Real Recipes From Real Home Cooks ®

caramel cake from the 1940's

(3 ratings)
Recipe by
Elaine Bovender
Wilmington, NC

Just imagine yourself sitting in your grandma's kitchen enjoying a slice of this moist, rich and delicious caramel cake! This recipe has a very distinct old-fashioned taste that you just don't find in today's mixes. It is very easy to make, but you do have to be careful not to over mix or over bake it. It comes out very moist and it is very rich. If you don't have a large family, you can share it with a friend or take out a little now and freeze the rest into individual servings. Then when you have a little sweet tooth, just thaw a slice out and enjoy!

(3 ratings)
yield serving(s)
prep time 10 Min
cook time 25 Min
method Bake

Ingredients For caramel cake from the 1940's

  • 3 c
    all purpose flour, sifted
  • 4 tsp
    baking powder
  • 1/2 tsp
    salt
  • 1 c
    sugar
  • 2 lg
    eggs beaten
  • 1 1/2 c
    milk
  • 1/2 c
    melted shortening (i used canola oil)
  • 1 tsp
    caramel extract
  • 1 tsp
    vanilla extract
  • CARAMEL FROSTING
  • 1/2 c
    butter (use real butter, not margarine)
  • 1 c
    dark brown sugar firmly packed
  • 2 Tbsp
    light corn syrup
  • 1/3 c
    evaporated milk
  • 1/2 tsp
    caramel extract
  • 1 tsp
    vanilla extract
  • 1 lb
    confectioner's sugar

How To Make caramel cake from the 1940's

  • 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.
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