Old Fashioned Butterscotch Cake With Penuche Frosting Recipes

Steps:

• Melt the butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Stir in brown sugar and bring the mixture to a boil. Reduce the heat and continue to simmer for 2 minutes, stirring constantly. Stir in half-and-half cream and salt and return to a boil, continuing to stir. Remove the caramel from the heat and allow to cool to lukewarm, then add vanilla.
• Gradually beat in confectioners' sugar with an electric mixer until smooth, being careful not to over-beat. If the frosting becomes too thick, hot water can be added to thin it out. Spread over a cooled cake and sprinkle with pecans. Allow the frosting to set before serving, about 15 minutes.

Steps:

• For the cake: Separate the eggs. Place the egg whites in a medium bowl and yolks in a small bowl. Let stand at room temperature, about 20 minutes.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F and line the bottom of 3 (9-inch) round cake pans with parchment paper. Spray with nonstick baking spray. Set aside.
• Sift together the sifted flour, baking powder, and 1/4 teaspoon salt in a large bowl. Add the brown sugar. If there are any large clumps of brown sugar, break them up with a spoon. Stir, then set aside.
• Whip the egg whites to soft peaks with an electric mixer. With the mixer running, slowly add 1/4 cup sugar and continue to whip to stiff peaks. Add the egg yolks, half-and-half, oil, and vanilla to the flour mixture. Mix until just combined.
• Fold the whipped egg whites into the cake batter a third at a time. Divide the batter among the prepared cake pans and bake for 18 to 20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center of the cakes comes out clean. Let cool.
• For the frosting: Place 4 tablespoons of water in a small bowl or ramekin. Sprinkle the gelatin powder over the top, making sure the gelatin is moistened. Let stand 5 minutes to bloom.
• In the meantime, place the brown sugar, half-n-half, and 1/2 cup water in a medium saucepan. Stir. Cook over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally until the sugar is dissolved, about 5 minutes. Turn heat to low and add the bloomed gelatin. Stir. Cook 2 to 3 minutes, until the gelatin has dissolved. Remove from heat to cool to room temperature.
• Whip the butter in a standing mixer until fluffy. Add the cooled gelatin mixture. Whip until thickened to a creamy frosting. This will look like a curdled hot mess but keep whipping and in 10 to 15 minutes it will become a beautiful buttercream. Mix in the vanilla.
• For the butterscotch sauce:
• Melt the butter in a 2-quart saucepan over low to medium heat. Add the brown sugar, lemon juice, and 1/4 teaspoon salt. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the sugar is melted and mixture is bubbling, about 5 minutes.
• Remove the pan from the heat and add the heavy cream. The mixture will bubble. Whisk until incorporated. Return the pan to low heat and cook for 10 minutes without stirring, until slightly thickened. Remove pan from the heat and add the vanilla. Stir. Let cool to room temperature. Sauce will thicken as it cools.
• Fill and frost the cooled cakes, drizzling the butterscotch sauce between the cake layers and on top of the frosting, and on top of cake.

Steps:

• CAKE: Cream shortening, butter, and brown sugar. Gradually add eggs. Sift flour, soda, salt, and spice and alternate with milk. Add dates and nuts. Bake in 9-inch layers at 350°F for 30 minutes. Cool, then frost with Penuche Frosting.
• FROSTING: Melt butter in medium saucepan. Stir in brown sugar and boil for 2 minutes, stirring constantly. Add milk and heat to boiling. Remove from heat; cool and beat in powdered sugar.
• NOTES: I believe that the reason for 1/2 butter and 1/2 shortening was economy. All butter would probably work well, too. Margarine contains liquid, so it wouldn't be the best choice. Be sure to use 9-inch cake pans, or you'll have cake everywhere. Three thinner, 8-inch cakes could probably be made instead, but I've never tried it.

Steps:

• Melt butter in a large saucepan.
• Add brown sugar and bring to a boil.
• continue cooking for 1 minute until thickens.
• Let set 15 minutes.
• Mix in hot milk.
• Add powdered sugar gradually till spreading consisitancy.
• If it gets too thick add a little milk.