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All Posts / Southern Sock It To Me Cake

Southern Sock It To Me Cake

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By Rosie Published: November 4, 2018 Updated: September 29, 2023
This post may contain affiliate links.

How to make southern sock it to me cake from scratch. No cake mix, no short cuts.This classic southern Sock It To Me cake is made completely from scratch--it's such an easy recipe!
Table of Contents
  1. The History of Souther Sock it to Me Cake
  2. Don’t forget to save & share this recipe on Pinterest!
  3. Scroll down below so that you can watch me make my homemade southern sock it to me cake from scratch! FYI I used a Calphalon nonstick tube pan for my cake 😉
  4. Southern Sock It To Me Cake

Hey y’all! In this post we will be making some good old fashioned homemade southern sock it to me cake completely from scratch. There will be no use of cake mix, no other shortcuts. We will be making this Sock-It-To-Me Bundt Cake recipe with cake flour, butter, sugar, and a few more ingredients that you probably already have in your kitchen.

This flavorful from-scratch Sock It To Me cake is a classic southern recipe

The History of Souther Sock it to Me Cake

So first things first, let’s talk about the sock it to me cake history. Supposedly the cake got it’s name from the popular 60’s and 70’s term “sock it to me”. What sock it to me mean? It’s pretty much like asking someone to give something to you. Since everyone asks for this cake, it was only right to call is sock it to me cake. It’s just that darn delicious!

As mentioned, unlike a lot of sock it to me cake recipes, I don’t use cake mix (anymore). I prefer to make it from scratch.  I use cake flour, unsalted butter, granulated sugar, eggs, and no baking soda nor baking powder!

Find more easy and delicious cake recipes here:

  • Fresh Apple Cake with Maple Glaze
  • Cherry 7-Up Pound Cake
  • Homemade Southern Caramel Cake

Don’t forget to save & share this recipe on Pinterest!

From Scratch Southern Sock It To Me Cake Recipe

Scroll down below so that you can watch me make my homemade southern sock it to me cake from scratch! FYI I used a Calphalon nonstick tube pan for my cake 😉

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Southern Sock It To Me Cake

This classic southern cake is way too delicious to pass up! Made completely from scratch with all natural ingredients, it's a sweet dessert.
Watch Video Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Course Dessert
Cuisine Southern
Keyword Sock It To Me Cake
Prep Time 15 minutes minutes
Cook Time 1 hour hour 10 minutes minutes
Cooling Time 10 minutes minutes
Total Time 1 hour hour 25 minutes minutes

Ingredients

Cake Batter

  • 3 cups cake flour
  • 3 cups granulated sugar
  • 3 sticks unsalted butter
  • 7 medium eggs
  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • 1 tbsp vanilla extract

Swirl

  • 2 tbsp cake batter
  • 1 stick unsalted butter
  • 1/4 cup brown sugar
  • 3 tsp ground cinnamon
  • 1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
  • 3/4 cup chopped pecans

Icing

  • 1 cup confectioners sugar
  • 3 tbsp milk
  • 1 1/2 tsp lemon juice or vanilla extract

Instructions

Cake Batter

  • In a large mixing bowl combine the sugar and butter. Mix until it's nice and creamy.
  • Next add in the eggs, and mix until everything is well incorporated.
  • Pour in the vanilla extract, and continue to mix.
  • Now start alternate adding in the cake flour, and heavy cream. Be sure to add a little bit of flour at a time!

Brown Sugar Batter

  • Add two tbsp of the cake batter to a large mixing bowl.
  • Next add in the brown sugar, ground cinnamon, ground nutmeg, butter, and chopped pecans.
  • Mix until well combined, then set to the side.

Assemble Cake

  • Add half of the cake batter into a tube pan or bundt pan.
  • Next, add the pecan & brown sugar mixing op top of the cake batter.
  • Add the remaining cake batter on top of the pecan & brown sugar mixture.
  • Bake the cake in a preheated oven on 350 F for 1 hour and 20 minutes.
  • Remove the cake from the oven, and let cool in the pan for 10 minutes.
  • After the 10 minutes,  place the cake on a cooling rack, and let cool.

Icing

  • Combine the powdered sugar, milk, and lemon juice, then mix until creamy.
  • Drizzle the icing all over the cake ( once it's cool), and let sit for 10 minutes.
  • Serve, and enjoy.

Video

If you loved this recipe, leave me a review below. This helps future recipe makers and ensures continued high-quality recipes for years to come!
© 2025 I Heart Recipes
Recipe by: I Heart Recipes
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EXPLORE RECIPE CATEGORIESAll Posts, cake, Christmas, Dessert, Holiday Recipes, Southern Recipes

MEET THE RECIPE AUTHOR

Rosie

I’m a Soul Food blogger living in the Pacific Northwest, bringing Southern cooking to gorgeous Seattle, Washington. I was born and raised in the PNW, but my family roots go all the way to Baton Rouge, Louisiana, where my grandparents were born and raised. I live every day to bring the traditional values, recipes, and love of food to life for my family—whether they’re online or in real life. So, welcome to the party, family!

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Recipe Rating




Comments

  1. JoAnn Johnson says

    November 4, 2018 at 9:04 am

    No Te X Mex short ribs!? I love s ock it to me cake… But have always wanted to learn to cook short ribs.

    Reply
    • Rosie says

      November 4, 2018 at 5:38 pm

      I do have a Tex Mex Short Ribs recipe uploaded.

      Reply
  2. Parish Cratic says

    November 4, 2018 at 9:51 am

    5 stars
    You’re the BEST!

    Reply
    • Rosie says

      November 4, 2018 at 5:44 pm

      Aweee you’re too sweet!

      Reply
      • Delilah says

        June 21, 2019 at 9:56 am

        5 stars
        Thank you, thank you! I remember when this cake first appeared in the late 60’s. In fact it was the first cake I ever baked as a 12 year old. The ladies in my family baked it for every occasion. Unfortunately the recipe became lost through the years. I was beyond thrilled to see it here on Pinterest. BTW I will be looking for that short rib recipe. I picked them up whenever they are sale at Costco.

        Reply
      • Eleuteria Doris Papillion says

        April 13, 2020 at 12:03 pm

        I enjoy making yous socket to me cake as a matter of fact. I made two at a time one for me and one for my son. I am 83 years old and I use to make this cake for my children out of the box. I love it better the way you do it. extra delicious and I love to hear life voices. thanks again.

        Reply
        • Rosie says

          April 14, 2020 at 1:23 pm

          Thank you! XOXO

          Reply
  3. Tony R. says

    November 4, 2018 at 1:43 pm

    How about a recipe for a dump cake?

    Reply
  4. Essie says

    November 4, 2018 at 2:46 pm

    Looks delicious. Definitely have to try your Sock it to me cake from scratch.

    Reply
  5. Grace says

    November 4, 2018 at 3:55 pm

    Hey Rosie!
    I love Sock It To Me Cake, definately will try your recipe, thanks. Keep em’ comin’ girl!

    Reply
    • Rosie says

      November 4, 2018 at 5:38 pm

      Thanks for coming by Grace!

      Reply
  6. Destra says

    November 5, 2018 at 10:57 am

    Do you have any recipes that dont have any BEEF OR PORK?….I DONT EAT BEEF OR PORK….so i would like to make sum of your meals but most requires pork or beef

    Reply
    • Rosie says

      November 5, 2018 at 2:01 pm

      Hi there. I actually have a ton of turkey, chicken, and seafood recipes posted.

      Reply
  7. LB says

    November 6, 2018 at 5:03 am

    5 stars
    Hi Rosie,

    Your instructions for the icing says to add lemon juice but lemon juice is not in the ingredients list. Is it supposed to say vanilla extract?

    I plan to make this today, my family and I love your recipes.

    Reply
    • Rosie says

      November 7, 2018 at 6:06 pm

      You can use lemon juice or vanilla extract 🙂

      Reply
  8. Linda Workman says

    November 7, 2018 at 9:05 am

    Rosie, I look forward to your recipes.
    Everything looks and taste’s delicious. Thanks for sharing

    Reply
  9. Timeshia says

    November 13, 2018 at 7:05 pm

    I love your recipes. Would you happen to have a lemon cake recipe?

    Reply
    • Rosie says

      November 13, 2018 at 7:24 pm

      Hi there. Yes, I have a couple 🙂

      Reply
  10. Valerie Jones says

    November 17, 2018 at 7:28 pm

    Happy Holiday season Rosie!! I can’t wait to post my outcome of your SITM cake Thursday. Thanks for sharing. Blessings to you.

    Reply
    • Rosie says

      November 18, 2018 at 1:00 pm

      Happy holidays Valerie!

      Reply
  11. Lauren says

    November 19, 2018 at 11:40 am

    The cake was delicious! But the brown sugar mixture sank to the bottom of the pan and caused it to stick.. for the future what can I do so it won’t sink as much?

    Reply
    • Rosie says

      November 19, 2018 at 5:53 pm

      Maybe swirl it a bit.

      Reply
  12. Katina Hoffman says

    November 20, 2018 at 8:36 pm

    5 stars
    Mmmm your recipes look AMAZING!

    Reply
  13. Brittany Hubbard says

    November 24, 2018 at 6:55 am

    5 stars
    Rosie.
    !! Thank you! I made this for Thanksgiving and it was a hit. You are truly amazing!!!

    Reply
  14. Pamela Holmes says

    November 27, 2018 at 7:15 pm

    5 stars
    I made this cake for our huge family gathering on Thanksgiving Day. This is only my second attempt at baking a cake from scratch. Thank you, Rosie, it was a huge success. It disappeared and a few siblings told me it tasted like our mother’s recipe. This is definitely a keeper. My sister-in law, who bakes wonderful cakes, asked me for the recipe. Thank you so much for sharing and keep the great recipes coming.

    Reply
  15. Shannon Drost says

    March 8, 2019 at 12:20 pm

    Going to have to try this over the weekend, looks like it could also be a nice Sunday Brunch coffee cake.

    Reply
  16. Denise says

    May 29, 2019 at 6:53 am

    5 stars
    Made this cake for my family and everyone loves it, thank you so much for sharing.

    Reply
  17. Yovonda Wimbley says

    July 26, 2019 at 1:16 pm

    Can I use all purpose flour instead of cake flour?

    Reply
    • Rosie says

      July 29, 2019 at 12:35 pm

      For best results, stick to the recipe listed 😉

      Reply
  18. TANYA says

    September 15, 2019 at 7:26 am

    Hi Rosie,
    Can I use my Kitchen Aid stand mixer instead of my hand mixer?

    Reply
    • Rosie says

      September 15, 2019 at 12:18 pm

      Absolutely hun!

      Reply
  19. Joanne says

    October 6, 2019 at 10:00 am

    Will try this recipe for Thanksgiving

    Reply
  20. Renee Galloway says

    September 26, 2020 at 7:06 am

    Recipe says 1 stick of butter but video shows 1/2 stick being added. Which is it?

    Reply
    • Rosie says

      October 3, 2020 at 2:14 pm

      The written directions is correct 🙂

      Reply
  21. Vanessa Samuel says

    January 18, 2022 at 8:14 am

    I made a sock it to me cake yesterday using your recipe and it was a hit delicious my family loved it

    Reply
  22. Lorna Doone says

    November 16, 2022 at 6:20 pm

    5 stars
    Hi Rosie, I plan to make this delicious looking Sock It To Me cake next week. My mom used to make this when I was young. Can’t wait. Question. I see the recipe calls for unsalted butter, but I do not see salt as an ingredient anywhere in the recipe for the cake batter or the swirl. Is this correct? There is no salt to be included as an ingredient?

    Reply
    • Rosie says

      November 20, 2022 at 11:42 am

      Correct, I didn’t use any salt for this recipe.

      Reply
  23. Andrea says

    August 5, 2023 at 6:08 am

    Hi Rosie,

    I plan on making this cake today. Is it better to use light or dark brown sugar with for your Sock It To Me Cake recipe?

    Reply
    • Rosie says

      August 5, 2023 at 10:39 am

      Hi Andrea! You can use either, but perhaps light brown sugar would be better.

      Reply
  24. James Studman says

    September 16, 2023 at 9:29 am

    5 stars
    Best version I’ve tried!!!!

    Reply
  25. Nakia says

    November 11, 2023 at 2:08 pm

    Hello Thank you for sharing. I made this cake and it did not look like your cake. Not sure what happened, but most if not all of the sock it to me cinnamon sugar filling sank to the bottom of the pan, however it was Super delicious and moist. I actually Loved it. I like the cinnamon, Sugar pecans at the top. SUPER DELICIOUS (had to repost, I had too may typos on previous post and could not edit)

    Reply
  26. Priscilla Troxler says

    December 15, 2023 at 9:35 am

    Sock-It-To-Me Cake looks delicious!!!!!!
    Think I will try to make it for Christmas!

    Thanks a bunch!

    Reply
  27. Arthur Rodriquez says

    February 9, 2024 at 4:53 pm

    5 stars
    Made it the way you printed it and it turned out good

    Reply
  28. Barbara Freeland says

    April 4, 2024 at 4:00 pm

    5 stars
    I baked this cake for one of my girlfriends. She loved it! So moist and absolutely delicious.

    Reply
  29. Cint says

    September 12, 2024 at 2:13 pm

    5 stars
    Looks delicious

    Reply

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Hey cousins, it’s Rosie!

I’m a Soul Food blogger living in the Pacific Northwest, bringing Southern cooking to gorgeous Seattle, Washington. I was born and raised in the PNW, but my family roots go all the way to Baton Rouge, Louisiana, where my grandparents were born and raised. I live every day to bring the traditional values, recipes, and love of food to life for my family—whether they’re online or in real life. So, welcome to the party, family!

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