds a touch of lightness to your dry ingredients by aerating them. This is especially important for cakes (like this one), where you want that soft, fluffy crumb. It’s like giving your flour a little breath of fresh air before it gets to work.

If you don’t have a sifter, get one. It will make all the difference in your baking!

How Long Will Upside Down Cake Last?

Since you didn’t use any fruit or frosting, you can keep this cake on your counter. Just remember to cover it in an airtight container so that it doesn’t go stale. It will stay fresh for about a week.

You can freeze the cake, too. It will stay fresh in the freezer for about six months.

How To Make Pecan Upside Down Cake

Start by preheating the oven to 350 degrees and coating an 8 or 9 inch round pan with cooking spray. Then, line the pan with a circular piece of parchment paper (you can trace your pan on the parchment paper with a pencil then cut). Spray on top of the parchment with another layer of cooking spray.

Pour melted butter into the lined pan, making sure it’s evenly coated. Next, add a layer of sugar (1/4 cup).

On a single layer, add pecans to your buttered pan and set aside.

Adding a layer of chopped pecans on a buttered pan

In a large bowl, sift together flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Mix in remaining granulated sugar (1 cup). Next, add cinnamon and combine.

Next, add eggs, vegetable oil, sour cream and vanilla extract. Mix until a thick batter forms.

Pour the batter into the pan, ensuring it’s even by using a spatula. Tap on your countertop to fill in any airholes.

Wet ingredients and vanilla being poured into a bowl for pecan upside down cake

Mixing batter with a red spatula to make pecan upside down cake

Bake for 25 to 30 minutes. Allow to cool for about 10-15 minutes and pass a serrated knife along the edge of the pan.

Turn the cake upside down onto a large serving platter. Enjoy!

If You Liked this Pecan Upside Down Cake, You May Also Like…

Nanaimo Bars

Chocolate Chip Peanut Butter Oatmeal Bars

Orange Upside Down Cake

Loving these recipes? Be sure to follow us on socials: Instagram, TikTok and Youtube for more inspiration for your sweet tooth! Plus, you can get my free recipe e-book by clicking here!