Back to Recipe

Burnt Sugar Cake (Betty Crocker: Circa 1956)

Here's how you make Burnt Sugar Cake (Betty Crocker: Circa 1956)
Pause Continue Reading
  • Servings: 8
  • Prep: 60m
  • Cook: 60m
  • The following recipe serves 8 people.

Ingredients

The ingredients are:
  • SYRUP
  • 1/2 cup granulated sugar
  • 1/2 cup boiling water
  • Water (additional, to make 1 cup liquid)
  • 1/2 teaspoon extract (burnt sugar flavoring, optional)
  • CAKE
  • 2 1/4 cups cake flour (Soft Silk)
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 3 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 cup soft shortening
  • 2 egg yolks
  • 2 egg whites (beaten stiff)
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1/2 teaspoon extract (burnt sugar flavoring, optional)
  • CREAMY BURNT SUGAR ICING
  • 1/2 cup granulated sugar
  • 1/4 cup boiling water
  • 1/4 cup shortening
  • 1/4 cup butter
  • 2 1/2 tablespoons flour (Soft Silk)
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 3 cups confectioners' sugar, sifted
  • 3 tablespoons water
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
  • 1/2 t burnt sugar flavoring ,optional
We recommend you get your ingredients ready before you start cooking. Once you're ready, here are the steps to making this delicious recipe

How to Make

  • FOR THE SYRUP

  • Step 1: To make syrup first caramelize the 1/2 cup sugar in a heavy skillet over low heat until clear and medium brown, shaking pan gently to keep from burning. Remove from heat.

  • Step 2: Add slowly, stirring constantly, 1/2 cup boiling water. Stir over low heat until lumps are dissolved.

  • Step 3: Measure and add water to make 1 cup liquid. add flavoring here. Cool.

  • FOR THE CAKE

  • Step 4: Sift together into bowl, 2 1/4 cups sifted Softasilk flour, 1 cup sugar, 3 teaspoons baking powder and 1 teaspoon salt.

  • Step 5: Add 1/2 cup soft shortening and 2/3 cup cooled caramel-water mixture. Beat 2 minutes.

  • Step 6: Add remaining 1/3 cup cooled caramel-water mixture, 2 egg yolks and 1 teaspoon vanilla, burnt sugar extract. Beat 2 more minutes.

  • Step 7: Fold in egg whites.

  • Step 8: Pour into greased and floured pans (2 8-inch pans, or 2 9-inch pans, or 1 9 X 13 oblong pan).

  • Step 9: Makes a small cake.

  • Step 10: Bake until cake tests done.

  • Step 11: Cool.

  • Step 12: Finish with Creamy Burnt Sugar Icing.

  • Step 13: Preheat

  • Step 14: 350°F (moderate oven) 8-inch layers 30-35 minutes 9-inch layers 25-30 minutes oblong 9 X 13 35-40 minutes.

  • FOR THE ICING

  • Step 15: First make another caramel sugar-water mixture following directions in recipe above.

  • Step 16: Caramelize 1/2 cup sugar.

  • Step 17: Add 1/4 cup boiling water.

  • Step 18: DO NOT ADD any more water!

  • Step 19: Melt in saucepan 1/2 cup shortening (part butter).

  • Step 20: Remove from heat and add 2 1/2 tablespoons Softasilk flour and 1/4 teaspoon salt.

  • Step 21: Stir in slowly caramel-water mixture.

  • Step 22: Bring to boil stirring constantly. Boil 1 minute. If mixture curdles, do not be alarmed. Remove from heat.

  • Step 23: Beat in alternately, 3 cups sifted confectioners' sugar and about 3 tablespoons water, burnt sugar extract.

  • Step 24: Set saucepan in bowl of ice and cold water. Beat until consistency to spread.

  • Step 25: Stir in 1/2 teaspoon vanilla.

  • Step 26: If it becomes too thick to spread, add a little water.


We hope you enjoy this recipe!

This page is built for your convenience in the kitchen.

If you want helpful tools, tips and recipes from our community of real cooks, please consider signing up.

Oh... And one more thing... We also have some pretty wild forums.