Sock-It-to-Me Cake 

Updated Oct. 12, 2023

Sock-It-to-Me Cake 
Linda Xiao for The New York Times. Food Stylist: Monica Pierini.
Total Time
2 hours
Prep Time
45 minutes
Cook Time
1 hour 15 minutes
Rating
4(626)
Comments
Read comments

This vintage cake recipe is part pound cake, part coffee cake, but, here, a crunchy brown sugar-pecan blend is inside the cake — rather than on top — for tidier eating and a better bite. Getting its name from a popular phrase in the 1960s, prominently featured in the song “Respect” by Aretha Franklin, this cake is made with abundance in mind. It’s inviting on its own, and perfect for coffee or brunch, or dessert. Make it for a group of people you love, or people you’re just getting to know. They’re going to ask you all about the recipe.

Featured in: 4 Recipes for a Memorable Juneteenth Celebration

  • or to save this recipe.

  • Subscriber benefit: give recipes to anyone
    As a subscriber, you have 10 gift recipes to give each month. Anyone can view them - even nonsubscribers. Learn more.
    Subscribe
  • Print Options


Advertisement


Ingredients

Yield:12 to 16 servings 

    For the Cake

    • 3cups/344 grams cake flour, plus more for coating the pan 
    • 1teaspoon baking powder
    • ½teaspoon baking soda
    • 1teaspoon fine sea salt 
    • 1cup/100 grams chopped pecans
    • ½cup/110 grams dark brown sugar 
    • 2teaspoons ground cinnamon 
    • cups/340 grams unsalted butter, at room temperature
    • cups/525 grams granulated sugar
    • 5large eggs, at room temperature
    • 1tablespoon vanilla extract
    • 1cup/250 milliliters sour cream, at room temperature
    • Nonstick cooking spray, for greasing the pan

    For the Glaze

    • 2cups/184 grams confectioners’ sugar, sifted 
    • 2teaspoons vanilla extract 
    • teaspoons milk, plus more as needed
Ingredient Substitution Guide
Nutritional analysis per serving (14 servings)

621 calories; 32 grams fat; 15 grams saturated fat; 0 grams trans fat; 11 grams monounsaturated fat; 3 grams polyunsaturated fat; 80 grams carbohydrates; 1 gram dietary fiber; 59 grams sugars; 6 grams protein; 276 milligrams sodium

Note: The information shown is Edamam’s estimate based on available ingredients and preparation. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.

Powered by
Cooking Newsletter illustration

Opt out or contact us anytime. See our Privacy Policy.

Opt out or contact us anytime. See our Privacy Policy.

Preparation

  1. Step 1

    Place a rack in the center of the oven and heat the oven to 350 degrees.

  2. Step 2

    Sift together the cake flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt into a medium bowl.

  3. Step 3

    In a small bowl, toss together the pecans, brown sugar and cinnamon.

  4. Step 4

    In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream the butter, about 5 minutes, scraping down the sides as needed. Add the granulated sugar and mix until light and fluffy, another 2 minutes, scraping down the sides. Add eggs, one at a time, waiting until each is fully mixed in before adding the next. Add the vanilla extract. Add the flour mixture in 3 batches, alternating with half the sour cream, starting and ending with the flour mixture.

  5. Step 5

    Generously spray a 12-cup Bundt cake pan with nonstick cooking spray and coat lightly with some cake flour, tapping out any excess over the sink.

  6. Step 6

    Scoop half of the cake batter into the prepared pan, smoothing it out, and spread the pecan mixture evenly over the top. Top with the remaining cake batter, spreading it in an even layer, and tap the pan on the counter to release air.

  7. Step 7

    Bake until a skewer inserted in the center of the cake comes out clean, 50 minutes to 1 hour.

  8. Step 8

    Remove the cake from the oven and let cool in the pan for 10 minutes. Run a butter knife along the edges of the cake to make sure it isn’t sticking to the pan. The cake should naturally start pulling away within a few minutes of being out of the oven. Unmold onto a rack set over a baking sheet, and let cool to room temperature.

  9. Step 9

    Make the glaze: To a medium bowl, add confectioners’ sugar, vanilla and milk, and stir until smooth. If the glaze is too thick, add more milk. You want it to be thin enough to coat the back of the spoon. Pour over the cooled cake and serve.

Ratings

4 out of 5
626 user ratings
Your rating

or to rate this recipe.

Have you cooked this?

or to mark this recipe as cooked.

Private Notes

Leave a Private Comment on this recipe and see it here.

Comments

A cake with all-purpose flour substituted for cake flour is more likely to have a slightly coarser crumb, while a cake made with cake flour will have a finer, more even crumb and enhanced tenderness.

Instead of cake flour, try using 2 ½ c AP flour and ½ c corn starch (flour). It reduces the relative amount of gluten in the cake, and lightens the batter for a good rise. Also, to assist with the cake release, microwave 1 T butter until melted. Mix in 1 T neutral oil (like canola) and 1 T flour. Apply to the pan with a pastry brush.

This is a dessert cake. It's supposed to be sweet. In addition to imparting flavor, sugar helps make a cake tender and "moist." The amount of sugar called for here is "necessary" only for this recipe, which one assumes has been tested and found to be worth publishing. But there are thousands of recipes for American-style butter cakes with different proportions of the basic ingredients -- flour, sugar, butter, and eggs. If you don't like this recipe, try another one.

She's sweet but sooo good! Forwent the glaze because we felt this cake really didn't need another 2 cups of sugar. Subbed cake flour with a homemade gluten free flour blend using white rice flour, tapioca flour, and xanthan gum.

I am in the process of moving and my Bundt pan has been packed. I baked this in a 9x13 Pyrex, sans glaze, for about 50 minutes and it worked great—excellent as a coffee cake or for afternoon tea. I added about a cup of unsweetened shredded coconut to the cinnamon swirl, because coconut, which was splendid. While the recipe needs no improvement, next time I may experiment with the spices (cardamom would be nice) or nuts (almonds, walnuts, or pistachios would all work great). A keeper.

Yummy coffee cake I remember from childhood. A delicious coffee cake for a lazy Sunday morning

Private comments are only visible to you.

Advertisement

or to save this recipe.