Toasted Butter Pecan Cake Recipe - YUM!! (2024)

FAQs

What is the difference between roasted and toasted pecans? ›

Now, some of you may be wondering, “What's the difference between roasting and toasting a pecan?”. The answer is simple. Roasting is when the nut is cooked fully through, and is usually done in an oven. Toasting means to brown the nut on the outside, and is usually done over a fire or on the stove.

Pecans are typically added to a recipe for added texture and flavor and toasting them will only improve both qualities. Toasting pecans (or any nut for that matter) not only makes them extra crisp and crunchy, but you'll get an even greater boost of nuttiness and flavor.

Simply put, butter pecan is a flavor that merges the nutty notes of pecan with rich butter and a hint of sweet vanilla extract. The distinctive flavor of the pecan is hard to pinpoint – even for experts – but is perhaps best described as having sweet, fat, and roasted undertones.

Toasting Pecans in the Oven

Preheat the oven to 350°F. Bake the pecans: Spread the pecans on a large baking sheet. Bake until the nuts are fragrant and a deeper shade of brown, 6 to 7 minutes.

Wet pecans allow the salt to stick easily to the nuts. Plus, soaking nuts helps neutralize enzyme inhibitors, which can harm your digestion, and reduce phytates, which decrease nutrient absorption. Just submerge your nuts in water while the oven is heating up and you'll be good to go.

You can also refrigerate or freeze nuts, in which they will last even longer - for up to a year. Roasted nuts, on the other hand, have a shorter shelf life. If possible try to consume them within 2 weeks; however, they should be okay to eat up to a month after purchase.

These nuts are toxic for dogs. Eating them can result in pets becoming sick and needing immediate veterinary care. “The reason pecans are considered toxic is that they contain a compound called juglone, also found in walnuts, that is harmful to dogs,” advises Dr. Klein.

Pecans have two sources of bitterness -- naturally occurring tannins in the kernel and pieces of corky material from the inside of the nut which can adhere to the kernel. Some of the tannin and all of the corky material can be removed by washing the kernels before cooking.

Don't wash pecans. Don't run water over them or even use a damp towel to clean them. Especially in-shell pecans.

Is butterscotch the same as butter pecan? No, they are not the same. Butterscotch is a sauce made by mixing brown sugar and melted butter together and cooking until it achieves a caramel-like consistency. It doesn't have any nuts.

What flavors go well with butter pecan? ›

Adding vanilla and maple is like the perfect duo for this Southern butter pecan cake. They are subtle yet lend such a well-rounded flavor.

I started doing some research, and I found a little-known trick to making pecans taste sweeter: Soaking and rinsing the shelled nuts in lukewarm water before roasting removes the tannins and pieces of corky material that can cause pecans to taste bitter.

Raw. Raw pecans can be eaten alone, salted, or sweetened. In savory dishes, pecans can lend a burst of rich buttery flavor. Some cooks like to candy pecans and sprinkle them on salads or pastas, especially in combination with rich cheeses like Gorgonzola and blue cheese.

In general, roasting is a process where the temperature is lower but the time is higher (may be more than several minutes) while toasting is conducted at a much higher temperature for a short duration (say less than one minute). Until the late nineteenth century, dry heat roasting in an oven was called baking.

Toast is used to mean to make something warm and crisp (and usually brown or black) by heat - often using a toaster. <I like to toast my bagel and then butter it while it's warm.> Roast is to cook food such as meat or vegetables in an oven. <Roast the pork for an hour.>

Whether raw or roasted, nuts still pack a healthy punch, loaded with good fats, protein, and antioxidants. That being said, roasting does remove some of the antioxidant-rich skin, possibly compromising some of its superfood potency.

Antioxidant Rich

These antioxidants can help prevent chronic diseases like cancer, heart disease, and Alzheimer's. So, munching on roasted salted pecans is not only tasty but also helps keep your body healthy and strong.