Home / Food Bites & Articles / Janet's Notebook

Pecan Desserts That Aren’t Pie

Chocolate Pecan Cake on a plate

How can you make dessert better? Add pecans! Being from the South, pecans have always been a favorite of mine. We all know they’re essential for pecan pie, but they are tasty in other desserts too.

When the weather is warmer, I love to end the day with a bowl of ice cream. Family Favorites’ Grandma’s Old-Fashioned Butter Pecan Sundae topping is a fantastic addition to the bowl.

“This has been our family’s favorite ice cream topping for three generations,” explains Family Favorites. “Rich, creamy, buttery, and nutty… What’s not to love?”

Super quick to make, I have to say this is one of the best butter pecan caramels I’ve ever had. One bite and you’ll skip picking up a jar from the store.

This recipe makes about 2 cups and any extra will store well in the fridge. It thickens up a bit when cooled but is still spoonable. Use it slightly warmed or cold. Spoon over ice cream or try it on angel food cake or even a slice of apple pie. Either way, it is a complete success!

The only bad thing about Joyce Newman’s (Pollock Pines, CA) Melt in Your Mouth Toffee Pecan Cookies is that it’s impossible to eat just one.

“These cookies are so easy to make and so melt in your mouth yummy,” shares Joyce.

The base of these nutty cookies is a yellow cake mix which makes preparing them a breeze. Each bite has bits of sweet toffee and crunchy pecans. They’re a soft chewy cookie that’s always a hit when I make them.

Christina Haley (Union City, TN) shared her recipe for Cinnamon Swirl Bundt With Pecan Brown Butter Glaze which is a cinnamon and pecan lover’s dream.

“I have made this recipe for years,” says Christina. “It never had pecans in it or a glaze until I just recently decided it would be awesome to add the pecans and finish it off with this glaze concoction I made.”

Oh so good, this is bursting with cinnamon flavor and full of pecans – inside and out. The cake is tender and moist inside with a slight crust on the outside. Drizzling the browned butter glaze is almost like a cinnamon-flavored praline glaze.

If cheesecake is your choice dessert, try Gina Collier’s (Shelbyville, TN) Buttered Pecan Chocolate Chip Cheesecake.

“I was determined I was going to make a cheesecake I’ve never seen before,” says Gina. “This recipe might exist somewhere out there but as far as I know, it came from the back of my mind.”

Gina’s cheesecake is tangy, smooth, and crunchy all wrapped into one tasty bite. There’s a layer of buttered pecan sauce that’s layered into the cheesecake and poured on top. That is what makes this recipe special. It’s sticky, sweet, and delicious.

“This cake is so delicious, I have made it several times for pot lucks and other functions,” reveals Teresa Edwards (New Albany, MS). “Never a piece left.”

If nutty chocolate desserts are a favorite, this Chocolate Pecan Cake will be very popular. It’s a moist and soft chocolate cake with a caramelized pecan icing.

Pouring the icing over the warm cake makes it irresistible. This should definitely be served warm so the gooey frosting is at optimal gooeyness. Grab a glass of milk and enjoy.

Now, give me a slice of pecan pie and I’ll never pass it up. But, I wanted to show how pecans can be used in so much more than pie. Do you have a favorite recipe using pecans? Share a link to it below and Happy Pinching!