Burnt Sugar Cake with Burnt Sugar Frosting

Yield: enough frosting for a 9 inch two layer cake.

Ingredients

Syrup

• 2/3 cup granulated sugar
• 2/3 cup boiling water

Cake

• 1/2 cup butter, softened
• 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 eggs
• 2 1/2 cups sifted cake flour
• 3 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 3/4 cup cold water
• 3 tablespoons burnt-sugar syrup

Burnt-Sugar Frosting

• 2 egg whites (room temperature)
• 1 1/4 cups brown sugar
• 3 to 4 tablespoons burnt sugar syrup
• 1/4 cup cold water
• Pinch of salt
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Instructions

1. Heat oven to 375 degrees F.

Syrup

1. In a heavy skillet, heat sugar over low heat, stirring constantly, until it melts and becomes dark brown.
2. Slowly add boiling water. Stir until dissolved and boil to reduce to 3/4 cup.

Cake

1. In a medium bowl, cream butter and sugar.
2. Add vanilla extract and eggs and beat well.
3. In a separate bowl, mix together flour, baking powder and salt.
4. Add dry ingredients to the egg mixture, alternately with the water, beating until smooth.
5. Add 3 tablespoons of the burnt-sugar syrup and beat for 5 minutes at medium speed.
6. Pour into two 9 inch greased and wax paper-lined pans and bake for 20 minutes, or until a wooden pick inserted in the center comes out clean.
7. Cool for 10 minutes in the pans, then turn onto cake racks and cool completely.
8. Frost with Burnt-Sugar Frosting.

Burnt-Sugar Frosting

1. Combine egg whites, brown sugar, water, sugar syrup and salt and beat one minute to blend. Pour into the top of a double boiler and cook, beating constantly, until frosting forms stiff peaks, about 7 minutes. Don't over-cook. Remove the top of the double boiler to cool the surface.
2. Add vanilla extract and beat until frosting reaches spreading consistency, about 2 minutes.
3. Frost cooled Burnt-Sugar Cake.

Attribution

Posted by Cookin'Mom at Recipe Goldmine 11/1/2001 10:20 pm.