Pecan-Cornmeal Butter Cakes

Pecan-Cornmeal Butter Cakes
Travis Dove for The New York Times
Total Time
One hour
Rating
4(12)
Comments
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Ingredients

Yield:8 to 12 small cakes
  • 9ounces unsalted butter, plus extra for pans
  • 1cup pecans, toasted and cooled
  • 2cups confectioners’ sugar
  • ¼cup granulated sugar, plus extra for berries (optional)
  • cup all-purpose flour
  • 2teaspoons baking powder
  • cup white cornmeal, plus extra for pans
  • ½teaspoon kosher salt
  • 8egg whites
  • 2teaspoons vanilla extract
  • Berries, for serving
  • Ice cream or whipped cream, for serving
Ingredient Substitution Guide
Nutritional analysis per serving (10 servings)

464 calories; 29 grams fat; 14 grams saturated fat; 0 grams trans fat; 10 grams monounsaturated fat; 3 grams polyunsaturated fat; 48 grams carbohydrates; 2 grams dietary fiber; 31 grams sugars; 5 grams protein; 212 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.

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Preparation

  1. Step 1

    In a small pan, simmer butter over low heat until light brown and toasty, 8 to 10 minutes. Strain and set aside.

  2. Step 2

    In a food processor, rapidly pulse pecans, confectioners’ sugar and ¼ cup granulated sugar until finely ground.

  3. Step 3

    Sift flour and baking powder together. Mix in cornmeal and salt. Mix in pecan-sugar mixture.

  4. Step 4

    Whisk egg whites and vanilla together just to combine and whisk into dry ingredients. Whisk in melted butter. Refrigerate batter at least three hours or overnight.

  5. Step 5

    Heat oven to 325 degrees. Thickly butter 10 four-inch tartlet pans or a muffin-top tin. Dust well with cornmeal. Fill each a little more than halfway. If you have extra batter, make a second batch.

  6. Step 6

    Bake until golden, 18 to 20 minutes. Cool 5 to 10 minutes in pans, then immediately turn out on a rack. Serve warm, topped with berries (if you like, stir with a little sugar and set aside for a few minutes), ice cream or whipped cream.

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Ratings

4 out of 5
12 user ratings
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Comments

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Made these cakes as per recipe and they were mouthwatering: light caramel flavor from the browned butter and moist. They still tasted good after 2 days in the fridge!! A keeper!

This was delicious cake So easy to make Baking was more then 20 min I baked it for 30 min in a big square muffin tins so they were 8 altogether It doesn’t need anything on top , it was delicious as they were , rich of course with all that butter , but worth making it

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Credits

Adapted from Watts Grocery, Durham, N.C.

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