Serves 1
Directions
- 1Melt granulated sugar over medium heat until deep amber, do not stir, swirl pan.
- 2Carefully add boiling water, stir smooth, and simmer for 3–5 min. Cool.
- 3Reserve ½ cup of burnt sugar syrup for the cake and ½ cup for the frosting.
- 4Heat oven to 350°F / 175°C.
- 5Grease three 8-inch pans.
- 6Cream butter and sugar for 3–5 min.
- 7Add eggs one at a time.
- 8Whisk dry ingredients (cake flour, baking powder, salt).
- 9Alternate adding dry ingredients and milk into the batter.
- 10Mix in burnt sugar syrup and vanilla.
- 11Bake for 25–30 min.
- 12Cool completely.
- 13For the traditional burnt sugar frosting, boil butter, brown sugar, burnt sugar syrup, and evaporated milk for 2 minutes.
- 14Cool until warm, then beat in powdered sugar, salt, and vanilla.
- 15Frost cake quickly before it sets.
- 16For the optional brown sugar penuche frosting, melt ¾ cup butter.
- 17Boil brown sugar, heavy cream, and salt.
- 18Beat the brown sugar mixture into the melted butter with powdered sugar.
- 19Add the remaining butter 1 tbsp at a time.
- 20Rest for 10–30 min until spreadable.
- 21Fill and frost the cake with traditional burnt sugar frosting.
- 22Optionally, cover the outside with penuche frosting.
- 23Finish with rustic swoops and swirls.
Ingredients
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 cup boiling water
- 1 cup butter, softened
- 2 cups sugar
- 4 eggs
- 3 cups cake flour
- 1 tbsp baking powder
- 0.5 tsp salt
- 1 cup whole milk
- 0.5 cup burnt sugar syrup
- 2 tsp vanilla
- 0.5 cup butter
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 0.5 cup burnt sugar syrup
- 0.25 cup evaporated milk
- 3 cups powdered sugar
- 4 cups powdered sugar
- 1 pinch salt
- 1 tsp vanilla
- 1.5 cups butter, divided
- 1.5 cups brown sugar
- 0.5 cup heavy cream
- 1 tsp salt
- 4.5 cups powdered sugar
Equipment
oven8-inch pans
Tips
- Work fast when making traditional burnt sugar frosting, as it sets quickly.
- For the optional brown sugar penuche frosting, rest it for 10-30 minutes until spreadable.
- Finish the cake with rustic swoops and swirls.
Related recipes
Authentic NY Bagels
American · Baked Goods
Sammy Davis Jr.'s Favorite Sandwich
American · Baked Goods
Spring Lemon Loaf
American · Baked Goods35m
Ooey Gooey Butter Cake
American · Baked Goods40m
Hawaiian Sweet Rolls
American · Baked Goods
Homemade burger buns
American · Baked Goods12m
High protein Lava Cake
American · Baked Goods
Healthy Banana Bread
American · Baked Goods35m
Healthy Low Cal Banana Bread
American · Baked Goods40m
Gooey Butter Cake
American · Baked Goods1h 45m
Homemade Dinner Rolls
American · Baked Goods1h 45m
Fry Bread
American · Baked Goods