Caramel Cake From The 1940s Recipes

Steps:

• 1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour two 8" round pans or a 9 x 13 sheet cake pan.
• 2. Measure out flour and sift, then measure again for accuracy. Add baking powder, salt and sugar and sift again. Stir in remaining ingredients but DO NOT use a mixer. Stir with a wooden spoon or rubber spatula. If the mixture seems too thick, you may add a little more milk.
• 3. Pour batter into prepared pans and bake for approximately 20 to 25 minutes or until cake tests done (springs back to touch or toothpick comes out clean). Do not over bake!
• 4. Remove from oven and cool for about 10 minutes in pans. Remove from the pans and cool completely. If you're using a sheet cake pan, you may just leave it in the pan.
• 5. Frost middle, top and sides with caramel frosting. If you're making a sheet cake, frost the top.
• 6. FOR THE FROSTING: Melt butter in pan. Add brown sugar, milk, corn syrup and flavorings. Cook about two minutes over low to medium heat, stirring constantly until sugar is dissolved. Transfer mixture to a mixing bowl and add sugar. Mix until desired spreading consistency. If frosting is too stiff, you may add a little more milk. Spread on cooled cake.

Steps:

• Prepare the cake: Heat oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour two (9-inch) cake pans. In a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream the butter and sugar until light and fluffy, about 4 minutes, scraping down the sides of the bowl halfway through.
• Add eggs, one at a time, and mix, scraping down the sides of the bowl after each addition. Add about a third of the flour and mix on low speed until combined. Add about half of the buttermilk and continue to mix until incorporated. Scrape down the sides of the bowl. Continue to add flour and buttermilk in the same way, beginning and ending with the flour.
• Add vanilla and combine fully, making sure not to overmix.
• Divide batter evenly between pans, and bake until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, 25 to 30 minutes. Let cakes cool in the pans for 10 minutes before turning the cakes onto wire racks to cool completely.
• As the cake bakes, make the icing: Melt the butter in a medium saucepan over low heat. Add the brown sugar and whisk to combine. Bring to a gentle boil over medium and let the mixture bubble for 5 minutes, whisking constantly. Carefully and slowly add the buttermilk (it will bubble up), stirring constantly, until the mixture comes to a full, rolling boil. Remove from heat and add salt. Transfer mixture to the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a whisk attachment.
• With the mixer on low speed, gradually add the sifted confectioners' sugar, mixing until smooth, then add vanilla extract and mix to combine. The icing should look glossy and pour easily from the bowl.
• While the icing is still warm, spread about 1 cup icing on one cake, then top with the second cake. Use the rest of the icing on the top and sides of the cake. The icing will set up as it cools. If the icing starts to harden, microwave the icing in 10-second intervals until smooth. (You can also make the icing up to 3 to 5 days in advance, and keep it in the refrigerator in an airtight container.) Serve immediately.