Vanilla Bean Cake with Praline Glaze

By Jahel

The praline glaze takes this vanilla bean cake recipe over the top! It’s absolutely perfect and made the cake taste extra amazing.

Ingredients

• 3 cups flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 3/4 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup plus 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
• 1 3/4 cups sugar
• 4 eggs, room temperature
• 2 vanilla beans, halved lengthwise and seeds scraped
• 1/4 teaspoon almond extract
• 1 cup buttermilk
• 1/2 cup light brown sugar, packed
• 3 tablespoons heavy cream
• 1 cup pecan halves
• 1 teaspoon vanilla

Preparation

Step 1

Place rack in center of oven. Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease and flour a 10 inch fluted tube pan.

In a bowl whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, and 1/2 teaspoon of the salt; set aside.

In a large bowl beat 1 cup butter and the sugar on medium speed for 3 to 5 minutes or until pale and fluffy, scraping bowl occasionally. Beat in eggs, one at a time, on a low-speed for one minute after each addition. Beat in vanilla seeds and almond extract. Add half the flour mixture; beat until combined. Slowly add buttermilk in a stream, beating on low the entire time. Beat in remaining flour mixture until combined, scraping sides and bottom of bowl. Spoon batter into prepared pan; smooth top.

Bake 50 to 60 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean. Transfer pan to a wire rack; let cake cool in pan 45 to 60 minutes. Remove cake from pan and cool completely.

For Pecan Praline Glaze: In a medium saucepan combine brown sugar, remaining 6 tablespoons butter, the cream and remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt, stirring over medium-low until melted and smooth, about 4 minutes. Increase heat to medium-high, bringing to boiling. Cook 2 to 3 minutes or until slightly thickened; remove from heat. Coarsely chop half of the pecan halves; stir all pecans and the vanilla into glaze. Let cool slightly until thick and spoonable. If glaze sets too much while cooling, re-heat over low heat and add a bit of cream. Spoon glaze over cake; let rest until set.