Sock It To Me Cake is a traditional southern butter cake with a ring of cinnamon pecan streusel that runs through the center. This delectable treat is quick to come together and easy utilizing a butter cake mix yet tastes as good as any made from scratch cake.
Every now and then we need a little something for our sweet tooth around here. This Sock It To Me Cake is one of our favorites and it comes together quite quickly. You can have the whole thing mixed and in the oven in about 20 minutes. It stays moist for days and is one of those cakes that tastes better the second day.
How do you make Sock It To Me Cake?
First in a small bowl mix together cinnamon, brown sugar, pecans and a little bit of the dried cake mix. Go ahead and set that aside while you mix the rest of the cake. In a large mixing bowl add the rest of the cake mix, oil, sour cream, water, eggs and vanilla. Beat on medium speed until just combined scraping the bottom and sides of the bowl.
Next grease and flour a twelve cup bundt pan. Now pour in about 2/3’s of the mixed cake batter into the pan. Spoon the streusel into the center using a small spoon working all the way around the cake. Gently pour the rest of the batter over the top.
Bake the cake in a preheated oven for about 45 minutes or until set. Let cool for about 20 minutes before carefully inverting on to serving platter. Finally whisk together milk and powdered sugar. Drizzle over the fully cooled cake.
Why is it called a “Sock It To Me Cake”?
I am sure that many of you remember the show Rowen and Martin’s Laugh-In with the sock it to me skit. It was a very popular comedy show that aired from 1968 – 1973. This cake also became trendy during the same period. The resounding affectionate answer when anyone was asked whether they would like a piece of this cake was “Sock It To Me.” The cake quickly became named after that popular phrase.
Helpful tips for making Sock It To Me Cake
- Grease and flour your pan well. I use Bakers Joy which is a nonstick spray with flour and it works very well for me.
- If you do not have a bundt pan you can also bake in a 9×13 pan sprinkling the streusel in 3 lines down the length of the pan.
- Chop your pecans fairly fine therefore making it easier to spread the cinnamon mixture in the center of the batter.
- We are huge cinnamon lovers here! However if you are not as much of a cinnamon fan you can swirl the cinnamon nut mixture or cut the cinnamon back some.
- We like a light glaze on the cake but if you prefer a heavier glaze than double the glaze ingredients.
Other cake recipes you will love!!
Sock It To Me Cake
Ingredients
Streusel Center
- 2 tablespoons cinnamon
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 1 1/2 cups chopped pecans
- 2 tablespoons butter cake mix
Cake Batter
- 1 18.25 ounce butter cake mix (less 2 tablespoons for streusel)
- 1/2 cup oil
- 1 cup sour cream
- 1/4 cup water
- 4 large eggs
- 2 teaspoons vanilla
Drizzle
- 1/2 cup powdered sugar please see notes
- 1 tablespoon milk
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour bundt pan.
- In a small bowl mix together cinnamon, brown sugar, pecans and 2 tablespoons dried cake mix.
- In a large mixing bowl add the remaining cake mix, oil, sour cream, water, eggs and vanilla. Beat on medium speed until combined scraping the bottom and sides of the bowl.
- Pour 2/3's of the batter into the pan. Spoon the streusel into the center using a small spoon working all the way around the cake. Gently pour the rest of the batter over the top.
- Bake for 45 minutes or until set. Cool in the pan for 20 minutes before inverting.
- Whisk together milk and powdered sugar. Drizzle over fully cooled cake.
Notes
- We prefer a light drizzle on this cake since it is already quite sweet. If you prefer a heavier drizzle double the powdered sugar and milk.
Andrea Metlika
Southern Butter cake is so good and you just upped it by adding this delicious streusel inside. Yummy!
Anjali
Haha I had actually never heard of a “sock it to me” cake until I came across this recipe but this turned out to be absolutely delicious!! Perfectly sweet and rich – it was a hit with all of my dinner guests this week!
Danielle
I just love how the inside of this cake looks. And that texture is just perfect – just the way I like it!
Emily
I never knew the origins of the “sock it to me ” name. Also this cake is so delicious- perfect to make again and again!
Roxana
This is so mouth watering. And so easy to make. I like that butter cake mix idea.
Paula Montenegro
I hadn’t heard about it, but it looks incredibly tempting! Give me a cake with a pecan filling and I’m in! I’m trying this recipe very soon.
Chris Collins
Now THIS is my kinda cake! Can’t wait to try out the recipe on the weekend, thanks so much for sharing!
Adrianne
Woot woot how good does this cake look! I haven’t heard of it but you have explained it well and I love the ideas behind it. The drizzle with only 2 ingredients is awesome!! So easy!!
Angela
I’ve never heard of this cake before – it looks delicious, such a tasty sounding recipe.
Beth Pierce
Thanks Angela! Enjoy!
Jane
Made this several times. Used Duncan Hines ‘butter batter cake mix.’ Made one for work , which led me into making more for family &other fellow workers. Great for breakfast . Laugh in, was one on my favorite shows then & watch reruns whenever possible now. As late arte johnson would say
“…very interesting!!” ” SOCK IT TO ME”
Beth Pierce
Thanks so much! I wish I had a piece of this for breakfast! So yummy! I loved Laugh in too!
Irina
I have never heard about such the cake. It sounds amazing! The recipe is a keeper!. Thanks.
pam greer
Oh my, I love this cake! I am old enough to remember when we first made it so many years ago! Thanks for posting this recipe, it’s sooo good!
Sophie
This cake looks so fluffy and decadent. Really yum! Thanks for sharing the recipe.
Emmeline
Looks absolutely delicious! I had never heard of this cake before so thanks for including the background of the name!
Heidy L. McCallum
This cake looks wonderful! I have to admit I kind of giggled about the name, “Sock it To Me Cake” I can’t wait to stop at the market so I can make this recipe!
Jennifer Quisenberry
I’ve always loved this cake. It’s so tasty and reminds me of one of my grandmother’s recipes. I’ve also been curious about it’s name. Thanks for solving that for me!