Description
Thanksgiving Piecaken is a delightful holiday dessert that layers three fully baked pies—apple, pumpkin, and pecan—each embedded within complementary cake batters and stacked with creamy frosting. This impressive and indulgent treat combines the best flavors of traditional pies with moist cake, perfect for festive gatherings.
Ingredients
Scale
Pies
- 1 (9-inch) apple pie (fully baked)
- 1 (9-inch) pumpkin pie (fully baked)
- 1 (9-inch) pecan pie (fully baked)
Cake Mixes and Batter Ingredients
- 1 box spice cake mix (plus ingredients listed on the box: usually eggs, oil, and water)
- 1 box vanilla or yellow cake mix (plus box ingredients)
- 1 box chocolate cake mix (plus box ingredients)
Frosting and Garnishes
- 3 cups cream cheese frosting (store-bought or homemade)
- 1 cup whipped cream (optional)
- Ground cinnamon or nutmeg for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat and Prepare Pans: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease three 10-inch springform pans and line the bottoms with parchment paper to prevent sticking.
- Prepare Cake Batters: In separate bowls, mix each cake mix according to the package instructions, ensuring all necessary ingredients like eggs, oil, and water are properly incorporated.
- Embed Apple Pie in Spice Cake: Pour about one-third of the spice cake batter into one springform pan. Gently place the fully baked apple pie into the batter, pressing slightly to embed it. Cover the pie with the remaining spice cake batter.
- Embed Pumpkin Pie in Vanilla Cake: Repeat the process with the pumpkin pie and the vanilla or yellow cake batter in the second prepared pan, embedding the pie within the batter.
- Embed Pecan Pie in Chocolate Cake: In the third pan, pour the chocolate cake batter, place the pecan pie into it, and cover with the remainder of the batter just like the others.
- Bake the Layers: Bake each assembled piecaken layer for 55 to 65 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the cake portion comes out clean, ensuring the cake is fully cooked while the pie remains intact.
- Cool and Level: Allow all layers to cool completely in the pans. Once cooled, remove the layers and level the tops if necessary for even stacking.
- Assemble the Piecaken: On a serving plate, start stacking the layers with cream cheese frosting in between. Begin with the pecan pie embedded in chocolate cake layer on the bottom, followed by the pumpkin pie layered in vanilla cake, and finish with the apple pie embedded in spice cake on top.
- Frost the Cake: Use the remaining cream cheese frosting to cover the entire outside of the stacked piecakens, smoothing it evenly over the sides and top.
- Chill and Garnish: Chill the assembled piecaken for at least one hour to set the frosting. Before serving, optionally garnish with whipped cream dollops and a sprinkle of ground cinnamon or nutmeg for added festive flair.
Notes
- Using store-bought, fully baked pies and boxed cake mixes significantly saves preparation time.
- Ensure pies are completely baked and fully cooled before embedding into cake batter to maintain texture and prevent sogginess.
- Chilling the assembled piecaken before slicing helps maintain clean layers and easy serving.
- You can prepare frosting from scratch or buy pre-made to save time.
