Brown-Sugar Layer Cake with Caramel Buttercream Frosting

Rating: 3.21 stars
198 Ratings
  • 5 star values: 34
  • 4 star values: 39
  • 3 star values: 75
  • 2 star values: 34
  • 1 star values: 16

This cake is even sweeter when embellished with handmade marzipan animal figures -- which aren't too hard to make if you have the patience.

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Ingredients

Directions

  • Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Butter two 8-inch round cake pans. Line with parchment. Butter paper, and flour pans. Beat together butter and sugars with a mixer until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Beat in eggs, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in vanilla. Whisk together flour and salt. In another bowl, combine sour cream and baking soda. Gradually add flour mixture to butter mixture in 3 additions, alternating with sour cream mixture and starting and ending with flour mixture.

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  • Divide batter between pans. Bake until golden and a toothpick inserted into centers comes out clean, about 50 minutes. Let cakes cool in pans, about 30 minutes. Invert cakes, remove pans and parchment, and let cool completely on a wire rack.

  • Trim tops of cakes with a serrated knife to make level, then cut each cake in half horizontally. Reserve 1 bottom layer for another use. Place remaining bottom layer on a cake stand, and spread evenly with 1 1/4 cups frosting. Repeat with a second layer and another 1 1/4 cups frosting. Place third layer on top. Spread entire cake top and sides with 1 1/4 cups frosting. Refrigerate cake until firm, about 30 minutes. Spread with 1 1/2 cups frosting, smoothing top and sides. Serve immediately with marzipan animals, or refrigerate up to 2 days; if refrigerated, let cake come to room temperature before serving.

Reviews (16)

198 Ratings
  • 5 star values: 34
  • 4 star values: 39
  • 3 star values: 75
  • 2 star values: 34
  • 1 star values: 16
faithnhome9615710
Rating: 5 stars
05/13/2018
This is a fabulous cake recipe. I am not a baker but was able to make this cake with marzipan animals to the delight of my 2 year old grandson and rave reviews from the parents.
virgoo_megahot
Rating: 5 stars
03/04/2017
9 inches x 2 inches deep normally solved the problem for me because I couldn't find my 8 inches x 2 inches deep! Also "Brown Sugar Cake" you'd think it's sweet can't wait to taste!!! Wish I could post the pictures pretty pretty!!!
MS10881124
Rating: 5 stars
05/20/2014
This was a wonderful cake! I have the standard 2" deep Wilton pans, and had no problem with overflow. The batter was delicious, it tasted like chocolate chip cookie dough. The cake itself had a nice fine crumb and a firm but moist texture. It made a beautiful tall cake. I didn't use the frosting, I used a quick penuche frosting from my old Betty Crocker cookbook from 1959, but the frosting recipe that goes with it sounds really good too. This is a keeper. My family raved over it.
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betsybicknell
Rating: Unrated
01/02/2014
This recipe makes far too much batter for two standard 8" layers. Unless you have extra deep pans, use three pans. I used 2 pans & the batter overflowed (burned) - I removed a considerable amount and got 2 usable layers. alternatively, back in a 10" tube pan. The cake is very sweet and has a good texture. I used a maple-walnut-coconut filling adapted from German Sweet Chocolate cake. My husband loved it, but it was quite sweet.
MS11818454
Rating: Unrated
08/01/2013
I think I see what happened for one of you, it was 6 sticks butter and this is the way I like my butter cream , you might be a powdered sugar and butter person and they are very different. If you follow the directions on the icing it is perfect!! Good luck!
MS11818454
Rating: Unrated
08/01/2013
I have never seen a cake that had the same amount of sugar as flour so I think maybe a mistake in the recipe? I would really like to find out so I am going to try to contact someone. I love brown sugar and I have a recipe for a brown sugar cake but it is to die for. I might compare it. I found it in a magazine or somewhere so I am going to check my recipe box.
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MS11303112
Rating: 2 stars
07/16/2013
The cake is very good, the frosting not so much. It has no flavor. It feels like shortening on the tongue. It makes the cake seem less than good. We won't be making this again. If we do, we'll add fine chopped nuts to the cake and we'll find a different frosting altogether. Yuck.
MS10069865
Rating: Unrated
04/27/2013
I was concerned by the previous posts of warning, but this turned out great for me. I made cupcakes instead of a layer cake, but it baked like any cake and yielded a tender crumb that was moist. It's very sweet, so pair w/ something that cuts and compliments the molasses flavor of the dark brown sugar.
Anonymous
Rating: Unrated
03/28/2013
OMG-I nearly cried-this was supposed to be for a very special birthday party at work-total disaster-it spilled over in the oven - so liquid-y that I just turned off the over and left it-Gosh-the cost of the cake and especially the icing-6CUPS OF BUTTER-LORDY-WAS THIS A JOKE?
cafejohnsonia
Rating: Unrated
12/22/2012
I was super excited to make this recipe for my friend's birthday, but it was a complete disaster! Every time I've used a Martha cake recipe, it's been perfect. The cake sunk terribly in the middle. I ended up making another cake with half the amount of sugar. It was much better. As for the frosting, I practically had to start over, but was able to save it by adding a little powdered sugar. Will not be making this again!
MS12004138
Rating: Unrated
12/15/2012
I'd like to make this recipe gluten-free for Christmas. I'll definitely change the flour. Any other recommendations?
barbaraamarysto
Rating: 2 stars
12/03/2012
Frosting was super rich. Kids did not like. Cake was good, but fell in the middle. That has never happened to me before. Frosting turned out much darker than picture. Marzipan animals were tricky, but ended up looking cute, but sweaty/shiny!
MS10294349
Rating: Unrated
09/22/2012
I made this recipe today and strongly advise against the frosting. I've learned in the past that Martha's recipes can be unforgiving and followed this one to a "T". The 6 CUPS of butter ruins the frosting! So I ditched Martha's frosting and instead used a vanilla buttercream filling between layers, and a cream cheese frosting and it turned out beautifully and tasty! I also added few teaspoons of the caramel to the butter cream frosting too, which was a nice touch.
Anonymous
Rating: Unrated
09/22/2012
I also had a terrible time with the frosting and question the use of SIX sticks of butter. Is there a typo? The frosting was a complete mess :-(
MS11781561
Rating: 3 stars
09/22/2012
Tried this icing...did not look or ice cake as in pictures...way too thin. Not sure I will try this again...very expensive to make and not the results I was expecting. Followed directions exactly so not sure what happened.
MS11781561
Rating: 3 stars
09/22/2012
Tried this icing...did not look or ice cake as in pictures...way too thin. Not sure I will try this again...very expensive to make and not the results I was expecting. Followed directions exactly so not sure what happened.
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