If you’re searching for an authentic Southern dessert that combines simplicity with incredible flavor, preacher cake recipes are exactly what you need. This beloved classic has graced church potlucks, family gatherings, and Sunday dinners across the South for generations. Named for its popularity among clergy members who would visit homes for meals, this delightful cake features a moist, tender crumb topped with a decadent coconut pecan frosting that’s absolutely irresistible.

What makes preacher cake truly special is its unique preparation method. Unlike traditional layer cakes that require elaborate assembly, this sheet cake comes together quickly and easily, making it perfect for busy home bakers. The magic happens when a rich, gooey coconut pecan topping is spread over the warm cake, allowing the flavors to meld together beautifully. The result is a dessert that tastes like it took hours to prepare but actually requires minimal effort and skill.

The history of preacher cake is deeply rooted in Southern hospitality traditions. When preachers would visit parishioners’ homes, hosts wanted to serve something impressive yet practical – a dessert that could be made quickly without fancy ingredients but still tasted extraordinary. This humble cake fit the bill perfectly, and its reputation spread from kitchen to kitchen, becoming a cherished recipe passed down through generations.

What Sets Preacher Cake Apart from Other Desserts

The distinctive characteristic of preacher cake is its incredibly moist texture combined with that signature coconut pecan topping. While the cake base is relatively simple – a basic yellow cake made with pantry staples – the real star is the frosting. Unlike buttercream or cream cheese frosting, the preacher cake topping is cooked briefly, creating a thick, gooey consistency that soaks into the warm cake while maintaining a delightful textured top layer.

The combination of shredded coconut and chopped pecans provides both flavor complexity and textural contrast. The coconut adds subtle sweetness and chewiness, while the pecans contribute a satisfying crunch and nutty depth. When combined with butter, sugar, and evaporated milk, these ingredients create a caramelized, almost praline-like topping that elevates the simple cake into something truly memorable.

Another advantage of preacher cake is its versatility for serving. Whether you’re hosting a large gathering or preparing dessert for your family, this sheet cake format makes portioning easy and eliminates the stress of slicing perfect layer cake pieces. It travels well to potlucks and picnics, maintains its moisture for several days, and actually tastes even better the day after baking as the flavors continue to develop.

Ingredients

Cookie Batter:

2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon cloves (optional)
1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
3/4 cup brown sugar, packed
1 large egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3/4 cup apple cider

Filling:

1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2-3 tablespoons cream or milk

Instructions

Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line your baking sheets with parchment paper to prevent sticking and ensure easy cleanup after baking.
In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves until all dry ingredients are evenly distributed throughout the mixture.
In another large bowl, cream the softened butter and packed brown sugar together using a hand mixer or stand mixer until the mixture becomes light, fluffy, and pale in color, which typically takes about three to four minutes of mixing.
Add the egg and vanilla extract to the butter mixture, beating well until completely incorporated and the mixture appears smooth and homogeneous throughout.
Gradually mix in the dry ingredient mixture, alternating with the apple cider, beginning and ending with the dry ingredients, mixing just until a soft, smooth batter forms without overmixing which could result in tough cookies.
Using a cookie scoop or spoon, drop rounded portions of batter onto the prepared baking sheets, spacing them approximately two inches apart to allow for spreading during baking, then flatten each portion slightly with the back of a spoon.
Bake in the preheated oven for twelve to fifteen minutes until the cookies are set around the edges and lightly golden on top, being careful not to overbake as this can result in dry cookies rather than soft ones.
Remove from the oven and allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheets for about five minutes before transferring them to wire racks to cool completely, which is essential before adding the filling.
While the cookies cool, prepare the filling by beating the softened butter with powdered sugar and vanilla extract using a mixer until smooth, then gradually add cream or milk one tablespoon at a time until reaching your desired filling consistency.
Once the cookies are completely cool, match them in similar sizes and spread a generous amount of filling on the flat side of one cookie, then sandwich it with another cookie, pressing gently to distribute the filling to the edges.
Repeat the filling and sandwiching process with all remaining cookies, then serve immediately for the softest texture or store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to three days.

Preacher Cake

Classic Southern sheet cake with moist layers topped with gooey coconut pecan frosting, perfect for potlucks and family gatherings.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 15

Cook Time 30

Total Time 45

Servings: 12 servings

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: American, Southern

Calories: 485

Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients

Cake

2 cups all-purpose flour
2 cups granulated sugar
1 tsp baking soda
0.5 tsp salt
1 cup unsalted butter
1 cup water
2 large eggs
0.5 cup buttermilk
1 tsp vanilla extract

Coconut Pecan Topping

0.5 cup unsalted butter
1 cup evaporated milk
1 cup granulated sugar
3 egg yolks
1 tsp vanilla extract
1.5 cups shredded coconut
1.5 cups chopped pecans

Equipment

9×13-inch baking pan
Mixing bowls
Hand mixer or stand mixer
Medium saucepan
Wire rack

Method

Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour a 9×13 inch baking pan.
In a large bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, baking soda, and salt.
In a saucepan, bring butter and water to a boil. Pour over dry ingredients and mix well.
Beat in eggs, buttermilk, and vanilla extract until smooth batter forms.
Pour batter into prepared pan and bake 25-30 minutes until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.
While cake bakes, prepare topping: combine butter, evaporated milk, sugar, and egg yolks in saucepan.
Cook topping over medium heat, stirring constantly, until thickened (about 10-12 minutes).
Remove from heat and stir in vanilla, coconut, and pecans.
Spread topping evenly over warm cake immediately after removing from oven.
Allow cake to cool completely before cutting into squares and serving.

Notes

For best results, spread topping on warm cake to allow flavors to meld. Cake can be stored covered at room temperature for 3 days or refrigerated for up to 1 week. The coconut pecan topping should have a thick, gooey consistency.

Perfect Baking Tips for Flawless Preacher Cake Every Time

Achieving the perfect preacher cake requires attention to a few key details. First, always use room temperature ingredients, especially the butter and eggs. Cold ingredients don’t incorporate as smoothly, potentially resulting in a dense cake texture rather than the light, fluffy crumb you’re aiming for. Take your butter and eggs out of the refrigerator about thirty minutes before you begin mixing.

When preparing the coconut pecan topping, patience is crucial. The mixture needs to cook just long enough to thicken and develop that characteristic gooey consistency, but overcooking can cause it to become grainy or separated. Stir constantly while cooking, and watch for the mixture to coat the back of your spoon – that’s your signal that it’s reached the perfect consistency for spreading.

Don’t skip the step of spreading the topping on the warm cake. This is essential for achieving that signature texture where the topping partially soaks into the cake while maintaining its distinct layer. If you wait until the cake is completely cool, the topping will simply sit on top without that beautiful integration of flavors and textures that makes preacher cake so special.

Storage and Serving Suggestions

Preacher cake stores beautifully, making it an ideal make-ahead dessert. Once completely cooled, cover the cake tightly with plastic wrap or aluminum foil and store at room temperature for up to three days. The cake actually improves after sitting for a day as the flavors meld and the topping continues to work its magic on the cake layers below.

For longer storage, you can refrigerate preacher cake for up to one week. The cold temperature will firm up the topping slightly, so if you prefer that gooey texture, let slices sit at room temperature for about fifteen minutes before serving. Some people actually prefer the chilled version, finding that the cooler temperature makes the coconut and pecan flavors more pronounced.

When serving preacher cake at gatherings, consider cutting it into smaller squares than you might with other sheet cakes. The rich, sweet topping makes this dessert quite satisfying, so smaller portions are often appreciated. A dollop of whipped cream or a scoop of vanilla ice cream makes an excellent accompaniment, adding a cool, creamy contrast to the sweet, nutty cake.

Creative Variations to Try

While traditional preacher cake is absolutely delicious as-is, there are several variations you can explore. Some bakers add a tablespoon of rum or bourbon to the topping for an adult version with deeper flavor complexity. Others incorporate chocolate chips into the cake batter, creating a chocolate coconut pecan combination that’s equally irresistible.

For a tropical twist, try adding crushed pineapple to the cake batter and replacing half the pecans with macadamia nuts in the topping. This variation brings bright, fruity notes that complement the coconut beautifully. You can also experiment with different nuts – walnuts or almonds work wonderfully if pecans aren’t your favorite.

If you’re looking to reduce sugar slightly, you can decrease the amount in the topping by about a quarter cup without significantly affecting the texture or flavor. The coconut and pecans provide plenty of sweetness on their own, and the reduction allows the nutty flavors to shine through even more prominently.

Why Preacher Cake Remains a Timeless Classic

The enduring popularity of preacher cake speaks to its perfect balance of simplicity and indulgence. In our modern world of complex recipes and exotic ingredients, there’s something deeply satisfying about a dessert that relies on basic pantry staples yet delivers extraordinary results. This cake doesn’t require special equipment, advanced techniques, or hard-to-find ingredients – just good quality basics and a little time.

Preacher cake also represents the best of Southern baking traditions: generous hospitality, practical preparation methods, and flavors that bring people together. Whether you’re serving it at a church supper, bringing it to a potluck, or simply enjoying it with your family after dinner, this cake carries with it a sense of warmth and community that transcends its ingredients.

The beauty of preacher cake lies in its accessibility. Novice bakers can achieve impressive results, while experienced bakers appreciate its reliable consistency and crowd-pleasing appeal. It’s a cake that makes everyone feel like an accomplished baker, and that sense of success is part of what keeps people returning to this recipe generation after generation.

Conclusion: Your New Go-To Southern Dessert

Preacher cake recipes deserve a permanent place in your baking repertoire. This classic Southern dessert offers everything you could want: easy preparation, incredible flavor, impressive presentation, and that nostalgic quality that makes people feel at home. Whether you’re new to baking or have years of experience, preacher cake will quickly become one of your most requested recipes.

The next time you need to bring dessert to a gathering or want to treat your family to something special, remember this humble yet extraordinary cake. With its moist layers and irresistible coconut pecan topping, preacher cake proves that the best recipes are often the simplest ones. Give this Southern classic a try, and you’ll understand why it has remained a beloved favorite for so many years. Your kitchen will smell amazing, your guests will be impressed, and you’ll have discovered a new signature dessert that’s sure to become a cherished tradition in your own home.

The Ultimate Guide to Preacher Cake Recipes: A Southern Classic Dessert