Ingredients
For the Cake:
- 1 cup vegetable shortening
- 2 cups sugar
- 4 large eggs, room temperature
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup whole milk, room temperature
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
For the Frosting:
- 1/2 cup sugar (for burning)
- 1/2 cup boiling water
- 4 cups sugar
- 2 sticks margarine
- 1 cup milk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Make the Cake:
Preheat your oven to 350ยฐF (175ยฐC). Grease and flour your cake pans.
Cream together the vegetable shortening and sugar in a large bowl. Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition.
Sift the flour, baking powder, and salt together three times. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the creamed mixture, alternating with the milk. Add the vanilla extract and mix until smooth.
Pour the batter into the prepared pans and bake for 30-35 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Let the cakes cool completely before frosting. - Make the Frosting:
In a heavy iron skillet, burn 1/2 cup of sugar until itโs golden brown. Carefully add 1/2 cup of boiling water to make a syrup.
In a separate saucepan, combine 4 cups of sugar, 2 sticks of margarine, and 1 cup of milk. Cook this mixture until it reaches the soft ball stage (about 235ยฐF).
Remove from heat and add 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract. Place the pan in cold water and beat until the frosting thickens enough to spread. - Assemble the Cake:
Once the cake has cooled, spread the caramel frosting generously over the top and sides of the cake.
Notes
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cooking Time: 65 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 25 minutes
- Servings: 12
- Calories: 523 kcal per serving
This Old Fashioned Southern Burned Caramel Cake is perfect for special occasions or whenever you need a comforting, homemade dessert that will wow your guests! ๐ฐ๐ฎ