Brown Butter Spice Cake Recipes

BROWN BUTTER SPICE CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 180°C/fan160°C/gas 4. Butter and line 2 x 20cm round cake tins.
• Melt the butter in a pan until it stops foaming and browns. Strain through a coffee filter or fine sieve into a large bowl and cool, then beat with the sugar, eggs and treacle. Stir in the tea and orange zest.
• In a separate bowl, sift the flour with the spices and baking powder. Blend into the butter mixture. Divide the mixture between the tins and bake for 20-25 minutes until a skewer comes out clean. Cool on a rack.
• For the icing, mix the ingredients with 1 tbsp water. Spread over 1 of the cakes and sandwich with the other cake.

SPICE CAKE WITH BROWN BUTTER FROSTING

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease a 9"x 13"x 2" baking pan.
• Whisk together the flour, baking powder, cinnamon, salt, ginger, allspice, cardamom, and nutmeg. Set aside.
• Using an electric mixer on medium speed, beat the butter, sugar, and brown sugar until light and fluffy. Add the eggs, one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Mix in the vanilla.
• Reduce mixer speed to low. Add the flour mixture in three portions, alternating with two portions of the milk. Mix just until combined.
• Transfer the batter to the prepared pan and spread evenly. Bake 35 to 40 minutes or until a pick inserted into the center comes out clean.
• Cool the cake completely in the pan on a wire rack.
• Place the butter in a medium saucepan or skillet. Cook over medium heat until the butter melts and begins to foam.
• Continue cooking until brown specks begin to form at the bottom of the pan and the butter has a nutty aroma.
• Transfer the butter (including the browned bits) to a large mixing bowl. Allow the butter to cool for about an hour. (It will become somewhat solidified.)
• Using an electric mixer on medium speed, beat the butter for about a minute. Gradually add the confectioners' sugar, mixing until thoroughly combined.
• Add the vanilla and 2 tablespoons of milk. Mix until thoroughly combined and smooth. If necessary, add more milk, a small amount at a time, and continue mixing until the frosting is the desired consistency.
• Spread the frosting over the cooled cake.

BROWN BUTTER CAKE WITH SPICED CHOCOLATE GANACHE AND DULCE DE LECHE

Steps:

• For the cake: Melt the butter in a large shallow saucepan over medium-low heat. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the butter starts to brown and smell nutty, 10 to 12 minutes. Scrape the butter and all the browned bits into a heatproof bowl. Place the bowl over an ice bath to solidify and set aside.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Grease three 8-inch cake pans with the 1 tablespoon butter (or spray with nonstick cooking spray) and then lightly dust with flour.
• Whisk together the 3 3/4 cups flour, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg, baking soda and salt in a medium bowl until well combined, then set the flour mixture aside.
• When the brown butter has solidified, scrape it into the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Add the brown sugar and granulated sugar and beat on high speed until very light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Scrape down the bowl and reduce the speed to medium, then add the eggs one at a time, beating after each addition and scraping the bottom of the bowl to be sure everything is well mixed.
• Add the sour cream and vanilla and beat just until well mixed, scraping down the bowl again. Add the flour mixture in three parts, alternating with the milk, beating just until incorporated. Remove the bowl from the mixer and give the batter a couple of folds with a spatula, scraping the bottom to ensure everything is evenly mixed.
• Divide the batter among the three prepared cake pans and bake until golden brown and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out mostly clean with some moist crumbs sticking to it, about 25 minutes. Place the pans on a wire rack until cool enough to handle, then invert them onto the rack and unmold the cakes. Carefully turn the cakes right-side up and let cool completely on the rack.
• For the assembly: Look at your cake layers. If any of them have a dome in the center, cut it off with a serrated knife so the entire top is flat. Place one cake layer on a cake plate or cardboard cake round. Spread vanilla frosting around the outside of one layer and then frost a 1-inch band around the top. Evenly spread half the dulce de leche in the center of the layer until you reach the 1-inch band and then sprinkle with half the sea salt. Add another cake layer and repeat with the frosting and remaining dulce de leche and sea salt. Add the last cake layer and frost the entire cake with a smooth and even layer of frosting. Refrigerate for about 30 minutes until the frosting is set and cold.
• Remove the cake from the refrigerator and place it on a serving plate or cake stand. Using a spoon, create drips with ganache around the outside of the cake from the top edge. Pour the remaining ganache in the center of the cake and spread it with an offset spatula to cover the top. Let the ganache set completely before serving.
• Place the chocolate in a heatproof bowl. Stir together the cream, cinnamon, vanilla and chili powder in a small saucepan. Heat over medium heat until it just begins to bubble around the edges, then pour it over the chocolate and let sit for about 10 seconds. Stir until smooth and shiny. Let the ganache sit until it has cooled and thickened slightly, about 5 minutes.

BROWN BUTTER SPICE CAKE

Steps:

• Melt the butter in a small pot over medium heat until it's brown and gives off a deliciously nutty aroma. This can take anywhere from 10 to 20 minutes. You want the butter solids nicely toasted, but not scorched. Stir in the toasted hazelnut oil. Set aside and allow to cool but not set. By doing the butter first you can complete the rest of the steps while it is cooling.
• Preheat oven to 350F / 180C with a rack in the top 1/3. Butter and flour a 1-lb loaf pan, or roughly 9x5x3-inch.
• Sift the flour, baking soda, cinnamon, garam masala, and sea salt into a large bowl. Set aside. In a smaller bowl whisk the sugar, eggs, squash, and milk. Whisk in the still melted butter, but make sure it isn't hot to the touch. Add the wet ingredients to the flour mixture, and stir until just combined. Fold in most of the almonds.
• Pour the batter into the prepared pan, sprinkle with 1 1/2 tablespoons of sugar and remaining almonds, and bake for about 50-60 minutes, or until the edges have browned and the center of the cake is well set. Do your best to avoid over-baking, part of the charm of this cake is its moistness, when it is baked properly. Use a cake tester if necessary.
• *To make pureed winter squash: Roast large wedges or small cubes of skinned and seeded pumpkin, butternut squash, red kuri squash, etc. in a 375F / 190C until cooked and tender throughout. Puree with a hand blender until smooth.