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    Recipes » Cakes and Pies » Sock It To Me Cake

    Sock It To Me Cake

    Published: Nov 3, 2022 by Kate Shungu · This post may contain affiliate links

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    sock it to me cake slice on a wire rack.
    sock it to me cake slice on a white plate.
    sock it to me cake slice on a white plate with a whole cake in the background.

    Sock it to Me Cake, made with cake mix, is super moist, tender, and decadent. A ribbon of pecans and cinnamon adorns the center!

    slice of sock it to me cake on a small white plate, with a whole cake in the background.

    “Sock it to me” is an expression that often means “give it to me”, and that’s exactly what you’ll be saying when you make this cake!

    Sock it to Me Cake is an old fashioned cake that starts with a box of cake mix. The cake mix is doctored up with sour cream, eggs, and vanilla (plus more sugar!).

    It’s baked in a bundt pan, with a ribbon of sweet cinnamon pecans in the center. And it’s topped with a simple powdered sugar glaze.

    The addition of sour cream makes this cake super moist and tender. I personally love it with a steaming cup of coffee.

    Don’t have a bundt pan? You can make it in a 13×9 inch pan instead! See the recipe notes for specific instructions.

    This post contains affiliate links. Affiliate links support Gift of Hospitality at no additional cost to you. I receive a commission if you choose to make a purchase through these links.

    Jump to:
    • Origin of Sock it to Me Cake
    • Top tips
    • Ingredients
    • How to make Sock it to Me Cake with cake mix
    • Can I make Sock it to Me Cake ahead of time?
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • Freezing the cake
    • More old fashioned cakes
    • 📖 Recipe
    • Related recipes
    • 💬 Reviews
    bundt cake topped with a powdered sugar glaze on a wire rack.

    Origin of Sock it to Me Cake

    The original recipe for Sock it to Me Cake was printed on the back of Duncan Hines cake mix in the early 1970s.

    The name “sock it to me” comes from a popular expression at the time that meant “give it to me”. It was popularized by Aretha Franklin’s 1967 hit, “Respect”:

    “R-E-S-P-E-C-T
    Find out what it means to me
    R-E-S-P-E-C-T
    Take care, TCB, oh

    A little respect
    (Sock it to me, sock it to me, sock it to me, sock it to me)
    Whoa, babe”

    sock it to me bundt cake cut open on a wire rack.

    Top tips

    • You can make this in a bundt pan or a tube pan (angel food cake pan). Make sure to grease the pan well.
    • When sprinkling in the pecan mixture, take care to only sprinkle it in the center of the batter. If it gets on the outside and touches the pan, it can cause the cake to stick to the pan.
    • Only add enough milk to make the icing pourable. Too much milk will make the glaze thin and transparent.

    Ingredients

    ingredients for sock it to me cake on a white table.
    • Yellow cake mix is the base of this recipe
    • We’ll add sour cream, sugar, oil, and eggs to the cake mix.
    • A ribbon of brown sugar, cinnamon, and pecans adorns the middle of the cake.
    • The cake is topped with a mixture of powdered sugar and milk.

    How to make Sock it to Me Cake with cake mix

    Start by placing the cake mix, sugar, eggs, oil, and sour cream in the bowl of a stand mixer. You can also use a hand mixer.

    Mix on medium speed until it forms a smooth batter.

    cake batter in the metal bowl of a stand mixer.

    In a small bowl, combine the brown sugar, pecans, and cinnamon.

    pecans and brown sugar in a small white bowl.

    Pour HALF of the batter into a well-greased bundt pan. You can also use a tube pan.

    Top the batter with the pecan mixture. Take care to keep the pecan mixture in the center of the batter. If it touches the sides, it may cause the cake to stick to the pan.

    cake batter topped with a pecan and brown sugar mixture in a bundt pan.
    Don’t let it touch the sides if you can (mine wasn’t perfect!)

    Top with the remaining batter and bake for 45 minutes at 350°F.

    Let cool for 20 minutes in the pan, then run a knife along the edges, and invert the cake onto a cooling rack.

    When the cake is fully cool, whisk together the powdered sugar and milk. It should just be enough milk to make the icing pourable. If it has too much milk, the icing will be thin and transparent instead of thick and white.

    Drizzle the icing over the cake, and let it sit for one hour to harden.

    sock it to me bundt cake on a wire rack, topped with a white glaze dripping down the sides.

    Can I make Sock it to Me Cake ahead of time?

    Sock it to Me Cake can be made up to two days in advance of serving. Keep it covered in an airtight container until you’re ready to serve it.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Can I make Sock it to Me Cake in a 13×9 inch pan?

    You can make Sock it to Me Cake a 13×9 inch pan. Pour in half the batter, top with the pecan mixture, then top with the remaining batter. Bake at 350°F for 30–35 minutes.

    My icing is runny. How can I thicken it?

    Add more powdered sugar to thicken icing. Conversely, add more milk to thin the icing. You want the icing to be JUST barely pourable. Icing that is too thin will run right off the cake.

    Can I use walnuts instead of pecans?

    Yes, you can substitute an equal amount of walnuts for the pecans. You can also leave the nuts out altogether if you prefer.

    cake server lifting a piece of sock it to me cake off of a wire rack.

    Freezing the cake

    Sock it to Me Cake can be frozen for up to two months. Wrap it tightly in plastic wrap, then aluminum foil before freezing.

    Defrost at room temperature overnight.

    More old fashioned cakes

    • Homemade Hawaiian Cake
    • Old Fashioned Orange Cake
    • Easy Chocolate Mayonnaise Cake
    • Strawberry Crunch Cake
    • Jell-O Poke Cake
    • Coconut Poke Cake

    Have you tried this recipe? Please leave a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ rating and/or comment below!

    cup of ambrosia and slice of banana cake.

    📖 Recipe

    slice of sock it to me cake on a white plate in front of a whole cake with slices cut out.

    Sock it to Me Cake (with Cake Mix)

    Published by Kate
    Doctor up a box of cake mix to create this vintage Sock it to Me Cake recipe!
    5 from 4 votes
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    Prevent your screen from going dark
    Prep Time 15 mins
    Cook Time 45 mins
    Total Time 1 hr
    Course Dessert
    Cuisine American
    Servings 12 servings
    Calories 511 kcal

    Ingredients
      

    • 1 package yellow cake mix
    • ¾ cup sugar
    • ¾ cup oil
    • 1 teaspoon vanilla
    • 1 cup sour cream
    • 4 eggs
    • 1 cup chopped pecans
    • ¼ cup brown sugar
    • 2 teaspoons cinnamon
    • 1 cup powdered sugar
    • 1 tablespoons milk

    Instructions
     

    • Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease a bundt cake pan or a tube pan well with cooking spray.
    • Place the cake mix, sugar, oil, vanilla, sour cream, and eggs in the bowl of a stand mixer. Mix gently until combined.
    • In a small bowl, combine the remaining pecans, brown sugar, and cinnamon.
    • Pour half of the batter into the greased pan. Sprinkle the pecan mixture over the top, taking care to keep the mixture in the center of the batter (don't let it touch the sides). Pour the remaining batter over the pecans.
    • Bake for 45–50 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean.
    • Let the cake cool completely, inverting it onto a cooling rack after 20 minutes cooling in the pan.
    • Once cool, whisk together the powdered sugar and just enough milk to make a pourable consistency. Drizzle the icing over the cake, let harden, and serve.

    Notes

    Take care to sprinkle the pecan mixture in the center of the batter. If it touches the sides, it’s likely to stick to the pan when you invert the cake. 
    You can make the cake up to 2 days in advance. Cover it tightly and leave it at room temperature until you’re ready to serve it. 
    You can freeze the cake (either whole or in slices) for up to 2 months. Wrap it tightly in plastic wrap then aluminum foil before freezing. 
    Instructions for a 13×9 inch pan: Grease the pan, then pour in half the batter, top with the pecan mixture, and top with the remaining batter. Bake at 350°F for 30–35 minutes. 

    Nutrition

    Calories: 511kcalCarbohydrates: 65gProtein: 5gFat: 27gSaturated Fat: 5gPolyunsaturated Fat: 6gMonounsaturated Fat: 14gTrans Fat: 0.2gCholesterol: 66mgSodium: 343mgPotassium: 112mgFiber: 2gSugar: 47gVitamin A: 207IUVitamin C: 0.3mgCalcium: 134mgIron: 1mg
    Keyword sock it to me cake
    Tried this recipe?Follow me at @giftofhospitality and let me know how you liked it!

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    About Kate

    I’m a believer, wife, mom, and big fan of old cookbooks. I live in Chicago with my husband and two young sons. I love discovering old fashioned recipes that will transport you back in time! Read more...

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    Kate from Gift of HospitalityI’m Kate. I love discovering old fashioned recipes that will transport you back in time. Learn more here
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