caramel layer cake

How To Make caramel layer cake

• 1

  Preheat oven to 350F. Spray 3 (9 inch) round cake pans with nonstick baking spray with flour. Line bottoms of pans with parchment paper; spray with nonstick baking spray with flour. Set aside. In a large bowl, beat butter and sugar at medium speed with an electric mixer until fluffy, 3-4 minutes, stopping occasionally to scrape sides of bowl. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. With mixer on low speed, add flour to butter mixture in thirds, alternating with buttermilk, beginning and ending with flour mixture. Beat in vanilla. Divide batter evenly among prepared pans, smoothing tops with an offset spatula. Bake until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. 25-30 minutes. Let cool in pans 10 minutes. Remove from pans, and let cool completely on wire racks.
• 2

  Make the caramel frosting: In a large heavy saucepan, place sugar in a small bowl, whisk together water and corn syrup. Pour over sugar, stirring just until moistened. Cook over medium high heat, without stirring, until mixture is golden brown. (Brush any sugar crystals on sides of pan with a pastry brush dipped in water.) Remove from heat. Carefully stir in 1/2 cup cold butter until butter melts. (Mixture will foam.) Gradually add hot cream, stirring until smooth. (If mixture does not get smooth, cook over low heat, stirring until smooth.) Set aside, and let cool until slightly warm, approximately 1 hour, stirring occasionally. Reserve 1/3 cup caramel to drizzle over assembled cake. In a large bowl, beat remaining caramel mixture and 1 cup softened butter at medium speed with an electric mixer until smooth. With mixer on low speed, gradually add powdered sugar, beating just until smooth. Place a piece of plastic wrap on surface of frosting. Let stand until frosting reaches a spreadable consistency, approximately 10 minutes.
• 3

  Spread frosting between layers and on top and sides of cake. Drizzle with reserve 1/3 cup caramel from the frosting. Garnish with pecans, if desired.
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