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Pecan Divinity Cake

AmericanDessertHard
Prep
75 min
Cook
37 min
Total
240 min
Serves
14–16
✦

Ingredients

sour cream cake layers

  • 1 package18.25-oz white cake mix
  • 2large eggs
  • 1 container8-oz sour cream
  • 0.5 cupwater
  • 0.333 cupvegetable oil

divinity frosting

  • 1 package7.2-oz home-style fluffy white frosting mix
  • 0.5 cupboiling water
  • 2 tspvanilla extract
  • 1 package16-oz powdered sugar
  • 1.5 cupchopped pecans, toasted

sugared pecans

  • 1large egg white
  • 1 cupgranulated sugar
  • 2 cupchopped pecans

optional garnishes

  • toasted pecan halves
  • Divinity Candy (see notes)
  • Sugared Maraschino Cherries and Mint Sprigs (see notes)
  • small candy canes

Method

  1. 1MAKE SOUR CREAM CAKE LAYERS: Beat all ingredients at low speed with an electric mixer 30 seconds or just until moistened; beat at medium speed 2 minutes or until smooth. Pour batter evenly into 4 greased and floured 8-inch round cakepans. Bake at 350°F for 15 to 17 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Remove from pans, cool completely on wire racks. Wrap in plastic wrap and freeze 2 hours or up to 1 month.
  2. 2MAKE SUGARED PECANS: Whisk egg white until foamy; stir in pecans, coating well. Stir in sugar; coat well. Spread evenly in a lightly greased 15x10-inch aluminum foil-lined jellyroll pan. Bake at 350°F for 10 minutes. Stir gently with a wooden spoon; bake 8 to 10 more minutes until sugar is golden brown. Remove and cool completely in pan. Store in an airtight container.
  3. 3MAKE DIVINITY FROSTING: Place frosting mix, boiling water, vanilla, and powdered sugar in a 4-quart mixing bowl. Beat at low speed with a heavy-duty electric mixer 1 minute or until blended. Beat at high speed 3 to 5 minutes until stiff peaks form. Gradually add powdered sugar at low speed until blended. Stir in toasted pecans.
  4. 4ASSEMBLE: Spread about ½ cup Divinity Frosting between each cake layer, then spread remaining frosting on top and sides. Arrange toasted pecan halves on top and garnishes around bottom edge, if desired. Store at room temperature.

Notes

Enjoy this cake the day you make it; Divinity Frosting won't hold up for longer storage. For 9-inch layers: bake in 4 greased/floured 9-inch pans at 350°F for 12 to 14 minutes. Spice, chocolate, or any cake mix may be substituted. Testing used Betty Crocker Home Style Fluffy White Frosting Mix. Optional Divinity Candy: drop frosting by rounded tablespoonfuls onto wax paper, garnish each with a toasted pecan half, let stand 8 hrs, then move to wire racks 2–3 hrs until dry. Divinity Candy with Sugared Maraschino Cherries: press a greased spoon handle into center of each candy piece, place 1 Sugared Maraschino Cherry in indentation just before serving. Sugared Maraschino Cherries & Mint Sprigs: dissolve 1⅓ cups powdered sugar in ⅓ cup water; dip 16–20 well-drained maraschino cherries (with stems) and 12–16 rinsed mint sprigs; let dry on wire rack.