In Search of the best old fashioned Southern Caramel Cake Recipe

[MrsD]

I know there are a lot of caramel cake recipes floating around, but my grandmother in Louisiana used to make the most amazing caramel cake. It was the icing that was the most amazing and it was simple, but I have never been able to replicate it. Her icing was simply a can of pet milk, sugar and butter. She would cook it until it turned into a rich caramel icing. People came from miles around to eat this cake.

Please share your recipes even if it is not this one. If by chance someone knows how to do the cooked version with pet milk, can you walk me through how long it is supposed to cook to get to the right texture.

[blue room]

Hello, from a book called "The Cake Club", ("delicious desserts.. from a southern childhood") a recipe for Caramel Glaze to pour over a cake. You put 1/2 cup brown sugar, 3/4 cup heavy cream, 1 tablespoon unsalted butter, and a pinch of salt into a saucepan and bring to a simmer. Stir frequently while it simmers for 7 minutes. (It will thicken.) Cool until lukewarm before pouring on cake.
Maybe this is close to what you need? I haven't made it myself, just happened to see it. (Oh, it says to use a wooden spoon--I don't know why!)

[MakingSense]

You may remember a common caramel frosting used in Louisiana and much of the South that used brown sugar, whipping cream, and butter which was cooked to the soft ball stage before beating until it was cool, very thick and fluffy. Sometime a small amount of corn syrup was added. Always a touch of vanilla. Many county cooks used evaporated milk as cream was expensive and not always available.
Try 1 pound brown sugar, 1 cup Pet or cream, 1/2 stick butter, 1 T corn syrup, pinch of salt.
Cook to soft ball stage, apx. 236 degrees. Be patient. This may take take 20 minutes. Stir in 2 t. vanilla extract.
Beat until thick and creamy, about 10 minutes.
If you use evaporated milk, you may wish to use 1 stick of butter rather than the 1/2 stick. Like all country recipes, the cook adjusts for what's on hand.

[bkdraper]

is this for a three layer cake? Do you spread it or pour it over cakes? I assume spread since creamy,but all others say pour.

[bayoucook]

Yes! That's the one my grandmothers used and it was the most wonderful caramel. Gonna print and save that one, thanks.

[Querencia]

I use this caramel icing from an old edition of The Joy of Cooking. It's so good that even on white cake from a mix the result is wonderful: Put in a saucepan 2 cups dark brown sugar packed down hard, 1 stick (1/2 cup) butter, and 1/2 cup cream or milk (I use either). Boil gently to the soft ball stage or 238* on candy thermometer. Let cool just a little bit then add 1 tsp vanilla and beat until it starts to look less shiny then quickly dump it onto the cake and spread. Timing is all but once you've done this you'll get a feeling for when the icing is ready to go on the cake, NOW.

[mamaciita]

The Louisville, KY Courier-Journal printed a recipe for Easy Caramel Cake with Penuche Frosting on the Wednesday before Labor Day. I tried it, and everyone LOVED it, even though I think my butter was a bit old (I just don't use that much during the summer. . .).

You can probably find the recipe on the Courier-Journal's web site; if not, I'll post it for you!

[Stacy Gray]

Your grandmother's recipe sounds like my mother-in-law's. She uses 3 c. GRANULATED sugar (Not brown sugar)and 1 small can evaporated milk (5 oz.). She removes 3 T. of the sugar and places it in a small frying pan and sets aside. Then she melts the remaining sugar, the milk, and a stick of butter. She brings to a slow rolling boil and cooks to soft ball stage or 115*C on a candy thermometer. Then she removes from heat and adds the 3T sugar (browned) to the mixture with a wooden spoon and immediately frosts the cake.
Hope this helps!

[Tomi839]

This sounds like my mama's Pet Milk Cake. It has been famous in my family for 50 years or more. The cake is a light chocolate one and the icing is made from 4 cups of sugar, 1 large can of Pet milk, two sticks of salted butter and 1 Tablespoon of vanilla. All ingredients except vanilla are cooked on medium heat to the soft ball stage, 234 degrees on the candy thermometer, then vanilla is added. Icing then cools a bit before beating to spreading consistency. The icing is tricky but so worth the effort. It is just delicious.

[Shebaac]

Hi! I am from Atlanta, Ga. and have a very old southern caramel cake recipe. Everyone loves it but be warned, it is very sweet. I hope this helps (recipe below).
Allison Hanner

Caramel Cake, southern style

3 cups sugar
1.5 cups shortening
3 cups plain flour
6 eggs
1.5 tsp. baking powder
1.5 tsp. vanilla
1.5 cups milk

Cream sugar and shortening until smooth.
Add all other ingredients and beat for 5 minutes.
Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes in 3 round
cake pans that have been greased and floured.
Let cakes cool before icing.

Icing
1 cup white sugar
1 cup brown sugar
1 stick butter
1 14 oz. can Eagle Brand milk
1 tsp. vanilla

Combine all ingredients in saucepan and cook
2 minutes, stirring constantly, until thick and
bubbly. Remove from heat and let cool until fairly thick
and just warm. Pour over cakes and assemble layers.
Keep piling icing back onto cake with knife until
cooled.*

*Hint: Dip your knife in a glass of tepid water as you are icing cake;
this keeps the icing smooth so it won’t get “grainy” looking.

[vvvindaloo]

Thanks for the recipe. I am not familiar with Eagle brand milk. Is it condensed? Evaporated? I ask bc I may need to substitute brands. Thanks!

[janderson5]

In Maryland when you say Eagle Brand it is sweetened condensed milk.

[joybells]

How do you assemble this cake? Do you frost all of the layers first, and then put them together? Or, do yu frost as you build?
Thanks!

[msdazisha]

when u say white sugar are you talking about granulated or powdered?

[alcar125]

It's granulated sugar.

[Countinglkp]

I know of one, but no guarantees... 3 cups sugar, 1 can PET (12 oz), 1 stick butter, 1 tsp vanilla.

Cook sugar and evaporated milk together, stirring occasionally, until it reaches to soft ball stage, (235 - 240 degrees) or 10-15 minutes. Remove from heat. Add butter and vanilla, beat until thickened and creamy. I prefer mine less thick and more "runny". It seems to soak into the cake and make it that much more moist. I've also tried pouring the icing on when the cake is still warm.

[gosaraland]

Are you sure that it was just Pet milk, sugar and butter. The Pet milk site has a recipe for caramel sauce that also includes corn syrup. I would e-mail the Pet Milk people because many times way back when, women got their recipes from product labels.

[starr37560]

Hello Mrs.D , I learned how to make this caramel icing when I was 13 years old from my mother , and i think this is what you're looking for.
This recipe is for a three layer cake.
2 cans of pet milk or carnation evaporated milk
3 cups of sugar ( I perfer Dimino because its the sweetest)
1 stick of butter
1 Tspoon vanilla

I use a double boiler to keep from over cooking
use 3/4 cup of the sugar
in a cast iron skillet pour the 3/4 cup of sugar and let melt to a golden caramel glaze
pay close attention to the sides of the skillet to make sure all the sugar is caramelize.
mix milk, suger,and butter in a heavy duty pot.
Cook on medium heat. stir regularly to keep mixture from boiling over.
cook until it boils dowm low. Drop a few drops of the mixture in cold water when forms a ball. If the the icing stays together,it is done.then add vanilla. let icing cool before frosting the cake. Good Luck.

Ms. J

[mamanikki]

This made the carmel I have been searching for!!! God Bless you & your Mother!!! One problem though, I caramelized the sugar, then some of it got hard....What did i do wrong? Could you please be detailed about the 1st step of this perfect recipie??? Thanks in advance...You are a Cake Goddess!!!

[chryan]

Yes this is almost identical to the recipe used by my great grandmother and my mother. It is truly the best!! The only difference is after you brown the sugar in the skillet (or dutch oven, is what I use then I continue making the icing in the same pan) you add water (it's either 1/2 cup or 3/4 cup, I don't have the recipe in front of me) and it will sizzle and steam and the caramel will get hard, but keep stirring and cooking until the hard caramel incorporates into the water and you are left with a brown watery mixture. Cook this down until it thickens to a syrup. Then add the butter and sugar, etc., and finish the recipe. This will solve your problem.

Char

[alcar125]

My recipe is similar but calls for 1 Tbsp corn syrup which I believe keeps the icing soft and prevents it from cracking and turning sugary.

[ysf5]

I have a recipe similar to the that. I use
1 can of evaporated milk
3 cups of sugar
1 stick unsalted butter
1 tblspn of vanilla extract
over very low heat melt the butter in a pot, once melted add milk then gradually add sugar..you have to keep stiring once the sugar is added or you will scorch it.You should stir slow and constant.Then add vanilla. Stiring may take up to an hour to get the right texture. You should be able to just pour it on the cake. If you have to scoop it out then you over stirred it. Its best if you pour it over the cake while its still hot, but make sure the cake is cooled completly.

[scjones1979]

I'm new to making this cake but I've learned that the quickest way is to boil in a pot 3 cans of condensed milk. make sure they're covered completely at all times. let the cans cool for about 10 minutes open and stir. you'll have perfect creamy caramel to frost any cake

[joybells]

How long do you boil the cans?

Thanks!

[jeanmarieok]

condensed milk is a lot different than evaporated milk.

[toodie jane]

it's "SWEETENED condensed milk" also known as "Eagle Brand", Milk and sugar cooked till reduced and thickened, then canned.

Evaporated milk )ofte " Pet" or "Carnation" brand, is just regular milk, cooked till reduced, then canned. No sugar added.

[biondanonima]

This actually makes dulce de leche, which is delicious but has a different texture/flavor (IMO) than the cooked caramel frostings discussed in the rest of this thread.

[LGil500]

I'm new to CHOW and I didn't see an answer to someone's question as to how long the cans of mild are boiled. Also, when you said to keep them covered at all times, is that the water or the pot's lid? Tnx much.

[Ms. TT]

My Miss. born grandmother made a mind blowing caramel icing out of PET milk, butter and sugar only. It's similar to the recipes here, only she made it fluffy and soft by skimming it while it boiled for around a half hour over slow heat.....cooled, added vanilla and beat before spreading it.

[mamanikki]

starr37560 is the one you r lookin for ..... It is the Soul Caramel Cake I have been looking for...Good luck...

[cupcakeproject]

What cake do you put this frosting on? I'm curious. I'm hoping to make some old fashioned caramel cupcakes.

[momof2boys]

Hi,

It is funny you should ask for an old fashioned caramel cake/cupcake recipe, as I was home this evening looking through some old newspapers a lady had given me and found the following recipe for Caramel Cake...I found it in Good Stories Newspaper from Augusta, Maine March 1934 edition, submitted in by Mrs. J.T.M. from R. 2. Bringhurst, Indiana. I have broken the recipe down, as it was just in one paragraph, and I have not tried it yet, as I just found it tonight, but do plan on making it this weekend, so if you do make it, please let me know what you think of it. It also listed a Eggless Fruit Cake recipe from the same lady, if you are interested in it, let me know.

Caramel Cake
1 cup brown sugar
1 cup sweet cream
1/4 tsp. salt
2 eggs
1 tsp. vanilla
2 cups flour
2 tsp. baking powder
1/4 tsp. bakind soda
1 tsp. cocoa

cream brow sugar and sweet cream together

beat 2 eggs together and then add to above mixture along with salt & vanilla and sit aside

sift together flour, baking powder, baking soda and cocoa, then add to mixture above and beat "whole hard" for two minutes

pour into greased loaf-cake pan and bake in a moderate oven. (it does not state what temp to set oven to or how long to cook it, but I would imagine about 350 and cook until a knife comes out clean)

Hope this recipe can help you out, I can't wait to try it myself along with the fruitcake also!

let cool and spread with caramel frosting or any desired icing.

[vvvindaloo]

momof2, I am guessing that the "sweet cream" called for in the recipe refers to "sweet cream butter". Did you ever end up trying this recipe? I have recently started collecting old American cake recipes (I especially like ones from the '30s and '40s) and would like to try a traditional Caramel Cake- do you recommend this one?

[toodie jane]

vvvvin--I think it IS just cream, not butter, as there is no milk or other liquid in the recipe. The cream being hte fat and liquid all in one. Easier, too for farmwife--no butter to churn.

[vvvindaloo]

that makes sense- thank you!

[mamanikki]

Over several years, I have tried many recipies for caramel cake. The easiest 1 has proved to be the best & the one I was looking for. 3c granulated sugar, 1 can evap milk & 1 stick butter. I make a butter cake out of box & use the leftover caramel for kids to dip apples in

[toodie jane]

I'm confused. What do you do with those three ingredients, with a box of cake mix? Left over caramel?

[mamanikki]

So sorry it took so long to reply, I got a new job. no time for anything...So you take the ingredients all except 1/2 ugar & put them in a dutch oven. the 1/2 cup sugar you brown in a pan. The butter will melt as itcooks. After the sugar is carmelized, add it to the dutch oven. Cook for about 1/2 hour over medium-medium/high heat until it comes to a rolling boil & then continue to boil until you dip a spoon in it & then let a drop into a bowl of cold water & the ball stays together...Add 1 t. vanilla, let cool for 10 or so minutes, & then frost your 2 or 3 layer cake...I like the super-moist butter yellow cake right out of the box. this is the best cake , i think. I usually doupuble the recipie & then my leftover frosting I put into tupperware bowls & when the grandkids come over I give them a couple TBS with their apples & they lick their plates clean. I have to admit I like it too!!!!

[toodie jane]

Here is a recipe passed to me by a friend from S Carolina, the ladies of his family make it:
(the graphics on the note card indicate it was written in the 40's--50's)

Mrs Hubbard's Caramel Icing

2 heaping cups brown sugar
1 stick butter
1 sm can Carnation cream [evaporated milk]
Stir in one direction [over moderate heat] until comes to good boil
Put 1 tsp vanilla
Beat till right [ spreading] consistency
Use about 4 T. to each layer [rest on top and sides]
Put fine [chopped] nuts between layers and larger pieces on top --optional

My friend said this goes on a plain homemade vanilla butter cake--it's the frosting that makes it "caramel cake". This is from South Carolina, near Columbia.

[Chocolatechipkt]

I haven't tried this yet, but I plan to make it soon: http://www.saveur.com/article/Recipes...

[toodie jane]

wow--One and a half pounds of butter, 8 cups of sugar and topped off by a cup of Crisco. phew!

[Chocolatechipkt]

Yeah, that's a bit ridiculous in its richness. I was focusing on the concept and hadn't yet noticed the ingredient specifics.

[mamachef]

Mrs.D, it appears as if you've got the cake itself covered, so here are two versions of frosting, and they're both really, really good. I think the second one is the one you're looking for. Good luck, happy eating such a grand treat!
1 c. heavy cream
1/2 c. packed light brown sugar
1 T. light corn syrup
good pinch salt
1 tsp. pure vanilla extract
In medium saucepan over medium heat, bring all ingredients except vanilla to the boil, stirring until sugar is dissolved. Boil, stirring occasionally, until thermometer registers 212 degrees, which will take 12-14 minutes. It will thicken, but it should be pourable.

This one is fully traditional, but note: it takes a long time. Pls. read through before you start!
3 3/4 c. sugar
2 sticks butter (this is the one recipe I use salted butter for specifically, otherwise it tastes flat to me)
2 cans evaporated milk
Cook sugar and butter in heavy-bottomed pot over high heat, stirring constantly and rapidly, until mixture turns light brown, 7-8 minutes. If it starts to take color on rapidly before this amount of time, turn the heat down but keep it at a boil at all times. Next, use heavy caution when adding the cans of milk, and turn heat down to medium-low; cook stirring constantly until mixture is completely blended and smooth, 8-10 minutes. Cook, stirring occasionally until icing registers 240 degrees - this will take about an hour and a half. Remove from heat, and beat with wooden spoon until thick, glossy and spreadable : 20-25 minutes. A dollop dropped on a plate should BARELY ooze. Ice cake middle, stack and ice the rest. Chill in fridge until ready to serve.