This Southern Sock It To Me Cake has a moist tender crumb, a ribbon of cinnamon pecan streusel in the center of the cake and is drizzled with vanilla glaze. This rich and buttery bundt cake recipe is perfect for breakfast with a nice cup of coffee, for brunch, served as dessert and even as a snack!

If you are interested in other easy southern recipes, check out this absolute best Shrimp and Grits recipe!

Slices of vanilla glazed bundt cake with streusel center

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Sock It To Me Cake from Scratch

Break out your bundt cake pan (or tube pan) and get ready to bake this easy and delicious cake. Sock it to me cake is a scrumptious Southern retro cake that is making a come back and I am definitely here for it!

This made from scratch cake is made with simple ingredients, comes together quickly and is very easy to make. Before you think about reaching for a box of dry cake mix and calling it a day (I do that sometimes), I think you need to try this easy cake recipe. I’m sure it will be a big hit and may become a family favorite.

This rich bundt cake reminds me a bit of coffee cake with its flavorful streusel running through the middle of the moist cake. The sweet cinnamon, brown sugar, and pecan filling adds texture and flavor while the pourable simple vanilla glaze adds sweetness and gives the cake a beautiful finish.

Slices of sock it to me cake served on white plates

Why You Will Love This Recipe?

Great Texture: This is a perfectly moist cake. The cake batter is made with sour cream which gives cakes their richness and moisture.

Flavor: Streusel, should I say more? Pecan halves, brown sugar and the warmth of ground cinnamon makes the most perfect streusel which runs through the middle of this fluffy butter cake. A great recipe that makes an irresistible cake.

Easy: A great cake and an easy recipe made with simple ingredients. A winning formula in my book!

Why Is This Cake Called Sock It To Me?

Sock It To Me was a popular phrase from “Laugh In”, a comedy sketch show popular in the seventies. For us who were not born or old enough to remember the 70’s, sock it to me means “give it to me”.

What Is Sock It To Me Cake Made Of?

This southern favorite cake is a tender and moist yellow butter cake with a pecan streusel filling drizzled with a sweet glaze. I have heard that the original recipe was printed on the back of the Duncan Hines golden yellow cake mix box although I cannot confirm that.

Sock-It-To-Me Cake Ingredients

These are the ingredients to make the bundt cake, the nutty streusel and the sweet vanilla glaze.

Flour: I use all-purpose flour
Butter: I prefer using unsalted butter for baking.
Eggs: I use large eggs.
Sugar: You will need granulated sugar for the cake, brown sugar for the streusel and confectioners’ sugar for the glaze.
Sour Cream: Just like in sour cream pound cake, sour cream adds richness and moisture to this recipe. I use full-fat regular sour cream.
Salt and Baking Soda: Salt balances the sweet flavor and baking soda helps the cake rise when baked.
Vanilla Extract: Use good quality vanilla extract or vanilla paste.
Pecans: Roasted or toasted and chopped.
Cinnamon: Ground cinnamon.
Confectioners’ Sugar: Aka Powdered sugar, to make the glaze.
Milk: To make the glaze. I use whole milk.

Ingredients to make Southern Retro Butter Bundt Cake

How To Make A Sock It To Me Cake

Make the Streusel: In a small bowl, mix together the streusel ingredients.
Prepare: Preheat the oven and grease a bundt pan.
Sift: Sift together the flour, salt and baking soda in a medium bowl. Set aside.
Make the Cake Batter: In the bowl of a stand mixer with the paddle attachment or with an electric mixer, beat the butter until creamy. Add the sugar and beat until light and fluffy. Add the eggs one at a time beating after each addition. Add the dry ingredients and sour cream alternately to the batter. Add the vanilla and mix to combine.
Bake: Pour half of the batter into the bundt pan. Top with the brown sugar, cinnamon and pecan streusel. Pour the remaining batter over and bake.
Make Icing: Whisk together the powdered sugar, milk and vanilla until smooth. Add additional milk or sugar to get the right consistency.
Glazing the Cake: Spoon the glaze over the cooled cake.

brown sugar, butter and chopped pecans mixed in a small bowl

dry ingredients to make Sock it to me cake in a big bowl

butter, sugar and eggs mixed in a large bowl

cake batter with a gray spatula in a bowl

half of the cake batter in a cake pan with the pecan streusel on top

A spoon pouring vanilla glaze over bundt cake

Can You Make Sock It To Me Cake With A Boxed Cake Mix?

Yes! Although the recipe below is made from scratch, this cake can be made with golden butter or yellow cake mix.

How Many Boxes Of Cake Mix Are Needed

If you prefer to doctor up a boxed cake mix instead of making this cake recipe from scratch, you will need one box of cake mix combined with 4 large eggs, 1 cup of sour cream, 1/4 cup of water and 3 tablespoons of sugar. Bake the cake in a standard size bundt pan.

A serving of sock it to me cake showing the streusel filling on a white plate

What Size Of A Bundt Pan Do I Need?

To make this Sock It To Me Cake recipe, I use a regular 12-cup bundt pan. A 14-cup bundt pan can also be used.

Storage and Freezing

You can store the cake covered on the kitchen counter for 2 days or in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a week.

This bundt cake freezes well. Store it wrapped and in an airtight container in the freezer for 2 months. Thaw out and bring to room temperature before serving. I usually warm the cake for a few minutes in the microwave before serving.