A friend of mine wants me to make her a vanilla cake with pecan filling. Believe me, I'm not being lazy by asking here instead of searching for myself! I've googled and I'm not sure I'm finding what I want. One filling option is basically pecan pie filling; instead of baking it in a pie shell you cook it in a saucepan and then use it to fill the cake. Would that be too sweet?

I don't know what other kind of pecan filling there is. Does anyone have ideas or advice?

Lastly, would you think a cream cheese frosting would be good with these flavors? Cake with pecan pie filling and regular butter cream sounds like sugar overload!!!

can't think of anything cream cheese doesn't go with--should be fine--what about like a german chocolate filling? but it has coconut--would that work? or you could toast some oats to sub for some of the coconut & add a bunch of pecans?

...or an Italian Cream filling (cream cheese with chopped pecans)

...or a Praline filling (caramel & chopped pecans)....please make your own caramel though

Thanks to you both for the suggestions. I'll check them all out!