Sock It To Me Cake is a traditional southern butter cake with a ring of cinnamon-pecan streusel running through the center. This delectable treat is quick to come together and easy to make with a butter cake mix, yet tastes as good as any made-from-scratch cake.

Now and then, we need a little something for our sweet tooth around here. This Sock It To Me Cake is one of our favorites, and it comes together quite quickly. You can have the whole thing mixed and in the oven in about 20 minutes. It stays moist for days and is one of those cakes that tastes better the second day.
Ingredient Notes and Substitutions
See the complete list of ingredients on the recipe card below.
- Pecans: You can substitute almonds, walnuts, or macadamia nuts.
- Cake Mix: You can substitute yellow or white cake mix for the butter cake mix.
- Sour Cream: Use full-fat for the best texture and flavor.
- Vanilla Extract: Please use the pure extract.
How to Make Sock It To Me Cake
This is a summary version; for the complete list of ingredients and instructions, please refer to the recipe card below.
- In a small bowl, mix cinnamon, brown sugar, and pecans.
- In a large mixing bowl, beat the butter until creamy and smooth. Add the cake mix, sour cream, water, eggs, and vanilla. Beat on medium speed until combined.
- Grease and flour a twelve-cup bundt pan. Pour ½ of the mixed cake batter into the pan. Spoon the streusel over the top all the way around the cake. Pour the rest of the batter over the top.
- Bake the cake for about 45 minutes. Let cool for about 20 minutes before inverting onto a serving platter.
- Whisk together milk, powdered sugar, and vanilla extract. Drizzle over the fully cooled cake.


Why is it called a “Sock It To Me Cake”?
I am sure that many of you remember the show Rowan and Martin’s Laugh-In with the “Sock It to Me” skit. It was a very popular comedy show that aired from 1968 to 1973. This cake also became trendy during the same period. The resounding, affectionate answer when anyone was asked whether they would like a piece of this cake was “Sock It To Me.” The cake quickly came to be named after that popular phrase.

Preparation Tips
- Grease and flour your pan well. I use Baker’s Joy, a nonstick spray with flour, and it works very well for me.
- If you do not have a bundt pan, you can also bake in a 9×13 pan, sprinkling the streusel in 3 lines down the length of the pan.
- Chop your pecans fairly fine, so it’s easier to spread the cinnamon mixture in the center of the batter.
- We are huge cinnamon lovers here! However, if you are not as much of a cinnamon fan, you can swirl the cinnamon-nut mixture or cut back on the cinnamon.
- We like a light glaze on the cake, but if you prefer a heavier glaze, double the glaze ingredients.

More Cake Recipes

Sock It To Me Cake
Ingredients
Streusel Center
- 1 tablespoon cinnamon
- ½ cup brown sugar
- 1½ cups chopped pecans
Cake Batter
- ½ cup butter softened
- 1 18.25 ounce butter cake mix (less 2 tablespoons for streusel)
- 1 cup full-fat sour cream
- ¼ cup water
- 4 large eggs
- 1½ teaspoons vanilla extract
Drizzle
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 2 tablespoons milk
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees-grease and flour the bundt pan.
- In a small bowl, mix cinnamon, brown sugar, and pecans.
- In a large mixing bowl, beat the butter until creamy and smooth. Add the cake mix, sour cream, water, eggs, and vanilla. Beat on medium speed until combined.
- Pour ½ of the batter into the pan. Spoon the streusel over the top all the way around the cake. Pour the rest of the batter over the top.
- Bake for 45 minutes until set or until a toothpick inserted into the top comes out clean. Cool in the pan for 15 minutes before inverting.
- Whisk together milk, powdered sugar, and vanilla extract. Drizzle over the fully cooled cake.















Andreia
Sock it to me cake is so bomb. It’s so rich and sweet. I’ll enjoy a piece of this guilt free any day of the week.
ReeAnne
Oh cinnamon pecan sounds right up my street and it looks so moist with the drizzle. Love the sound of this cake. I will let you know what I think.
Beth Pierce
Thanks, ReeAnne! Enjoy!
Harlow
I had never heard of this cake before (what a silly name!). My family loved every bite
Karen
This cake was sooo delicious…It was easy to make and the pecan filling really sent it over the top. My husband said that it is a keeper.
Corinne
I love anything with cinnamon in it! It looks so good, I could just eat that centre on its own haha!
Ben
The name is perfect. This cake punched me in the face with flavor.
Sarah
When I was in college, in the late ‘60s early ‘70s, my roommate’s mother would make this for me when I visited. I had never had it before and it became my favorite. The only difference was there was the option of using a butter cake or a lemon cake mix. Additionally, the filling included chocolate chips! Thanks for sharing this wonderful recipe. It’s still a favorite!
Beth Pierce
The pleasure is all mine!
Sara Welch
What a delicious dessert and the perfect cure for my sweet tooth! Looking forward to enjoying this after dinner one night this week, indeed!