Ingredients
– 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
– 2 cups granulated sugar
– 4 large eggs
– 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
– 2 cups all-purpose flour
– 1 teaspoon baking powder
– 1 teaspoon salt
– 1 cup chopped pecans
– 1 package (8 oz) cream cheese, softened
– 2 cups powdered sugar
– 1/2 cup milk
Equipment Needed
– Mixing bowls
– Electric mixer
– Measuring cups and spoons
– 9×13 inch baking pan
– Rubber spatula
– Cooling rack
Step-by-Step Instructions
To start, preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and grease your 9×13 inch baking pan. I absolutely love the way the butter gets bubbly and the smell fills my kitchen as I blend the butter and granulated sugar together. In a large mixing bowl, I cream together the softened butter and sugar using my electric mixer until the mixture turns light and fluffy. Then, I slowly add in the eggs, one at a time, making sure to mix well between each addition. The vanilla extract adds a lovely fragrance at this stage that I just can’t resist. There’s something magical about the combination of these ingredients! (See the next page below to continue steps…)