The Best Sock It To Me Cake Recipe
Try my Best Sock It To Me Cake Recipe made simple with a delicious, butter golden yellow cake mix, a cinnamon, brown sugar, and nut streusel, and glaze icing on top. This Sock It To Me Bundt Cake is the perfect, easy cake for any occasion!
The Best Sock It To Me Cake Recipe
Happy Friday, friends! Today’s recipe is an oldie but a goodie – Sock It To Me Cake!
If you’ve never had the pleasure of making/eating an old fashioned Sock It To Me Cake, then you’ll definitely want to save today’s post for The Best Sock It To Me Cake Recipe.
Sock It To Me Cake features a buttery delicious yellow Bundt cake, is filled with a super yummy brown sugar, cinnamon, and nut streusel, and topped with a delicious sugar glaze and chopped nuts.
It’s basically heaven in cake form and the best part? It’s SO easy to make!
Keep reading below for all the tips/tricks and full recipe for sock-it-to-me-cake, and watch my full video tutorial over here for step-by-step instructions.
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Easy Sock It To Me Cake Recipe
This Easy Sock It To Me Cake Recipe is courtesy of my Great-Mamaw Allie (with a few yummy additions), and is a cake my Mom has made frequently for our family over the years.
It’s always the perfect cake to make for family gatherings or parties because it’s easy to throw together, tastes delicious, and looks so pretty!
What is Sock it To Me Cake? (Why is it called Sock It To Me Cake? )
The term “sock-it-to-me” and sock-it-to-me-cake originated in the 1970s, when housewives everywhere were on the hunt for a delicious, easy, and beautiful cake to make for their families and friends.
Duncan Hines first printed the Sock It To Me Cake recipe on the back of one of their boxed cake mixes and it quickly became a sensation.
As far as the phrase goes, “Sock-it-to-me” was a catch-phrase used on the popular comedy show “Laugh In”, and meant “Give it to me!”
Best Sock It To Me Cake Recipe
What is a Sock It To Me Cake made of?
Sock it to me Cake features a yellow cake that is filled with a delicious brown sugar, cinnamon, and nut streusel, and is topped with a powdered sugar glaze and chopped nuts.
Below I’ve included all the ingredients you’ll need to make this Easy Sock It To Me Bundt Cake Recipe.
It’s actually a very easy cake to prepare because most of the ingredients you probably already have in your pantry and fridge.
Ingredients Needed:
- Boxed yellow cake mix
- Oil (or melted butter)
- Sour Cream
- Granulated Sugar
- Water
- Eggs
- Vanilla Extract
- Light brown sugar
- Walnuts
- Cinnamon
- Nutmeg
- Milk
- Powdered Sugar
What Pan Do You Use for Sock It To Me Cake?
Traditionally, a sock it to me cake is made using a Bundt pan. This affordable, non-stick pan is my absolute favorite and is one of my top baking must-haves.
How Do I Prevent My Bundt Cake from Sticking to the Pan?
I’m personally a huge fan of using Bundt pans for cakes, because they look so pretty for parties and gatherings, but I know a lot of people can be intimidated by them.
Tip #1 – Spray The Pan WELL
My biggest tip when using a bundt cake pan is make sure you spray/grease the pan with non-stick spray REALLY well.
This non-stick spray is my favorite for cakes because it has flour in it too.
Tip #2 – Let the Cake Cool 10 Minutes
My second tip is to let the cake cool in the pan for a minimum of 10 minutes after baking before removing it.
If you try to remove the cake while it’s still hot, the cake will be too soft and might break, or parts of the cake could stick to the pan.
Instead, give it 10 minutes to cool on a wire cooling rack, then flip it on a plate.
Using these tips, I NEVER have issues with my Bundt cakes.
Recommended Kitchen Tools:
- Bundt Cake Pan
- Electric Hand Mixer
- Glass Mixing Bowls
- Sifter
- Rubber Spatulas
- Whisk
- Measuring Cups
- Magnetic Measuring Spoons
- Nut Chopper
- Cooling Rack
- Cake Stand with Glass Dome Lid
- Cake Server
How to Make This Sock It To Me Cake Recipe with a Boxed Cake Mix
So many people think that using a boxed cake mix in baking is horrible, but as my popular cake mix recipes prove, cake mixes are like fairy godmothers that save the day when you’re in a hurry.
Using a boxed cake mix is much easier (and a timesaver), and when you make this Sock It To Me Cake with the added ingredients below, nobody will ever know it’s not made from scratch!
5 Ways to Make The Best Sock it To Me Cake
1. Use Sour Cream
Adding in room temperature sour cream helps make this cake extra moist, and gives it a soft and tender texture.
2. Use Oil or Melted Butter
It’s really personal preference here. Use oil for added moistness or melted butter for added flavor.
3. Add Some Extra Sugar
Adding some extra granulated sugar to the batter makes it extra yummy, sweet, and moist.
4. Add Vanilla
I almost always add vanilla extract to my cake mix batters to really amp up things, and it makes a huge difference in flavor.
5. Use Good Quality Cinnamon
Since this recipe uses a full tablespoon of cinnamon in the streusel, it’s important to use a good quality cinnamon just like in my One Hour Cinnamon Rolls.
This ground cinnamon is the best.
Or if you have time, I recommend grinding up these cinnamon sticks with this affordable spice/coffee grinder.
Tips for Making The Best Sock It To Me Cake
Tip #1 – Don’t Overbake It
Bake at the lowest recommended time to avoid overbaking your cake.
Overbaking = dry cake, which nobody loves.
Check the middle part of the cake with a toothpick, and if there isn’t any wet batter, it’s done.
Tip #2 – Use a Nut Chopper
Use this affordable nut chopper for quickly chopping up your walnuts or pecans.
It’s so much quicker and easier than chopping nuts by hand.
Tip #3 – Use Parchment Paper
For a mess-free clean up, cut pieces of parchment paper and place them underneath, all around your sock it to me cake.
This will catch any glaze drips that fall off the side of your cake, and you can easily spoon any excess back up on your cake.
If you happen to forget this step (like I did in the video), you can always use a dampened paper towel to clean up the edges around the cake base.
Tip #4 – Wait to Glaze
Wait at least 30 minutes before glazing your cake, otherwise the glaze will melt and seep into the cake instead of sitting on top.
It’ll still taste delicious, but it won’t look as pretty.
Sock It To Me Cake Glazing Tip
I recommend adding 1 tablespoon of milk at a time to your powdered sugar, stirring, and adding as needed until you reach the desired consistency.
For a thicker, white glaze, use a ratio of less milk and more powdered sugar.
For a thinner drizzle-like glaze that soaks into the cake, use more milk.
Sock It To Me Cake FAQ’s
Can You Make Sock it To Me Cake From Scratch?
Yes, absolutely!
For this particular cake I do prefer just using a boxed cake mix because it’s easy and tastes identical once you doctor it up, but feel free to use your favorite homemade vanilla cake recipe, or try using the base recipe for my Homemade Honey Bun Cake.
What Does Sour Cream In This Cake Do?
The addition of sour cream in this cake will help make it nice and moist and give it a thick and soft texture.
You can also substitute plain Greek Yogurt if you don’t have sour cream.
Can You Make Sock It To Me Cake Without Sour Cream?
Yes, you can easily switch out the sour cream with plain Greek yogurt or buttermilk, if desired.
All of these ingredients will help add moisture to the cake and will taste delicious.
How Should I Store Leftover Sock It To Me Cake?
Store leftover sock it to me cake in an airtight container at room temperature for 3-4 days or in the fridge for 1 week.
If desired, reheat cake slices in the microwave for 20-30 seconds to make them taste like they just came out of the oven.
Can I Freeze Sock It To Me Cake?
Yes! Slices of sock it to me cake can be frozen in a freezer safe bag or airtight container for up to 3 months.
Once ready to eat, thaw to room temperature and re-heat in the microwave until warm if desired.
Recipe for Sock-It-To-Me Cake and Video Tutorial
PrintThe Best Sock It To Me Cake Recipe
Try my Best Sock It To Me Cake Recipe made simple with a delicious, butter golden yellow cake mix, a cinnamon, brown sugar, and nut streusel, and glaze icing on top. This Sock It To Me Bundt Cake is the perfect, easy cake for any occasion!
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cooling Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
- Yield: 16 servings 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Oven
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Cake
- 1 Yellow Cake Mix, reserve 2 tbsp for streusel
- 1 8 oz sour cream
- 1/3 cup oil (or 5 1/3 tbsp butter, melted and cooled)
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1/4 cup water
- 4 large eggs
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
Streusel
- 2 tbsp dry cake mix (reserved)
- 1 cup chopped nuts (walnuts or pecans)
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 1 tbsp good quality cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp nutmeg
Glaze
- 1 1/2–4 tbsp milk (for thicker glaze, start with 1 1/2 tbsp and add more as needed)
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 2 tbsp nuts, roughly chopped (walnuts or pecans)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and liberally spray your Bundt cake pan with non-stick cooking spray.
- In a large mixing bowl combine cake mix (minus 2 tbsp reserved for streusel), sour cream, oil (or melted butter), sugar, eggs, vanilla, and water and mix together with an electric hand mixer for 2 minutes until smooth.
- Pour 2/3 of the cake batter into the prepared Bundt cake pan.
- In a small mixing bowl prepare your streusel by combining 2 tbsp dry cake mix, chopped nuts, brown sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg until fully combined. Sprinkle evenly on top of the cake batter, and then top with the remaining cake batter until covered.
- Bake in the oven for 35-45 minutes. Let cool for 10 minutes in the pan on a wire cooling rack, then flip/transfer to the cake plate you will serve it on.
- Let the cake cool for an additional 20 minutes (30 minutes total) before glazing.
- To make the glaze, combine 1 cup of powdered sugar with 1.5 – 4 tablespoons of milk in a bowl and whisk until smooth. Start by adding 1 1/2 tablespoon of milk and add additional tablespoons to reach desired glaze consistency. For a thicker, white glaze, use 1 1/2- 2 tablespoons of milk. For a thinner drizzle-like glaze that soaks into the cake, use 3-4 tablespoons of milk.
- Spoon glaze on top of the cake and top with chopped nuts, if desired. Slice and enjoy!
Notes
Storing Instructions: Store cake covered or in an airtight container at room temperature for 3-4 days or in the fridge for 1 week. If desired, reheat cake slices in the microwave for 20-30 seconds to make them taste like they just came out of the oven.
Freezing Instructions: Slices of sock it to me cake can be frozen in a freezer safe bag or airtight container for up to 3 months. Once ready to eat, thaw to room temperature and re-heat as desired.
Tips for Making The Best Sock It To Me Cake
Bake at the lowest recommended time to avoid overbaking your cake. Overbaking = dry cake, which nobody loves. Check the middle part of the cake with a toothpick, and if there isn’t any wet batter, it’s done.
Use this affordable nut chopper for quickly chopping up your walnuts or pecans.
For a mess-free clean up, cut pieces of parchment paper and place them underneath, all around your sock it to me cake. This will catch any glaze drips that fall off the side of your cake, and you can easily spoon any excess back up on your cake. If you happen to forget this step (like I did in the video), you can always use a dampened paper towel to clean up the edges around the cake base.
Wait at least 30 minutes before glazing your cake, otherwise the glaze will melt right off it. It’ll still taste delicious, but it won’t look as pretty.
For a thicker, white glaze, use a ratio of less milk and more powdered sugar. For a thinner drizzle-like glaze that soaks into the cake, use more milk. I recommend adding 1 tablespoon of milk at a time to your powdered sugar, stirring, and adding as needed until you reach the desired consistency.
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Hope you enjoyed my Best Sock It To Me Cake Recipe! Have you ever made a Sock It To Me Cake? Do you add any special ingredients? Let me know in the comments below!
Thanks for stopping by! – Cara
in the sock it to cake recipe how much sour cream is it saying?Thank you
Hi Etta, you’ll need an 8 oz container of sour cream, which is equal to 1 cup. Hope you enjoy it!
I have baked this cake several times for our ladies Bible study & they all love it .I have made it with & without the glaze & they like it both ways ! Great recipe & easy to make in a pretty bundt pan I got an estate sale really cheap & the design is beautiful & the cake never sticks to the pan ! Awesome cake ! ❤️?
Thank you, Leslie! I’m so glad to hear you all love it! I love vintage bundt cake pans too. Thanks for giving it 5 stars! 🙂