*ingredients
+cake
°2 cups plus 2 tablespoons sifted all-purpose flour, plus flour for dusting cake tins
°1/4 teaspoon salt
°2 cups of sugar
°2 sticks of unsalted butter
°1 cup of water
°1 teaspoon soda
°Half a cup of milk
°2 eggs
°1 teaspoon vanilla
+frost:
°3 cups of granulated sugar
°1 stick of butter
°1 cup heavy cream
°dash of salt
°2 teaspoons of vanilla
Preheat oven to 350 degrees, butter and flour 2 9-inch pans, combine 2 cups plus 2 tablespoons flour and salt in large bowl, add sugar and whisk until blended, combine butter and water in saucepan, bring to a boil and pour over. flour and sugar.
Whisk until combined then add soda, buttermilk, eggs and vanilla and beat until well combined and smooth then pour into buttered and floured baking trays, bake for 20-25 minutes, checking the cake after about 15 minutes. Clean but be careful not to overcook. Remove pans from oven and allow to cool on rack 15 minutes, then invert layers onto parchment-lined racks until completely cooled.
Caramel Frosting Note: You will have two saucepans while making this frosting, so have everything ready and have a large hot pad. In a large saucepan, place 2½ cups sugar, butter, cream, and a pinch of salt. Cook over medium heat until it almost comes to a boil, then pour in the sugar syrup that you make in another pan, meanwhile, in a small saucepan, put 1/2 cup of the sugar and melt it in medium until it becomes amber in color. Do not stir this sugar but you will need to shake the pan every few minutes to help distribute the sugar.
This is the sugar syrup you are going to pour into the saucepan, once you have poured in the syrup, cook it over medium to medium-high heat, stirring constantly until it reaches about soft ball stage or 232 on the thermometer, remove the saucepan from the heat, stir in the vanilla, and let it set Cool for about 15 minutes. Either transfer to a large mixer and beat on medium speed, or use a hand mixer on medium and beat until the icing is smooth, 15-20 minutes. If the icing freezes too quickly or becomes too thick, you can add a little extra cream.
Enjoy !
