This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.

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
Save this recipe!
Get this sent to your inbox, plus get new recipes from us every week!

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.

Like this? Leave a comment below!

Leave a comment & rating below, or tag @kitchenfunwithmy3sons on social media!

We love for you to share our ideas, but require a link back to us for credit. Any of our creations or ideas that are shared without permission are a violation of copyright. On occasion I create posts for sponsors and often use affiliate links. I’ll let you know when that is the case and appreciate your support.

Jill

About Jill Mills

You may also like:

5 from 44 votes (23 ratings without comment)

Leave a comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating:




42 Comments

  1. Linda Walker says:

    5 stars
    This cake is delicious and better than a pineapple upside down cake. My whole family loves it.

    1. Jill says:

      So glad the family loves it Linda! Thanks!

  2. Lori Jo Curley says:

    5 stars
    I realized after putting the cake in the oven that I didn’t have any evaporated milk so I used coconut milk. OMG how great it tastes.

    1. Jill says:

      Yay! Thanks Lori Jo!

  3. Shay says:

    My work use to make this all the time but then they changed their menu! Going to make this! I wonder if you can make these into cupcakes? Or would they fall apart too much?

    1. Jill says:

      Hi Shay. I’ve never tried these as cupcakes but it could work. They could be slightly more crumbly but may firm up in cupcake liners.

  4. Shellie says:

    5 stars
    Love making this cake for a my coworkers.

    1. Jill says:

      Thanks Shellie!

  5. Julie says:

    5 stars
    I made this cake and my in-laws put in for me to make it again for Easter. Going to be my new favorite!

    1. Jill says:

      Thank you Julie!

  6. Amanda says:

    5 stars
    So good and EASY. My go to cake for spontaneous gatherings.

    1. Jill says:

      Thanks Amanda!

  7. Vikki says:

    Delicious,easy. I used self rising flour and left out other ingredients. Making now for second time.

  8. Ronda Pack says:

    5 stars
    This is a delicious moist cake that doesn’t take hours to make.

  9. Darlene says:

    5 stars
    Carrot cake was my favorite, until this cake. It’s simply delicious.

  10. Kim says:

    5 stars
    Hubby loves this cake minus the pecans, I cut pecans to 1/2 cup and put on half the cake.