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–+ servings
nut cake with a slice taken out of it on a white plate with fairy lights, greenery, and glasses

Southern Holiday Nut Cake

4.74 from 15 votes
Prep Time: 25 minutes
Cook Time: 2 hours
Total Time: 2 hours 25 minutes
Author: Traci Crossland
Dense, rich, moist, and oh so delicious, this Southern Holiday Nut Cake is nutty, perfectly sweet, bourbon-y, and the perfect breakfast cake to serve all winter long! So. Good.

Ingredients

  • ½ cup molasses
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 6 cups pecans chopped
  • 4½ cups raisins
  • 3½ cups all purpose flour divided
  • 1 Tablespoon ground cinnamon
  • ½ teaspoon ground cloves
  • 1½ cups salted butter room temperature
  • 2 cups granulated sugar
  • 6 large eggs room temperature
  • ½ cup bourbon
US Customary - Metric

Instructions

  • Heat oven to 250℉.
  • Spray tube pan with cooking spray and line bottom with parchment paper. Set aside.
  • In a small bowl, mix together molasses and baking soda. Set aside.
  • In a large bowl, combine pecans, raisins, and 1/2 cup flour. Set aside.
  • Combine remaining 3 cups flour, cinnamon, and cloves. Set aside.
  • In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat butter and sugar until light and fluffy, about 3-4 minutes.
  • Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition.
  • Mix in molasses and soda mixture.
  • Stir in flour mixture.
  • Add pecans and raisins.
  • Add bourbon last.
  • Mix until thoroughly combined.
  • Spoon batter into prepared pan.
  • Bake for 2 hours, or until cake tests done.

Notes

Substitutions:
  • You can use any kind of dried fruit you like!
  • Same with nuts. Not a fan of pecans? Feel free to use almonds or walnuts!
  • We use bourbon, but whiskey or rum can be used in it's place!
Expert Tips:
  • Make sure you gather all your ingredients before you start mixing! Trust me, this will make things much easier.
  • Using a food processor to chop the pecans will be faster and easier than doing it by hand.
  • Once the molasses and baking powder are mixed, work quickly. It will continue to rise.
  • This cake will become more flavorful as it cools. It will also develop more flavor after a few days.
  • Adding 1 Tablespoon of bourbon every few days will keep this cake moist and delicious!

Nutrition

Serving: 1sliceCalories: 802kcalCarbohydrates: 91gProtein: 10gFat: 46gSaturated Fat: 14gPolyunsaturated Fat: 9gMonounsaturated Fat: 20gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 116mgSodium: 248mgPotassium: 706mgFiber: 7gSugar: 34gVitamin A: 655IUVitamin C: 3mgCalcium: 84mgIron: 4mg

Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.