This Chocolate Pecan Piecaken is absolutely, insanely rich and decadent! A chocolate cake with a whole pecan pie baked inside and coated in chocolate ganache!
So I’m here to one-up your Thanksgiving with this crazzzzyyyy piecaken!
While your friends’ Thanksgiving tables will have plain ol’ pumpkin, you will be the rockstar bringing this PIECAKEN!
What, in the world, is a piecaken, you may ask? Well, young grasshopper – listen in. It’s a cake with an entire pie baked inside of it. It’s definitely rich, stupidly decadent, but SO good. And why not splurge on a crazy good dessert on Thanksgiving, or a random Monday?
If you’re looking to elevate your pie game this Thanksgiving, this piecaken is IT.
It couldn’t be easier to make, too! First, prepare your cake batter – get a box of chocolate cake mix (I used Chocolate Fudge cake mix) and prepare it according to the box instructions with oil, eggs and water. Simple! Pour half of it into a greased 9″ springform pan – this is KEY and a must for a piecaken since it makes it so easy to remove after it has baked. Drop a whole baked pecan pie – crust and all! – into the cake battered pan and pour the remaining cake batter on top. Bake it up, let it cool, remove the pan and “ice” it with chocolate ganache. A simple crown of pecan halves completes this gorgeous and admittedly unassuming cake… but when you cut into it, there’s a MAJOR wow-factor when people see there’s a whole pie inside!
The cake itself is moist and fudgy, but then add in that buttery, gooey and nutty pecan pie filling and the creamy, rich ganache frosting and whoa boy, you have a seriously insane dessert!
Chocolate Pecan Piecaken is here to make an entrance this Thanksgiving at your get-together!
*inspired by Tornadough Alli’s recipe
Chocolate Pecan Piecaken
Ingredients
- One 15.25 ounce box chocolate cake mix, plus ingredients on back of box to prepare a cake
- One 8" or 9" prepared whole pecan pie
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
- Pecan halves for garnishing cake
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350° degrees F. Liberally grease a 9" or 10" springform pan with cooking spray. For easier removal, I also like adding a round of parchment paper to the bottom of the cake pan.
- Prepare the cake batter according to box instructions. Pour half of the batter into the prepared pan. Remove any packaging from the pie and place it upside down into the cake batter in the pan. Pour the remaining cake batter over the pie.
- Bake for 60-70 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean or with moist, but not wet, crumbs. I recommend checking at the 30 minute mark to see if it is browning too quickly; if so, tent loosely with foil. Cool the cake in the pan completely.
- To make the ganache: heat up the heavy cream until warm to the touch in a small microwaveable bowl, about 40 seconds in the microwave. Pour the chocolate chips to the hot cream and let set for 5 minutes. Stir until smooth and glossy, then pour the ganache over the cake. Garnish with pecan halves.
Gooey pecan pie filling, moist and rich chocolate cake, decadent chocolate ganache… this piecaken has it all!
Have a super sweet day!
xo, Hayley
Jo-EL says
This recipe is insanely gorgeous..o.mg
Edward Kowalski says
Why must the pie be upside down within the cake? Please don’t say you can bake it right side up if you want to because all similar recipes show the pie upside down so there must be a reason.
thedomesticrebel says
Hi Edward, it is because the pie will be fully covered if placed upside down, since the pie top (placed on the bottom) will be flush and the remaining batter can cover the sides of the pie.
Carolyn says
I would find this incredible but being diabetic I can’t have. Looking at this recipe I can see where it can be made low carb, or at least relatively so. Yummy and something I must try. Thank you for the recipe.
Donna says
I made this Piecaken today for my husband’s birthay! It was delicious! Only thing I would change, is to only make a half batch of the ganache, there was way to much!
Barb Callander says
I personally do not want to make ganache, as I have a recipe that is cheaper by far and as good as choc candy.
1/2 cup sugar
1 1/2 Tbs. corn starch
dash salt
1/4 cup chocolate chips dissolved in 1/2 cup boiling water
1 1/2 Tbs. butter
1/2 tsp. vanilla
Cook until thick, then add butter and vanilla. cool slightly.
Marilyn says
The pie is upside down because if you do it that way the pie stays whole and you just take the pie tin off. This way the pie doesn’t break apart while putting it in. So easy to make and wonderful, plus people are amazed at your skills ?
Kathy says
Who you use a fully cooked pecan pie?
Donna Kennedy says
Please answer the question about would you use a complete pecan pie
thedomesticrebel says
Hi Donna, yes, you use an entire pecan pie.
Frank Knight says
The recipe and pictures clearly show the whole pie.