Sock It To Me Cake is a delicious Southern butter cake with an amazing streusel filling. Our cake starts with a cake mix to make prep easy and results foolproof.
Sock It To Me Cake comes to you straight from the 1970’s, but it hasn’t lost a bit of its flavor! Ready for a blast from the past? This decadent cake combines the simplicity of a cake mix with a streusel filling for results that are “Totally far out, man!”
By adding sour cream and extra eggs, this cake is off the charts moist. The filling of pecans, cinnamon, and brown sugar gives it a southern vibe. A cross between a dessert and a coffee cake, this Sock It To Me Cake recipe is perfect any time of the day!
**Our Secret Tips**: Our recipe for this cake differs from the original in that it has a couple of small tweaks which, in my ever so humble opinion, makes the finished cake even more delicious! Our cake is just a tad sweeter than most versions. It’s in no way overly sweet though. That little bit of extra sweetness takes the flavor of this cake to a whole new level. It’s absolutely addicting. Betcha can’t eat just one slice! We also have a thicker tunnel of streusel filling running through the cake, which let me tell ya is Ah-mazing!
To make Sock It To Me Cake Walmart or any local grocery carries everything you need. No hard to find, fancy ingredients in this classic- and it’s easy on the wallet too! It pulls together in minutes, and everyone will think you spent hours making it from scratch. We won’t tell them if you don’t!
WHAT I LOVE MOST ABOUT THIS RECIPE:
- The texture of this cake is the “perfect butter cake” texture.
- It’s To-Die-For moist.
- It’s got the perfect amount of sweetness.
- OMG! That Streusel Filling!!
What Is Sock It To Me Cake?
It’s a super simple Southern butter cake with a tunnel of yummy streusel filling and a glaze on top. It crosses a coffee cake with a dense, moist pound cake. It’s a match made in heaven!
According to Southern Living Sock It To Me Cake is on the list of one of the most popular cakes of all time. Now that’s saying a lot!! With richness that feels distinctly Southern Sock It To Me Cake was incredibly popular all over the United States in the 1970’s. The added convenience of using a cake mix increased its popularity, and it was the go-to dessert of the era.
SAVE THIS SOCK IT TO ME CAKE
TO YOUR CAKE OR DESSERT BOARD FOR LATER
LET’S BE FRIENDS ON PINTEREST! WE’RE ALWAYS PINNING TASTY RECIPES!
How Do You Make Sock It To Me Cake?
Making this cake couldn’t be easier. Combine a butter cake mix with the wet ingredients and mix up the streusel filling on the side. Put in a bundt pan in layers. Bake and top with a drizzle of icing and chopped pecans.
Why Is It Called Sock It To Me Cake?
It’s history began in 1972 when this cake took the home baking world by storm. The comedy TV show Laugh-in had recently popularized the phrase ‘Sock it to me’ (which was originally used in the 1965 hit song RESPECT by Aretha Franklin). The cake was so good and wildly popular, it quickly became known as Sock It To Me Cake because when anyone was asked if they wanted a slice, the answer was always, “Sock it to me, baby!”
Sock It To Me Cake
Ingredients
- 1 Package Butter Cake Mix
- 1 Cup Sour Cream
- 1/3 Cup Vegetable Oil
- 1/4 Cup Water
- 4 Eggs
- 1/2 Cup White Sugar
- 2 Teaspoons Vanilla Extract
- 3 Teaspoon Ground Cinnamon
- 1/2 Cup Brown Sugar
- 1 1/2 Cup Pecans Chopped
Glaze:
- 1 Cup Confectioners' Sugar Sifted
- 2-4 Tablespoon Milk
- 2 Tablespoon Pecans Chopped
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Spray a 10 cup bundt pan with nonstick cooking spray.
- Remove 2 Tablespoons of cake mix to a small bowl and reserve set aside.
- In a large bowl beat together remaining cake mix, sour cream, oil, water, eggs, sugar, and vanilla, using a handheld electric mixer, for 2 minutes on high.
- Mix together 2 tablespoons of reserved cake mix, brown sugar, cinnamon, and pecans; set aside.
- Pour about 3/4 of batter into the prepared pan and then sprinkle cinnamon sugar mixture on the center of the batter. Spoon the remaining batter over the cinnamon sugar layer and spread evenly.
- Bake 45-55 minutes in preheated oven. Cool for 25 minutes before removing from pan. Cool completely on a wire baking rack.
Glaze
- In a medium bowl, whisk powdered sugar and 2 tablespoons of milk until smooth. If necessary, add more milk, very slowly so it doesn't get too thin, until desired consistency is achieved.
- Drizzle glaze over the cake. Sprinkle top with 2 Tablespoons chopped pecans and serve.
Nutrition
Recipe Notes For Sock It To Me Cake:
Bundt Pan: A bundt pan can create a stunning presentation with the carved impression of the pan on the cake. There are many kinds of bundt pans, and because of the detailing on the pans, cakes made in Bundt pans have a tendency to stick more often. When I make this cake, I use baking nonstick cooking spray along with my nonstick bundt pan. It pops out of the pan like a dream. Here’s a great article with more tips on how to avoid stuck-in-the-pan frustrations!
How to Make as a 9 X 13: If you don’t have a bundt pan, no worries! You can still make this delicious cake! Follow the instructions to make the batter and filling. Spread about ⅔ of the batter into the bottom of a well greased 9×13 pan. Spread the cinnamon sugar filling evenly over the batter and top with the remaining batter. Bake for 35-40 minutes. Cool and remove from pan. Drizzle the glaze over the cake- get creative with a crisscross pattern or something more abstract!
Can You Freeze Sock It To Me Cake?
Most definitely! Cake on the whole freezes really well, and Sock It To Me Cake is no exception. The key to freezing a cake is to wrap it well- including the hole in the middle! It should keep for several months with no loss of freshness. You can glaze it before or after freezing!
Can You Make Sock It To Me Cake From Scratch?
Indeed you can. Cook’s Country Sock-It-To-Me Cake is a good example. Honestly, though, we love the convenience and results with a cake mix. Going the long way around seems like a wasted effort in this case!
Though it hasn’t enjoyed the same amount of notoriety in recent decades, Sock It To Me Cake is a fantastically easy cake that is perfect for any occasion! It will transport you back to Mom’s kitchen with its Formica table and linoleum floor. This indulgent treat pairs perfectly with a cup of coffee. So put on a pot and serve yourself a slice of history!
More Yumminess:
Sock It To Me Cake marries pound cake and coffee cake with delectable results. If you’re still craving pound cake, try our Bourbon Pecan Pound Cake for a moist, buttery treat with a hint of nutmeg and bourbon- a fantastic combination. It is sure to satisfy your pound cake craving!
Another beautifully moist and dense cake is our Apple Cinnamon Bundt Cake (…stay tuned, we’ll post a link soon…). The classic combo of apple and cinnamon practically shouts fall but is a decadent treat any time of the year!
Sock It To Me Cake makes a wonderful dessert but can also be served as a morning coffee cake or a spectacular centerpiece at brunch or afternoon tea. If serving this as a breakfast coffee cake, consider these great accompaniments!
More Delicious Cake Recipes……
- Kentucky Butter Cake
- Red Velvet Bundt Cake
- Hummingbird Bundt Cake
- Fruit Cocktail Cake
- Bourbon Pecan Pound Cake
More Coffee Cakes…
**SENDING YOU SOME DOG LOVE–FROM MY PACK TO YOURS!**
Invented by Duncan Hines Sock It To Me Cake recipe was actually printed on the boxes for years.
Linda Poore says
May 10, 2019 at 7:07 pmI only have a 16.5 cake mix, how do i fix this?linda poore
Kathleen says
May 12, 2019 at 2:26 amHi, Linda. That will do. Usually, the packaged cake mix that I use weighs around 16-16.25oz. Maybe you can leave some behind or use it all. <3
Cassey says
April 8, 2019 at 1:05 amI grew up making this as a child because it was so good and easy for us kids to bake back in the 70’s. I have not made it or thought of it since. I am going to give it a try, but have a question. I do not remember ever reserving and using the 2tbs of cake mix for the cinnamon swirl. Is there a purpose for using the spoons of cake mix?
Lynoma Martin says
March 29, 2019 at 7:34 pmCan this be made in a tube pan?
Kathleen says
April 3, 2019 at 11:41 pmYes, Ma’am!
Emily says
March 10, 2019 at 5:17 amWhen measuring sour cream do you use a liquid or dry measuring cup?
Kathleen says
March 10, 2019 at 5:44 pmHi Emily. I use a dry 🙂
Carol says
February 25, 2019 at 2:13 amIt was very good and moist. We enjoyed the cake.
Kathleen says
March 2, 2019 at 9:48 pmThank you Carol! I’m so happy you enjoyed the cake <3
June says
January 21, 2019 at 2:16 amI am making this dock it to me cake right now will update u on the progress 🤩
Kathleen says
January 21, 2019 at 6:54 pmJune, I hope you enjoy!
Lucia says
December 15, 2018 at 2:48 amSo disappointed. It fell. I was so careful to make sure the ingredients were measured correctly.
Kathleen says
December 15, 2018 at 5:03 pmLucia, when a cake falls, it’s often a sign it wasn’t baked quite long enough. Sorry, that happened to you. You’re right, it’s so disappointing 🙁
Terri says
September 22, 2018 at 2:53 pmWhat is butter cake mix? I’ve never seen it.
Kathleen says
September 25, 2018 at 10:16 pmHi Terri! Its a flavor just like vanilla or chocolate. I believe its readily available <3
cheryl says
September 22, 2018 at 4:56 amThe first time I made this it was PERFECT! It was so easy that I thought I would make it to sale. The next 3 times I made it fell each time. I want to cry! I don’t know what happened! It seems the mix was too soupy the next 3 times but I used the meaurements exacty. Any suggestions?
Kathleen says
September 24, 2018 at 8:35 pmHi Cheryl! I’m sooo sorry to hear that. Honestly, I’m completely stumped. I’ve made this exact recipe for forever and a day and never had that experience. In fact, both my sisters make it all the time because it’s so simple and so yummy. I wish I could help, but I’m at a loss 🙁
Cheryl says
November 22, 2018 at 1:39 amHi. Is this written for a 15.25 oz box cake mix?
Kathleen says
December 9, 2018 at 12:02 amHi Cheryl. Yes, it is!
Juli Hartman Scheinthal says
August 26, 2018 at 9:12 pmThe recipe says to reserve 3 T of the cake mix and then later in the recipe it only calls for 2 T? Which one is correct
Kathleen says
August 27, 2018 at 9:33 pmHi Juli. Thanks for catching that typo. It’s 2. Recipe is corrected 🙂
Abby says
August 22, 2018 at 7:27 pmI have made this twice already and all my family loves it! We love to eat this with coffee and it’s just a perfect dessert!
Kathleen says
August 24, 2018 at 3:02 pmThanks Abby! I’m so glad your family enjoys this cake <3
Lindsey says
August 15, 2018 at 3:23 pmYum yum yummmm!
Karen Cambon says
August 12, 2018 at 12:25 pmOh this brings back memories. My grandmother made this at least once a week. She loved this cake and so did all of us. Thank you for the memories.💞
Kathleen says
August 12, 2018 at 5:37 pmI hope you make one for yourself soon! I love food memories. Thank you for sharing yours <3