The Ultimate Thanksgiving Piecaken Recipe for Holiday Magic
When creating this remarkable thanksgiving piecaken, magic happens between classic dessert layers that surprise and delight.
Bakers often dream about extraordinary culinary experiences beyond traditional expectations.
Pastry enthusiasts understand such a dramatic dessert requires careful technique and imagination.
Each slice tells an incredible story of innovative baking creativity.
Multiple flavors merge seamlessly through strategic assembly techniques.
Complex yet approachable, this dessert challenges conventional holiday treat boundaries.
The result promises a conversation-starting centerpiece you cannot resist trying.
Why Thanksgiving Piecaken Is a Showstopper
What’s Inside This Epic Piecaken
Main Ingredients:
Cake Base:Pie Filling:Frosting Components:Wet Ingredients:Finishing Touches:Assembly Tips for Piecaken Layer Success
Step 1: Whip Up the Cake Base
Crank the oven to a toasty 350°F. Grab two 9-inch cake pans and give them a generous butter and flour massage. In a big mixing bowl, blend these dry ingredients:In another bowl, dance the vegetable oil and sugar together until they’re best friends. Crack in the eggs one by one, then splash in some vanilla extract. Pour in the buttermilk and give it a gentle stir. Slowly invite the dry ingredients to join the wet party, mixing until they’re just barely acquainted.
Step 2: Create the Magical Pie Sandwich
Drizzle a thin cake batter blanket into one cake pan. Gently nestle your pre-baked pie right on top of this batter cushion. Cover the pie completely with remaining cake batter like a delicious disguise. In the second pan, pour the remaining cake batter for a classic layer. Slide both pans into the oven and bake for 35-40 minutes. The toothpick test will tell you when they’re perfectly done – it should come out clean as a whistle.
Step 3: Craft the Dreamy Frosting
Grab a large bowl and beat the softened butter until it’s cloud-like and creamy. Gradually shower in the powdered sugar. Add these flavor boosters:Whip everything together until it’s fluffy and irresistible.
Step 4: Build Your Stunning Piecaken Tower
Once the cakes have cooled completely, place the pie-filled layer as your foundation. Spread a luscious frosting layer on top. Crown it with the plain cake layer. Coat the entire creation with remaining frosting, smoothing it out like a professional baker.
Step 5: Slice and Celebrate
Cut into this epic dessert and watch jaws drop! Each slice reveals a mind-blowing surprise of pie and cake in one epic bite. Thanksgiving just got way more exciting!
Pro Moves to Avoid Sinking or Sliding
Here are the Helpful Tips for Thanksgiving Piecaken:How to Keep Piecaken Fresh Until Feast Time
Side Dishes That Work with Piecaken
Twists on the Traditional Piecaken Build
All Your Piecaken Questions, Answered
A Piecaken is a unique dessert where an entire pie is baked inside a cake layer, creating a delightful two-in-one dessert that combines the best of both worlds – pie and cake in a single slice.
While it looks complex, the Piecaken is actually quite manageable if you follow the steps carefully. The key is to layer the cake batter and pie methodically and ensure even coverage.
Absolutely! This recipe works wonderfully with various pies like apple, pumpkin, or pecan. Just make sure the pie is pre-baked and cooled before assembling the Piecaken.
Pre-baking ensures the pie is stable and won’t become soggy when baked inside the cake batter. It helps maintain the pie’s structure and prevents a wet, mushy texture in your final dessert.
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Thanksgiving Piecaken Recipe
- Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
- Yield: 12 1x
Description
Layered piecaken brings festive holiday magic to dessert tables with delightful surprises. Warm spices and rich textures combine into an impressive sweet centerpiece you’ll want to share with loved ones.
Ingredients
Cake Layers (Main Ingredients):
- 2 ½ cups (300 grams) all-purpose flour
- 2 cups (400 grams) granulated sugar
- 1 cup (240 milliliters / 8 fluid ounces) vegetable oil
- 1 cup (240 milliliters / 8 fluid ounces) buttermilk, at room temperature
- 4 large eggs, at room temperature
Spices and Leavening Agents:
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- ½ teaspoon ground ginger
- ½ teaspoon salt
Frosting and Additional Components:
- 1 ½ cups (340 grams) unsalted butter, softened
- 6 cups (720 grams) powdered sugar
- ¼ cup (60 milliliters / 2 fluid ounces) heavy cream
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1 pinch of salt
- 1 store-bought or homemade 9-inch pumpkin or pecan pie (fully baked and cooled)
Instructions
- Craft the cake foundation by whisking together dry ingredients in a spacious mixing vessel. Combine flour, leavening agents, aromatic spices, and seasoning until thoroughly blended.
- In a separate mixing bowl, vigorously cream together oil and granulated sweetener until smooth. Incorporate eggs individually, ensuring complete integration after each addition. Introduce vanilla essence and buttermilk, stirring until mixture achieves uniform consistency.
- Gently fold dry ingredients into liquid mixture, stirring minimally to prevent overworking the batter. Prepare baking receptacles by thoroughly coating with grease and flour to prevent potential sticking.
- Distribute a thin cake batter layer into one prepared pan. Delicately position pre-baked pie atop initial batter, ensuring complete coverage with remaining cake mixture. Fill second pan with additional batter for companion layer.
- Position both cake pans inside preheated oven calibrated to 350°F. Allow layers to transform and set for approximately 35-40 minutes, verifying doneness by inserting slender probe which should emerge clean.
- While cakes cool, prepare luxurious frosting by whipping softened butter until exceptionally creamy. Gradually introduce powdered sugar, heavy cream, vanilla, cinnamon, and subtle salt. Beat until achieving ethereal, cloud-like texture.
- Once cakes reach ambient temperature, strategically assemble layers. Position pie-embedded cake as foundation, applying generous frosting layer. Crown with complementary cake layer.
- Meticulously envelope entire creation with remaining frosting, utilizing spatula to create smooth, elegant exterior. Slice and present this remarkable dessert, revealing spectacular pie-cake fusion.
Notes
- Always use room temperature ingredients to ensure smooth cake batter and even mixing.
- Carefully grease and flour cake pans to prevent the pie and cake from sticking during baking.
- Let the cake layers cool completely before frosting to avoid melting and sliding.
- For a gluten-free version, substitute all-purpose flour with a gluten-free baking blend.
- Experiment with different pie flavors like apple, pecan, or pumpkin to create unique piecaken variations.
- Chill the frosted piecaken for 30 minutes before serving to set the frosting and make slicing easier.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Desserts, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 12
- Calories: 600
- Sugar: 58g
- Sodium: 300mg
- Fat: 32g
- Saturated Fat: 15g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 73g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 5g
- Cholesterol: 80mg
James Mitchell
Founder & Recipe Developer
Expertise
Recipe Creation and Testing, Fusion Cuisine, Food Styling and Photography, Culinary Education
Education
Kendall College, Chicago, IL
The Culinary Institute of America, Hyde Park, NY
James Mitchell is the founder and fearless flavor explorer at Cooking Crusade. With a degree in Culinary Arts from Kendall College and advanced training in global gastronomy from The Culinary Institute of America, James has spent over a decade perfecting the art of recipe creation.
His background includes fine dining, private cheffing, and food styling, but his true joy comes from turning big ideas into doable recipes for home cooks. Every dish he shares is a mix of creativity, culture, and a little kitchen magic, built to bring excitement back to everyday meals.