Chocolate Praline Pecan Cake

8 Tbs butter, cut up
¼ C. heavy whipping cream
1 C. packed light brown sugar
¾ C. chopped pecans
1 package (18.25 oz.) devils food cake mix w/ pudding (if you can’t find one that has
pudding, it will still turn out fine, just not quite as heavy.)
1 C. water
½ C. veg. oil
3 large eggs

Whipped Cream topping:
1 C. heavy whipping cream
¼ C. powdered sugar
1 oz. semi sweet chocolate chopped up for garnish

Pre-heat oven to 325 F. Combine butter, cream, and brown sugar in small saucepan and cook over low heat, stirring until butter is melted (about 3 minutes). Pour the mixture evenly into two 9” round cake pans, then sprinkle with the chopped pecans. Set pans aside.
Combine cake mix, eggs, water, and oil in a large mixing bowl and blend until well combined. Divide the batter evenly between the two cake pans, pouring it over the pecan mixture. Smooth it out with a rubber spatula. Place the pans side by side in the oven on center rack. Bake for 35-37 minutes.

When cakes are done, cool them on wire racks for at least 10 minutes before removing them from the pans. To remove them run a dinner knife around the edge and invert each onto a rack to cool, praline side up.

While cakes are cooling, prepare the whipped cream topping. When cakes are completely cool, assemble them by placing one cake layer, praline side up on a serving platter and spread half the whipped topping on top. Place the second layer, praline side up, and top with remaining whipped topping and garnish with chopped chocolate pieces.

Another recipe from a friend...the same friend in fact. I did try this one and LOVED it. A couple of tips...I forgot to add the pecans at first, so the praline layer started to spread. I caught the mistake on the second one and it all worked out fine. I also doubled the whipped topping recipe and put it around the sides...it was for a child's birthday and I was trying to hide the nuts. It looked nicer with just the topping between layers...but it didn't hurt the taste one bit to have the extra on the sides. Also, I couldn't find the pudding in the mix cake mix, and it turned out fine with a devils food cake mix.