Caramel Cake (Paula Deen)

Saw this on Paula's Party. Looks delicious.

• Ready In: 1 hr
• Serves: 8
• Yields: 1 cake

Ingredients

• Cake

• 1  cup butter, room temperature
• 2  cups granulated sugar
• 4  eggs
• 3  cups self-rising flour, sifted
• 1  cup milk
• 1  teaspoon pure vanilla extract

• Filling

• 1⁄2 cup butter
• 1  cup  packed light brown sugar
• 1⁄4 cup milk
• 1  teaspoon pure vanilla extract

• Frosting

• 1⁄2 cup butter
• 1  cup  packed dark brown sugar
• 1⁄3 cup heavy cream (or more)
• 1 (16 ounce) box confectioners' sugar
• 1  teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 1  cup  chopped  nuts (optional)

Directions

1. Cake:.
2. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease and flour 3 (9-inch) cake pans.
3. Using an electric mixer cream butter until fluffy. Add granulated sugar and continue to cream well for 6 to 8 minutes. Add eggs 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. Add flour and milk alternately to creamed mixture, beginning and ending with flour. Add vanilla and continue to beat until just mixed.
4. Divide batter equally among prepared pans. Level batter in each pan by holding pan 4 inches above counter dropping it flat onto counter. Do this several times to release air bubbles and assure you of a more level cake. Bake for 25 minutes or until golden brown.
5. Filling:.
6. While cake is baking, in a saucepan, combine butter, brown sugar, and milk. Cook and stir over medium heat for 3 to 5 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in vanilla.
7. Remove cake layers from oven and allow cake to remain in pans as you prepare to stack and fill. Remove first layer and invert onto cake plate. Pierce cake layer with a toothpick over entire surface. Spread 1/3 of filling mixture on cake layer. Top with second layer, repeat process. Top with last layer and repeat process again.
8. *Cook's Note: As you stack layers together, stick them with toothpicks to prevent cake from shifting.
9. Frosting:.
10. Melt butter in a saucepan over medium heat and stir in brown sugar and cream. Bring to a boil, and transfer to a mixing bowl. Add confectioners' sugar and vanilla. Beat with a handheld electric mixer until it reaches a spreading consistency. At this time it may be necessary to add a tablespoon of heavy cream, or more, if frosting gets too thick. Be sure to add cream in small amounts because you can always "add to", but you can't take away. Frost cake and sprinkle top with chopped nuts, if desired.