Caramel Cake

*Elaine*'s Note:

This is out of Southern Living's Top 10 Cake Recipes. A unique, interesting, and satisfying cake. Try it some time!

• Total Time: 1 hrs 35 mins
• Prep Time: 1 hrs
• Cook Time: 35 mins

Ingredients:

Serves: 12-14

Yield: 1.0 two lay ...

Cake

• 1 (8 ounce) carton sour cream
• 1/4 cup milk
• 1 cup butter, softened
• 2 cups sugar
• 4 large eggs
• 2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1 teaspoon rum extract (optional)

Frosting

• 3 cups sugar, divided
• 3/4 cup milk
• 1 large egg, lightly beaten
• 1/2 cup butter or 1/2 cup margarine, cut into pieces
• 1 pinch salt

Directions:

1. For cake: Preheat oven to 350*.
2. Grease and flour two 9-inch layer pans.
3. Combine sour cream and milk in small bowl; set aside.
4. Beat butter until creamy; gradually add sugar, beating well.
5. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition.
6. Sift flour, baking powder, and salt; add to butter mixture alternating with sour cream mixture, beginning and ending with flour mixture.
7. Stir in vanilla (and rum extract).
8. Pour batter into prepared pans.
9. Bake in heated oven for 30-35 minutes, or until toothpick comes out clean.
10. Let cool in pans 10 minutes; remove from pans, and cool completely on wire wracks.
11. For frosting: Combine 2 1/2 cups sugar, milk, beaten egg, and salt in a bowl, stirring well; stir in butter.
12. Set aside.
13. Sprinkle remaining 1/2 cup sugar in saucepan; cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until sugar melts and syrup is a light golden brown.
14. Remove from heat.
15. Stir butter mixture into hot caramelized sugar.
16. (The sugar mixture will tend to clump, but will become smooth after further cooking.) Cook entire mixture over medium heat, stirring constantly, until candy thermometer registers 235* (about 15-20 minutes).
17. Cool mixture for 5 minutes.
18. Beat frosting with a wooden spoon to almost spreading consistency (about 5 minutes).
19. Immediately spread between layers and on top and sides of cake.

Reviews

[kayla21832004_8003501]

This cake was very delicious! The cake was very moist and the caramel frosting was to die for. The only thing I didn't like about the recipe is that the frosting takes forever to make, but it's worth it! Reminds me of my Grandma's caramel cake recipe.

[Marie Nixon]

The cake tiers froze well for a week. The frosting took me 45 minutes to make from start to finish. It definitely took 15 minutes or more of beating with the wooden spoon after the caramel came off of the stove. The frosting complimented the cake very well. Vanilla or butter pecan ice cream would go excellent with this cake.