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This Granny Cake Recipe is the perfect sweet ending to any meal. Pineapple cake topped with pecans and brown sugar then baked until golden brown and soaked with a sweet milk and butter glaze–this cake is completely crave-worthy!

homemade Granny Cake Recipe.

Granny Cake Recipe

There are many ways to make a “granny cake,” but it is usually a pineapple cake with a crumbly pecan topping and a sweet glaze that soaks into the cake making it incredibly moist. This Granny Cake Recipe is really a poke cake because you do poke the cake after it’s baked and pour on the glaze. Give it time to rest and cook so the glaze soaks in completely.

For more delicious cake recipes, check out these: Lemon Burst Poke Cake | Easy Peach Dump Cake | Carrot Sheet Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting | Easy Red Velvet Cake | Best Chocolate Cake Recipe

The Ingredients

Here’s what you’ll need to make Granny Cake Recipe (the exact measurements and full recipe instructions are below in the easy to print recipe card):

  • Granulated sugar
  • All-purpose flour
  • Baking soda
  • Salt
  • Canned crushed pineapple – don’t drain the juice as it adds moisture to the cake.
  • Eggs
  • Brown sugar – either light or dark brown sugar is fine in this recipe.
  • Pecans – save time by buying pecans that are already chopped.
  • Evaporated milk – we used Carnation, but any brand you like will work well.
  • Butter – use regular salted butter.
  • Vanilla extract
ingredients to make the Granny Cake Recipe.

How to Make the Granny Cake Recipe

  • Preheat the oven to 350ºF degrees. Grease a 9×13-inch glass baking dish with non-stick cooking spray; set aside.
  • In a large mixing bowl, combine the granulated sugar, flour, baking soda, and salt. Add the eggs and crushed pineapples with juice; mix until well combined.
mixing together cake ingredients in a mint green bowl.
  • Pour the cake batter into the prepared baking dish.
cake batter in a basking dish.
  • Sprinkle the top of the batter with chopped pecans.
pecans sprinkled over the cake batter.
  • Next, sprinkle on the brown sugar.
brown sugar over the pecans.
  • Bake the cake for 40-45 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean and dry.
freshly baked cake.
  • While the cake is baking, mix the evaporated milk, granulated sugar, and butter in a medium saucepan and heat over medium heat. Bring the mixture to a boil, then remove from the heat and add vanilla; stir well and set aside.
  • When the cake is finished baking, poke the cake all over with a knife or the end of a wooden spoon to allow the glaze to soak in to the cake. Pour the hot glaze over the cake.
pouring hot glaze over Granny Cake.
  • Cool the cake completely to room temperature before serving. For best results, allow the cake to soak in the glaze for several hours, then slice and serve.
Granny cake on a white plate with a brown napkin and fork.

Tip: Serve the cake with a big dollop of fresh whipped cream or a scoop of vanilla bean ice cream.

How to Store Leftovers

Keep the leftover cake covered tightly. It can be stored at room temperature or on the counter for up to three days. The cake can also be frozen for up to three months.

scooping out a slice of Granny Cake.

More Recipes You Will Enjoy

5 from 44 votes

Homemade Granny Cake Recipe

This Granny Cake Recipe is the perfect sweet ending to any meal. Pineapple cake topped with pecans and brown sugar then baked until golden brown and soaked with a sweet milk and butter glaze–this cake is completely crave-worthy!
Prep: 10 minutes
Cook: 45 minutes
Servings: 12
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Ingredients 

Topping

Glaze

Instructions 

  • Preheat the oven to 350ºF degrees. Grease a 9×13-inch glass baking dish with non-stick cooking spray; set aside.
  • In a large mixing bowl, combine the granulated sugar, flour, baking soda, and salt.
  • Add the eggs and crushed pineapples with juice; mix until well combined.
  • Pour the cake batter into the prepared baking dish.
  • Sprinkle the top of the batter with chopped pecans and then brown sugar. Bake the cake for 40-45 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean and dry.
  • While the cake is baking, mix the evaporated milk, granulated sugar, and butter in a medium saucepan and heat over medium heat. Bring the mixture to a boil, then remove from the heat and add vanilla; stir well and set aside.
  • When the cake is finished baking, poke the cake all over with a knife or the end of a wooden spoon to allow the glaze to soak in to the cake.
  • Pour the hot glaze over the cake. Cool the cake completely to room temperature before serving. For best results, allow the cake to soak in the glaze for several hours, then slice and serve.

Nutrition

Calories: 438kcalCarbohydrates: 70gProtein: 5gFat: 16gSaturated Fat: 7gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 6gTrans Fat: 0.3gCholesterol: 54mgSodium: 287mgPotassium: 158mgFiber: 1gSugar: 54gVitamin A: 331IUVitamin C: 0.5mgCalcium: 86mgIron: 1mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

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Jill

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5 from 44 votes (23 ratings without comment)

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42 Comments

  1. Gail Fuller says:

    If using self rising flour omit salt and soda

  2. Crystal says:

    5 stars
    This is now my husband’s birthday cake. He’s requested it 3 years in a row, so I think it’s a keeper!

  3. linda says:

    5 stars
    So, so good! We’ll have it with coffee ☕️ in the morning.

  4. Georgia’s Jacobson says:

    Sounds so good

  5. Beverley says:

    Have made this yum cake this morning. So easy yet delicious a real go too for a special occasion, for family n friends. Thanks for easy directions to make.

  6. Marylou says:

    5 stars
    Looks Good.  I’ll give it a try!

  7. Sharon says:

    I am making this today i live in Peru we have family visiting from the North. Tomorrow we are having couy (guinea pig) and potatoes and corn and this cake with ice cream
    It will be a huge success Im sure

  8. Baas Lady says:

    5 stars
    Oh my goodness, so super easy and absolutely delicious!! This is a keeper for sure, thak you!

  9. Cari says:

    5 stars
    Love this! Thank you for good directions and a yummy recipe. Question – have you ever tried this with cake flour? I wonder if it would be a simple 1-1 sub? Thank you in advance!

  10. Sara says:

    5 stars
    I am so happy to see this recipe.  This is exactly like my Fruit Cocktail Cake from the 80’s, except that it had fruit cocktail instead of the pineapple.  I lost the recipe and have had a never-ending search for the wonderful recipe.  Thank you so much.

    1. Belinda says:

      Yes, it’s almost like fruit cocktail cake, which I have recipe. Very delicious