Go Back
Chocolate Chip Pecan Cake Recipe
Print Recipe
5 from 1 vote

Chocolate Chip Pecan Cake {A Doctored Cake Mix Recipe}

This moist and delicious Chocolate Pecan Chip Pecan Cake is so flavorful with chocolate chips, chocolate shavings, and pecans. Nobody would ever guess that it starts with a cake mix!
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Servings: 15
Author: Melissa and Bebe

Equipment

Ingredients

  • 1 box yellow cake mix (We used Duncan Hines Classic Yellow, 15.25 oz)
  • 1 small Package Instant Vanilla Pudding (do not make pudding, use dry)
  • 4 large eggs
  • 1 Milk chocolate baking bar, grated using the large holes on grater (we used Ghirardelli) (4 ounce /113.5g)
  • ½ cup vegetable oil ( I use canola oil) (107g)
  • ½ cup milk (121g)
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract (4g)
  • 1 cup sour cream (242g)
  • 1 cup mini chocolate chips (86g)
  • ½ cup chopped pecans We also used additional Chopped Pecans for outside of the cake

For the Chocolate Buttercream Frosting

  • 3 sticks unsalted butter, softened (339g) (do not soften butter in the microwave)
  • 8 cups powdered sugar Icing sugar in UK (920g) more if needed. **
  • 1 cup unsweetened cocoa powder, sifted (measure then sift). (82g)
  • ¾ cup milk plus 2 Tablespoons or more if needed to reach the spreading consistency you like (180g)
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla 6 grams
  • 1 teaspoon salt (6g)
  • The recipe makes 6 ½ cups batter

Instructions

For the Cake Layers

  • Preheat the oven to 325 degrees, grease and flour three 8 inch round pans or two 9 inch round pans. Baking time will be a bit longer if using 9 inch pans.
  • Add the cake mix and the instant vanilla pudding to the bowl of your mixer,  whisk to blend.  Add the eggs, grated chocolate bar, oil, milk, vanilla and sour cream. Mix on medium speed for 4 minutes.  Stir in the chocolate chips and chopped pecans. 
  • Pour into prepared pans and bake at 325 degrees for 22 to 25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean or with just a few crumbs attached.  Cool 10 minutes then turn out. 

For the Chocolate Buttercream

  • Add butter to your mixing bowl and mix on low to medium speed until smooth. Add vanilla and blend into the butter. As you begin adding the powdered sugar, salt, and cocoa powder, add about ¾'s of the milk. Begin mixing at low speed so you won't have a cloud of powdered sugar.
  • Continue to mix adding remaining milk as needed. It may take 5 to 6 minutes to reach the smoothness and consistency you like. Don't mix above medium speed. It will take a bit longer if using a hand mixer. As you mix, the frosting will become very smooth. You can add additional milk 1 Tablespoon at a time if the frosting is too thick or additional powdered sugar if the frosting is too soft.
  • This is my favorite chocolate frosting! Recipe can easily be doubled or halved. This recipe makes approximately 7 cups of frosting.