Real Deal Southern Caramel Cake

Step 1

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Step 2

In a large mixing bowl, cream butter, oil and sugar on high until fully incorporated and light and fluffy, about 5-6 minutes.

Step 3

Turn mixer to medium speed and mix in eggs and egg yolks one at a time until well incorporated.

Step 4

Add in vanilla extract and mix.

Step 5

Sift cake flour, baking powder and salt into a medium sized bowl.

Step 6

With mixer on slow speed, alternate adding in flour mixture and sour cream ending with flour mixture until mixed through.

Step 7

Do not over mix.

Step 8

Spray three 9 inch round cake pans with baking spray or grease and flour them.

Step 9

Pour batter into individual cake pans evenly.

Step 10

Bake in preheated oven for 23-30 minutes or until fully baked (but DON'T OVERBAKE THESE CAKES- CHECK THEM EARILER SO THEY DON'T DRY OUT).

Step 11

Remove cake pans from oven and cool on cooling racks for 10 minutes.

Step 12

Remove cakes from pans and wait until completely cooled to ice.

Step 13

Add butter, evaporated milk, and sugar to saucepan over medium heat until everything has melted together.

Step 14

Leave over medium to low heat stirring periodically for about 1 1/2- 2 hours (watch the entire time to make sure it does not burn until thickened and caramel has darkened to a beautiful golden brown.

Step 15

Make sure that the caramel turns the color of the photo below before stopping the heat.

Step 16

It should also thickly coat the back of a spoon to ensure thickness. See notes below for additional tips for the caramel.

Step 17

Be careful to watch, adjusting heat temperature to not let it burn.

Step 18

Remove from heat and add in vanilla extract.

Step 19

Cool for about 15-20 minutes to allow it to thicken before icing the cake. If you see that it is too warm and still not completely thick enough, cool it in the refrigerator and get it thick!

Step 20

P.S. Some people like to take the caramel and whip it in a stand mixer to create more of a frosting texture. That is totally up to you.