Description
This pecan zucchini Bundt cake is moist, warmly spiced, and crowned with a brown sugar pecan glaze. A perfect blend of garden-fresh zucchini and buttery Southern charm.
Ingredients
For the Pecan Zucchini Cake
3 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
3 large eggs, at room temperature
2 cups granulated sugar
1 cup vegetable oil
2 tablespoons vanilla extract
2 cups shredded zucchini, moisture intact
1 cup chopped pecans, toasted
For the Cinnamon-Sugar Swirl
2 tablespoons granulated sugar
½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
For the Brown Sugar Pecan Glaze
¼ cup unsalted butter
½ cup packed light brown sugar
3 tablespoons heavy cream or milk
1 cup powdered sugar
½ cup chopped pecans, toasted
Instructions
1. Preheat and Prep: Preheat your oven to 350°F. Prepare a 10 or 12-cup Bundt pan by greasing it thoroughly and lightly dusting it with flour, making sure to cover every crevice.
2. Combine Dry Ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, salt, baking soda, baking powder, and cinnamon until evenly combined.
3. Combine Wet Ingredients: In a separate bowl, beat the eggs with the sugar until smooth. Stir in the vegetable oil and vanilla extract until fully blended.
4. Make the Batter: Pour the wet mixture into the dry ingredients. Stir gently with a spatula only until no dry patches remain. Be careful not to overmix.
5. Fold in Zucchini and Pecans: Gently fold in the shredded zucchini and 1 cup of the toasted pecans. The batter will be thick.
6. Layer the Cake: Pour half of the batter into the prepared Bundt pan and smooth the surface.
7. Add the Swirl: In a small cup, mix the 2 tablespoons of sugar and ½ teaspoon of cinnamon. Sprinkle this evenly over the batter in the pan.
8. Add Final Layer: Carefully spoon the remaining batter on top of the cinnamon-sugar layer and gently spread it to the edges.
9. Bake: Place the pan in the oven and bake for 50 to 60 minutes. The cake is done when a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
10. Cool: Remove the cake from the oven and let it cool in the pan on a wire rack for exactly 15 minutes. Then, carefully invert it onto the rack to cool completely before glazing.
11. Make the Glaze: In a saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat. Stir in the brown sugar and cream until bubbly and smooth (2-3 mins). Remove from heat, whisk in powdered sugar, stir in pecans. Let cool 5-10 minutes and drizzle over cooled cake.
Notes
This cake gets even better the next day—store covered at room temperature. You can freeze it unglazed for up to 2 months.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 55 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 420
- Sugar: 34g
- Sodium: 220mg
- Fat: 22g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Unsaturated Fat: 16g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 50g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 5g
- Cholesterol: 55mg