Sweetwater Ranch Spice Cake Recipe

Indulge in the irresistible Sweetwater Ranch Spice Cake! This Texas-inspired treat features a moist, spiced cake topped with a dreamy brown sugar meringue frosting and crunchy Texas pecans. The perfect blend of warm spices and sweet pecans makes this cake a true Southern delight.

Prep Time 20 mins

Cook Time 60 mins

Calories 367.8 kcal

Protein 10g

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The Forktionary Kitchen Team

Adapted from Food.com, then tested & standardized by Forktionary.

Ingredients for Sweetwater Ranch Spice Cake

All Purpose Flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
½ teaspoon ground salt
¼ teaspoon ground allspice
¼ teaspoon ground ginger
¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter
2 tablespoons brown sugar (for meringue)
2 large egg yolks
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 cup buttermilk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
½ cup chopped Texas pecans
2 large egg whites

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How to Make Sweetwater Ranch Spice Cake

Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour a 13x9 inch baking pan.
In a medium bowl, whisk together 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour, 2 teaspoons baking powder, 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon, ½ teaspoon ground salt, ¼ teaspoon ground allspice, ¼ teaspoon ground ginger, and ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg. Set aside.
In a large bowl, cream together 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter and 1 ½ cups packed light brown sugar until light and fluffy.
Beat in 2 large egg yolks, one at a time, then stir in 1 teaspoon vanilla extract.
In a small bowl, dissolve 1 teaspoon baking soda in 1 cup buttermilk.
Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, alternating with the buttermilk mixture, beginning and ending with the dry ingredients. Mix until just combined.
Pour batter into the prepared pan.
In a clean bowl, beat 2 large egg whites until stiff peaks form.
Gradually add 2 tablespoons of brown sugar to the egg whites, beating until stiff and glossy.
Spread the meringue evenly over the cake batter.
Sprinkle generously with ½ cup chopped Texas pecans.
Bake for 45-50 minutes, or until a wooden skewer inserted into the center comes out clean.
Let the cake cool completely in the pan before serving.

Nutrition Information (Approximate per serving)

Sodium

14 g

Sugar

149g

Fat

28g

Carbs

19g

Recipe Categories (Choose a category and find related recipes!)

Sweets & Sides Desserts The Americas American Southern Vegetarian Fall Recipes Holiday Recipes Game Day Recipes Baking

Recipe Tags (Choose a tag and find related recipes!)

60 Minutes Or Less Time To Make Course Cuisine Preparation North American Desserts American Southwestern United States Cakes

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it take to make Sweetwater Ranch Spice Cake?

Sweetwater Ranch Spice Cake takes about 80 minutes from start to finish — roughly 20 minutes to prepare and 60 minutes to cook.

How many calories are in Sweetwater Ranch Spice Cake?

Sweetwater Ranch Spice Cake has approximately 367.8 calories per serving, with about 10 g protein, 19 g carbohydrates and 20 g fat.

What ingredients do I need for Sweetwater Ranch Spice Cake?

The key ingredients for Sweetwater Ranch Spice Cake are All Purpose Flour, Baking Powder, Cinnamon, Salt, Allspice, Ginger. See the full list with measurements above.