A whole pecan pie within a cake? Yes! Then topped with chocolate frosting? Yes! Is it an easy recipe? Yes!
This dessert sounds complicated but it's surprisingly easy. The chocolate pecan pie is a delicious easy holiday dessert.
Why You'll Love This Recipe
If you're wanting a simple yet decadent dessert, then this pecan pie baked inside a chocolate cake will not let you down.
The recipe couldn't be simpler. Everybody knows that I am all about easy recipes and I believe this may be the easiest dessert recipe on my blog!
If you love pecan pie and you also love chocolate cake, you're going to love this chocolate pecan pie in a cake! Also known as a piecaken! It's the best of both worlds.
Why This Recipe Works
This pie-in-a-cake recipe is super simple to make. Simply purchase a pecan pie, a box of chocolate cake mix, and a container of chocolate frosting. The pecan pie can be fresh or frozen. If you purchase a frozen pecan pie, let it thaw first.
The chocolate cake mix can be your favorite brand (I prefer to use the cake mix with pudding mix in it). The container of chocolate frosting can be your favorite flavor (milk chocolate, fudge, etc.). So simple!
Take it up another notch and add a drizzle of jarred caramel sauce on top of the frosting. Now this is a seriously decadent dessert!
This pie-in-a-cake makes any occasion special especially since it's so unusual; a pie inside a cake is a conversation piece, no doubt. I don't think many people have ever heard of it so people will definitely be surprised when they see it.
Whether it's a Christmas dessert recipe or an easy Thanksgiving dessert, this pie-in-a-cake is a worthy addition to your Thanksgiving or Christmas table.
Could this be the best dessert recipe because it's so easy and incredibly rich?! You be the judge of that!
Ingredients
Pecan pie - pre-made fresh or frozen (thawed).
Devil's food chocolate cake mix with pudding in the mix - make sure you have the ingredients for the cake: eggs, oil, etc.
Milk chocolate chips - semi-sweet is fine, too.
Chocolate fudge frosting - pre-made frosting in the plastic container.
Chopped pecans and extra chocolate chips - for topping/garnish, optional.
Instructions
For the best results, please follow the "recipe card" at the bottom of the post!
(1) Prepare the chocolate cake batter according to the directions on the box. Stir in 1 cup chocolate chips. Pour about 2 cups of the cake batter into the springform pan.
(2) Place the pecan pie on top of the batter. I used a couple of spatulas to help me lower the pie into the pan.
(3) Pour the remaining batter on top of the pie.
(4) Bake for 30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in middle comes out clean. Let cool on a wire rack for at least 30 minutes. Remove the pie-cake from the springform pan and place it onto a cake platter. Pour or drizzle the frosting on top of the pie cake. Top with chopped pecans, if desired.
At this point, the pie cake will still be a little warm, and ooey gooey. However, it slices neater when it's completely cooled. Delicious!
Notes: (A) For an extra treat, serve with vanilla ice cream. (B) Store the pie-in-a-cake covered in the refrigerator. It will stay fresh for up to 3 days. When you're ready to eat a slice, serve it cold or microwave it for a few seconds.
Honorable Mention: I did not create the magnificent piecaken. The piecaken was created by Chef Zac Young several years ago. Read more about him here. Since then, people have come up with all kinds of variations of piecaken.
Check out this handy Holiday Menu Planner from Organizedhome.com. Great for those people who like to print a hard copy and fill it out by hand.
Freezing
Cakes freeze well and often makes them even moister than before you froze them! Be sure the cake is completely cooled. Then wrap the cake in several layers of plastic wrap, followed by a layer of tin foil. Freeze for up to 3 months. When you’re ready to eat the cake, remove the plastic wrap and foil, then let the cake thaw on the countertop for 2-3 hours. Enjoy!
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Pie in a Cake
Ingredients
- 1 2-lb pre-made pecan pie, fresh or frozen (thawed)
- 1 15.25-ox box Devil's Food chocolate cake mix with pudding in the mix (make sure you have the ingredients for the cake: eggs, oil, etc.)
- 1 cup milk chocolate chips (semi-sweet is fine, too)
- 1 16-oz container chocolate fudge frosting
- ½ cup chopped pecans for topping/garnish, optional
Instructions
- Remove the pecan pie from the aluminum pie pan (or any kind container that it's in). Set aside. (If you bought a frozen pecan pie, let it thaw first).
- Prepare the chocolate cake batter according to the directions on the box. Stir in 1 cup chocolate chips.
- Pour about 2 cups of the cake batter into the springform pan.
- Place the pecan pie on top of the batter.
- Pour the remaining batter on top of the pie.
- Bake for 30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in middle comes out clean. Let cool on a wire rack for at least 30 minutes.
- Remove the piecaken from the springform pan and place onto a cake platter. Allow it to completely cool before frosting.
- Frost the cake: Open the container of chocolate frosting and remove the seal. If the container is plastic, place the open container in the microwave and cook on high for 20-30 seconds. Remove from the microwave and stir with a spoon (I prefer to use a butter knife to stir the frosting). Check for consistency - the frosting should be the consistency of honey so that you can pour it onto the cake. If the frosting container is not microwave safe, spoon the frosting into a microwave safe bowl, and continue with the heating directions.
- Pour or drizzle the frosting on top of the piecaken. Spread on top and let the frosting go down the sides. You may or may not use the whole can of frosting; it just depends on how much frosting you prefer! Garnish with chopped pecans, if desired.
Notes
Nutrition
This recipe was originally published in 2019 and was updated in 2022.
The nutrition information for this recipe is based on the brands that I used. Different brands may have different nutritional data. To calculate your own nutritional data based on the brands that you use, go to an online nutrition calculator tool such as HappyForks.com or FitPal.com.
Christy jordan
This is fabulous! I'm linking to your recipe in my Friday Gazette. Thank you!
MyKitchenSerenity
Thanks, Christy! I'm honored. The PieCaken was a huge hit at the office this year. It's crazy good and super easy.