Pioneer Woman Caramel Icing Recipes

LIZZIE'S OLD FASHIONED COCOA CAKE WITH CARAMEL ICING

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Grease and lightly flour two 9-inch cake pans
• For the cake: Sift together the flour, cocoa, baking soda, baking powder and salt and set aside. With an electric mixer, cream the butter and sugar until fluffy, about 5 minutes. Add the eggs and vanilla and beat on high speed for 3 minutes. Add the flour mixture in stages with 1 1/3 cups water, beginning and ending with the flour.
• Divide the batter evenly between the pans and bake for 30 to 35 minutes. Turn the layers out onto racks that have been sprayed with cooking spray.
• For the caramel icing: Mix 3 cups of the sugar and the milk in a heavy 3-quart saucepan. Bring slowly to a boil and keep it hot. Caramelize the remaining cup of sugar in an iron skillet. Do this by cooking over medium-high heat and stirring and scraping the pan with a flat-edged spatula as the sugar melts. Continue to cook until the syrup turns to medium or dark brown in color. This occurs at about 320 degrees F to 350 degrees F on a candy thermometer. Do not scorch the syrup. Stream the syrup into the boiling sugar and milk mixture and cook to the soft ball stage, about 238 degrees F. Add the butter, vanilla extract and baking soda.
• Pour the hot mixture into the bowl of an electric mixer and beat as it cools until the icing is creamy, 15 to 20 minutes. Watch the icing because it will go from runny to too thick very quickly. Spread on the cake layers while the icing is still warm. If it becomes too stiff, add a few drops of hot water.

ROYAL ICING

Steps:

• In a large bowl, beat the powdered sugar, milk and egg whites with an electric mixer until thick and glossy. Add more powdered sugar if the icing seems too thin (the size of the eggs can affect consistency). Just play with it until it's right. The icing should be stiff enough to "stand still" and not run when piped.

SALTED CARAMEL FROSTED BROWNIES

Steps:

• For the brownies: Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Line a 9-by-13-inch baking pan with foil or parchment paper.
• In the top of a double boiler over medium heat, heat the chocolate and butter, stirring, until melted, about 5 minutes. Add the granulated sugar and stir gently until combined. Remove from the heat.
• In a separate bowl, gently whisk the eggs. Add a small splash of the chocolate mixture to the eggs, stirring immediately (but still gently). Then add the tempered eggs into the chocolate, stirring constantly. Add the flour and stir until combined. Pour the batter into the prepared baking pan and spread to even out the surface.
• Bake until just beginning to crisp at the edges, 25 to 30 minutes. Let cool completely in the pan.
• For the salted caramel sauce: Add the brown sugar, cream, butter, vanilla and salt to a pan and cook over medium heat, whisking occasionally, until thickened and combined, about 5 minutes. Remove from the heat and allow to cool.
• For the salted caramel buttercream: Add the confectioners' sugar, butter and cream to a mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Mix until light and fluffy, 3 to 4 minutes. Turn the mixer off, drizzle in the salted caramel sauce, turn the mixer back on and mix until combined.
• To frost the brownies: Remove the cooled brownies from the pan, spread with the buttercream and cut into individual pieces.

INDIVIDUAL CARAMEL CAKES

Steps:

• For the cake: Preheat the oven to 300 degrees F and butter four 15-ounce cast-iron melting pots (or a 9-by-13-inch pan if using instead).
• Sift together the flour, baking soda, allspice, cinnamon and nutmeg in a bowl. In a separate bowl, mix together the oil, sugar and eggs. Combine the wet and dry ingredients in one bowl and splash in the buttermilk. Stir until just combined. The mixture will be slightly lumpy.
• Pour into the prepared pots (or 9-by-13-inch pan if using) and put them on a baking sheet. Bake until a skewer inserted in the middle comes out clean, 40 to 45 minutes; do not over bake. (If using a 9-by-13-inch pan, bake for 25 to 30 minutes.)
• For the icing: While the cake is baking, make the icing. Combine the sugar, buttermilk, butter, corn syrup, baking soda, vanilla and salt in a medium saucepan. Stir to combine. Bring to a slow boil over medium-high heat without stirring. Continue boiling until the icing turns a light caramel color, 5 to 7 minutes. Important: The icing should be the color of caramel, but not yet firm and sticky. It needs to be pourable.
• Remove the cakes from the oven. While they are very warm, pour the icing evenly over the tops. Work fast, as it will quickly start to soak into the cakes. Serve with ice cream if desired.

CARAMEL FROSTING I

Steps:

• In a saucepan over medium heat, melt the butter, and mix in 3 tablespoons milk and brown sugar. Boil vigorously for 1 minute.
• Remove from heat, and beat in 1/2 cup confectioners' sugar. Cool slightly, and beat in the vanilla and remaining 1/2 cup confectioners' sugar. Add more milk if the mixture is too thick.

CREAMY CARAMEL FROSTING

Steps:

• In a heavy saucepan, combine the brown sugar, butter and milk; bring to a boil over medium heat. Cook and stir for 2 minutes. Remove from the heat; stir in vanilla. Cool to lukewarm. Gradually beat in confectioners' sugar until frosting achieves spreading consistency.

CARAMEL FROSTING

Steps:

• In a small heavy saucepan, combine the brown sugar, butter, milk and salt. Cook and stir over low heat until sugar is dissolved. , Increase heat to medium. Do not stir. Cook for 3-6 minutes or until bubbles form in center and syrup turns amber in color. Transfer to a small bowl; cool to room temperature., Gradually beat in confectioners' sugar until frosting achieves spreading consistency.