The King’s Sweet Legacy: Elvis Presley Cake Recipe

Southern dessert magic finds its groove with this Elvis Presley cake recipe that blends nostalgic flavors into one delectable treat.

Creamy peanut butter and sweet banana layers dance across your taste buds like smooth rock ‘n’ roll rhythms.

Each slice tells a story of culinary creativity and classic American comfort.

The dense, moist cake captures the essence of comfort and indulgence with its rich ingredients.

Bananas and peanut butter create a harmonious blend that pays homage to the king of rock’s favorite flavor combination.

Smooth cream cheese frosting adds the perfect finishing touch to this decadent dessert.

You’ll want to serve this showstopping cake at your next gathering and watch as everyone falls in love with its irresistible charm.

Elvis Presley Cake: Retro Dessert with a Sweet Twist

• Whip up this delightful Elvis Presley Cake using a simple box cake mix and basic pantry ingredients, making it a breeze for bakers of all skill levels.
• Experience a mouthwatering combination of sweet pineapple, creamy cream cheese frosting, and crunchy pecans that create a perfectly balanced dessert.
• Perfect for potlucks, family gatherings, and special celebrations, this cake guarantees smiles and empty plates with its irresistible taste and texture.
• Chill the cake before serving, allowing flavors to meld together and making it an ideal dessert for advance preparation and stress-free entertaining.

Ingredients for a Legendary Elvis Presley Cake

• Yellow Cake Mix: A convenient base that provides the foundational structure and flavor for the Elvis Presley Cake.
• Eggs: Add richness and help bind the cake ingredients together.
• Vegetable Oil: Ensures the cake remains moist and tender.
• Water: Helps create the right cake batter consistency.

• Crushed Pineapple, Sugar: Creates a sweet, tangy syrup that infuses the cake with tropical flavor and moisture.

• Cream Cheese, Salted Butter: Form the creamy, rich base of the frosting with a smooth and luxurious texture.
• Powdered Sugar: Provides sweetness and helps thicken the frosting to the perfect spreading consistency.
• Pecans: Add a delightful crunch and nutty flavor to complement the sweet cake and frosting.

Baking Tools for This Vintage Cake Recipe

• 9×13-inch baking pan: Essential for baking the cake to the right size and shape.
• Saucepan: Used to prepare the warm pineapple mixture over medium heat.
• Fork: Perfect for poking holes in the hot cake to allow pineapple mixture to seep in.
• Large mixing bowl: Needed for preparing the cream cheese frosting.
• Electric mixer or stand mixer: Crucial for beating cream cheese and butter until smooth and creating creamy frosting.
• Measuring cups: Help measure ingredients accurately, especially for sugar and powdered sugar.
• Spatula or spreading knife: Helpful for smoothing frosting evenly across the cake.
• Mixing spoon: Useful for stirring pecans into the frosting.

Baking the Perfect Elvis Presley Layer Cake

Step 1: Whip Up The Cake Base

Grab a yellow cake mix and follow the package instructions.

• Eggs
• Vegetable oil
• Water

Bake in a 9×13-inch pan until golden and perfect.

Step 2: Create Pineapple Magic

In a saucepan, combine crushed pineapple and sugar.

Heat over medium flame, stirring constantly until sugar dissolves completely.

Step 3: Transform The Cake

Remove hot cake from oven and immediately puncture the surface with a fork, creating lots of small holes.

Step 4: Drench In Tropical Goodness

Pour the warm pineapple mixture evenly over the cake, ensuring every inch gets soaked with delicious sweetness.

Step 5: Craft Creamy Frosting

• Softened cream cheese
• Softened butter

Beat until smooth and luxurious.

Step 6: Complete The Frosting

Gradually incorporate powdered sugar, mixing until ultra-creamy.

Fold in chopped pecans for a delightful crunch.

Step 7: Finish With Flair

Spread frosting generously across the cake, creating a beautiful, even layer.

Step 8: Chill And Serve

Refrigerate for two hours to let flavors meld and texture set.

Slice and enjoy this Southern classic!

Elvis Cake Tips for a Super Moist Crumb

• Generously grease and flour your baking pan to ensure the cake releases easily without breaking.
• Drain excess liquid from crushed pineapple to prevent a soggy cake bottom and maintain perfect texture.
• Let cream cheese and butter sit at room temperature for 30-45 minutes to achieve smooth, lump-free frosting.
• Quickly toast chopped pecans in a dry skillet for 2-3 minutes to enhance their nutty richness and crunch.
• Use a warm, clean knife and wipe between cuts to create neat, precise slices that showcase the cake's beautiful layers.

Fun Cake Variations Inspired by Elvis

• Gluten-Free Version: Replace yellow cake mix with a gluten-free cake mix, ensuring all ingredients are certified gluten-free for individuals with celiac disease or gluten sensitivity.
• Vegan Adaptation: Substitute eggs with flax eggs, use vegan butter, dairy-free cream cheese, and coconut whipped cream. Select plant-based cake mix or make cake from scratch using alternative ingredients.
• Tropical Banana Spin: Replace pineapple with mashed ripe bananas in the filling. Add banana extract to cake mix for enhanced banana flavor, creating a tropical-inspired dessert with similar moisture and sweetness.
• Nut-Free Option: Omit pecans completely or replace with toasted coconut flakes for added texture and crunch. Use sunflower seeds or pumpkin seeds as alternative toppings for those with nut allergies.

Serving Up Elvis Presley Cake with Style

• Sweet Southern Brunch Pairing: Serve alongside crispy bacon strips and fresh scrambled eggs for a decadent breakfast experience that celebrates classic southern comfort flavors.
• Tropical Dessert Bar: Create a fun dessert station with additional chopped pecans, pineapple chunks, and whipped cream for guests to customize their cake slices.
• Coffee Companion Delight: Pair this rich cake with a strong hot coffee or cold brew to balance the sweetness and enhance the creamy cream cheese frosting's flavor profile.
• Afternoon Tea Treat: Present elegant cake slices on vintage china plates with a sprinkle of powdered sugar and a fresh mint leaf for a sophisticated presentation that feels like a southern tea party.

How to Keep Your Elvis Cake Moist

• Store the Elvis Presley Cake in an airtight container or cover tightly with plastic wrap. Keep in the refrigerator for up to 5 days to maintain freshness and prevent spoilage.
• Wrap the entire cake securely in plastic wrap, then cover with aluminum foil. Freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before serving.
• Cut individual cake slices, wrap each separately in plastic wrap, then place in a freezer-safe container. Freeze for up to 2 months. Thaw individual slices at room temperature for 30 minutes.

FAQs

• Why is it called Elvis Presley Cake?

The cake gets its name from being a favorite dessert of Elvis Presley, known for combining sweet and rich flavors he loved, like pineapple and cream cheese.

• Can I use fresh pineapple instead of canned?

Stick with canned crushed pineapple in juice for best results. Fresh pineapple might make the cake too watery and change the texture.

• Do I need to use salted or unsalted butter?

Use salted butter as the recipe specifies. The salt helps balance the sweetness of the cake and enhances overall flavor profile.

• What if I don't have an electric mixer?

You can mix the frosting by hand with a whisk, but it will take more effort to get a smooth, creamy consistency compared to using an electric mixer.

Elvis Presley Cake Recipe

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• Total Time: 50 minutes
• Yield: 12 1x

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Description

Southern comfort meets nostalgic Elvis Presley cake, blending bananas, peanut butter, and creamy frosting into a delightful dessert. Fans of classic American sweets will savor each rich, indulgent bite of this legendary King-inspired treat.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Main Ingredients:

• 1 box yellow cake mix
• 20 ounces (567 grams) crushed pineapple in juice
• 1 cup (200 grams) sugar

Cake Preparation Ingredients:

• 3 eggs
• 1/2 cup (120 milliliters) oil
• 1/2 cup (120 milliliters) water

Frosting and Topping Ingredients:

• 8 ounces (227 grams) cream cheese, softened to room temperature
• 1/2 cup (113 grams) salted butter (1 stick), softened to room temperature
• 3 cups (360 grams) powdered sugar
• 1/2 cup (57 grams) chopped pecans (optional)

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Instructions

1. Prepare the yellow cake mix according to package instructions for a 9×13-inch pan, ensuring proper mixing of eggs, oil, and water.
2. Combine crushed pineapple and sugar in a saucepan, heating over medium temperature until the mixture reaches a gentle boil, stirring consistently for 2-3 minutes.
3. Remove pineapple mixture from heat and let it rest momentarily while the cake completes baking.
4. Immediately after removing the cake from the oven, use a fork to create multiple punctures across the entire surface while the cake remains piping hot.
5. Gently distribute the warm pineapple mixture over the cake, ensuring comprehensive and even coverage through the created holes.
6. Allow the cake to cool completely at room temperature, giving the pineapple liquid time to absorb into the cake’s interior.
7. Blend softened cream cheese and butter using an electric mixer until achieving a smooth, uniform consistency, approximately 2 minutes.
8. Gradually incorporate powdered sugar into the cream cheese mixture, mixing thoroughly and scraping down mixer sides to create a creamy frosting.
9. Fold chopped pecans into the prepared frosting, distributing them evenly throughout the mixture.
10. Carefully apply frosting across the cake’s surface, using dollops and smoothing to create an even layer.
11. Refrigerate the cake for 2 hours to allow flavors to meld and frosting to set, ensuring optimal taste and texture before serving.

Notes

• Use room temperature ingredients to ensure smooth mixing and consistent texture when preparing the cake batter.
• Toast pecans lightly before adding to frosting to enhance their nutty flavor and provide a deeper, richer taste profile.
• Replace regular sugar with coconut sugar for a lower glycemic index option that maintains the cake’s sweet character.
• Swap cream cheese frosting with dairy-free alternatives like cashew cream for vegan or lactose-intolerant dietary needs, which will still provide a creamy topping.

• Prep Time: 20 minutes
• Cook Time: 30 minutes
• Category: Desserts, Snacks
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 12
• Calories: 350
• Sugar: 30 g
• Sodium: 300 mg
• Fat: 20 g
• Saturated Fat: 10 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 40 g
• Fiber: 1 g
• Protein: 3 g
• Cholesterol: 50 mg