Boozy Pecan Dump Cake

While you might remember making dump cakes in second grade science class, this sophisticated version is nothing like the messy, below average results in your mind’s eye. A crispy chocolate crust studded with toasted pecans blankets creamy whiskey-infused vanilla custard. Sound like a mouthful? That’s because it is—a downright delicious one. Here’s the difference: most dump cakes start with store-bought ingredients like instant pudding and boxed cake mix. We tried baking instant pudding and it bubbled, thickened, and strangely took on the flavor of scrambled eggs, leading us to conclude that making a quick homemade custard is the best option. You’ll also make your own cake mix for a tastier, preservative-free treat.