Recipe category Desserts: Burnt Sugar Caramel Cake

Burnt Sugar Caramel Cake
An original recipe by BumbleBeeBoogie

1 cup water, divided
4 cups granulated white sugar, divided
4-1/2 cups cake flour
1 tablespoon baking powder
1-1/2 teaspoons salt
1-1/2 cups (sticks) butter, softened
1-1/2 cups heavy cream
8 large egg whites (or the equivalent in reconstituted egg white powder)
1 tablespoon vanilla extract

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line with rounds of greased and floured wax paper three 9-inch non-stick cake pans.

In a small saucepan, combine the 1 cup of water with 2 cups of the granulated white sugar. Heat over low heat until the sugar syrup has turned to a dark golden brown, about 15 to 20 minutes (to create the "burnt sugar" syrup.) Remove from heat, cool, and reserve 1/2 half of the burnt sugar syrup for making the cake's frosting..

Combine the flour, baking powder, salt and remaining 2 cups of sugar in a mixer bowl and mix on low speed to combine. Add the butter and 1 cup of heavy cream and beat for 1-1/2 minutes.

In a small bowl, mix the remaining 1/2 cup heavy cream, 4 eggs whites, the cooled burnt sugar syrup, and vanilla; add this mixture to the mixer bowl in 3 stages, beating for 20 seconds after each addition.

In another thoroughly clean mixing bowl (preferable copper), beat the 4 remaining egg whites to soft peaks. Carefully fold them into the batter; pour the batter into the prepared cake pans.

Bake 25 to 30 minutes, or until the cakes spring back when pressed in the center. Cool on wire racks.

BURNT SUGAR CARAMEL FROSTING

3/4 cup granulated white sugar
2 cups dark brown sugar, firmly packed
1/8 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup milk, cream or half-and-half
1-1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Reheat the remaining 1/2 portion of the Brunt Sugar syrup (above). Remove from the heat and add the remaining ingredients, except the vanilla. Return to the heat and bring slowly to the boiling point, stirring constantly; boil for 1 minute. Cool to lukewarm, add the vanilla, and beat until thick enough to spread.

Spread the frosting between the cake layers, then frost the top and sides. If the frosting becomes to thick to spread, briefly reheat it in the microwave oven---or whisk in a little milk a teaspoon at a time. You may wish to garnish the frosted cake with pecan halves.