I made this for a friend of mine for his Birthday last year. (Yo Bryan!) It was such a great success that my good friend Gia requested one for a surprise for her Mother’s Birthday. It seems like a lot of steps but it is very nummy. It really needs to have ice cream or be served with milk or coffee it is extremely rich. Oh and I also used the Caramel sauce recipe from the Flourless Chocolate Cake recipe rather than the one that is listed with this recipe it is a better Caramel sauce. – Liz
Caramel Cake with Caramelized Butter Frosting
A Daring Baker’s Recipe from Shuna Fish Lydon’sEgg Beater, published on Bay Area Bites
10 tablespoons unsalted butter, room temperature
1 1/4 cups granulated sugar
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1/3 cup caramel syrup*
2 eggs, room temperature
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1 cup milk, room temperature
1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Butter/grease one round 9×2 cake pan (I used an 8×3 round).
2. In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, cream the butter until smooth. (only had a hand mixer so I used that.)
3. Add the sugar and salt and cream together until light and fluffy.
4. Slowly pour the room temperature caramel syrup into the bowl.
5. Scrape down the bowl and increase the speed on the mixer. Add the eggs one at a time, followed by the vanilla. Scrape down bowl again and beat the mixture until light and uniform.
6. Sift flour and baking powder together in a small bowl.
7. Turn the mixer to its lowest speed and add one third of the flour mixture.
8. When incorporated, add half of the milk, a little at a time.
9. Add another third of the flour mixture, then the other half of the milk and finish with the flour (this is called the dry, wet, dry, wet, dry method in cake making; it is often employed when there is a high proportion of liquid in the batter).
10. Use a spatula to do a few last folds, making sure the batter is uniform.
11. Place the cake pan on cookie sheet or 1/2 sheet pan. Set your first timer for 30 minutes, rotate the pan, and set timer for another 15-20 minutes. Your own oven will set the pace. Bake until sides pull away from the pan and skewer inserted in middle comes out clean. Cool cake completely before icing it. Cake will keep for three days unrefrigerated.
(I used the Caramel sauce recipe from the Flourless Chocolate Cake recipe rather than the one that is listed with this recipe. I thought it had a better flavor.)
Caramel Syrup
2 Cups granulated sugar
1/2 Cup water
1 Cup water for “stopping” the caramelization process
1. In a small stainless steel saucepan, with tall sides, mix water and sugar until mixture feels like wet sand.
2. Brush down any stray sugar crystals with wet pastry brush.
3. Turn on heat to highest flame.
4. Cook until smoking slightly: dark amber.
5. When color is achieved, very carefully pour in one cup of water. Caramel will jump and sputter about! It is VERY dangerous, so have long sleeves on (SERIOUSLY!) and prepared to step back. (I started by pouring a few drops of water in at a time until the temperature reduced enough for me to pour the rest of the water in)
6. Whisk over medium heat until it has reduced slightly and feels sticky between two fingers. (Obviously wait for it to cool on a spoon before touching it)
**For safety reasons, have ready a bowl of ice water to plunge your hands into if any caramel should land on your skin.
Caramelized Butter Frosting
12 tablespoons unsalted butter
16 oz. powdered sugar
4-6 tablespoons heavy cream
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2-4 tablespoons caramel syrup, room temperature
kosher or sea salt to taste (I used about 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt, maybe a pinch more)
1. Cook the butter until browned slightly.
2. Pour it through a fine meshed sieve into a heatproof bowl and set it aside to cool.
3. Pour the cooled brown butter into a mixer bowl.
4. In a stand mixer fitted with a paddle or whisk attachment, add confectioner’s sugar a little at a time. When mixture looks too chunky to take any more (I used the full 16 oz), add a bit of the cream/milk and caramel syrup. Repeat until mixture looks smooth and all confectioner’s sugar has been incorporated. Add salt to taste. Caramelized butter frosting will keep in fridge for up to a month.
**To smooth out from cold, microwave a bit, then mix with a spoon/fork until smoothed.
