Buttermilk Layer Cake With Caramel Candy Frosting

Total Time: 1 hr 10 mins Preparation Time: 45 mins Cook Time: 25 mins

Ingredients

• 1 cup shortening
• 2 cups sugar
• 3 eggs
• 2 1/2 cups flour
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 1/2 cups buttermilk
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 3 3/4 cups sugar
• 1 1/2 cups whipping cream
• 1/4 cup butter
• 3/4 teaspoon baking soda

Recipe

• 1 beat shortening in a large bowl with an electric mixer at medium speed until smooth and creamy.
• 2 gradually beat in sugar.
• 3 add eggs and beat well.
• 4 in a small bowl mix flour, salt, and baking soda.
• 5 at low speed, beat flour mixture and buttermilk into the shortening mixture, alternating between the two, starting and ending with flour mixture.
• 6 beat the batter for 2 minutes on medium speed.
• 7 add vanilla and stir well.
• 8 grease and flour 3 8-inch round cake pans. divide cake batter evenly between the 3 pans.
• 9 bake at 350 degrees for 20-25 minutes or until a wooden pick poked into the center comes out clean.
• 10 cool in pans on wire rack for 10 minutes, then remove and cool completely on wire racks.
• 11 once cake is cooled, bring 3 cups of sugar, whipping cream, butter, and 3/4 teaspoons baking soda to a boil in a heavy saucepan. remove from heat and keep warm.
• 12 sprinkle remaining 3/4 cup sugar into a small saucepan. cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until sugar is completely melted, syrupy, and golden brown.
• 13 gradually pour into warm cream mixture and stir until smooth.
• 14 cook over medium heat, stirring often, for 10-12 minutes. remove from heat.
• 15 beat with an electric mixer at high speed for 8-10 minutes, until thick and spreadable.
• 16 spread frosting between layers and on top and sides of cooled cake.