Salted Cream Cheese Caramel Frosting Food

CARROT CAKE WITH SALTED CARAMEL-CREAM CHEESE FROSTING

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°F (325°F for dark or nonstick pans). Grease bottoms and sides of four 8-inch round cake pans with shortening.
• In large bowl, beat cake mix, milk, melted butter, eggs, cinnamon and nutmeg with electric mixer on medium speed 2 minutes. Stir in carrots and pecans. Spoon and spread batter evenly in pans (about 1 1/4 cups batter each).
• Bake 18 to 22 minutes or until toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool 10 minutes; remove from pans to cooling rack; cool completely, about 1 hour.
• In large bowl, beat cream cheese and softened butter with electric mixer on medium-high speed until smooth. Beat in 1/4 cup caramel sauce and the vanilla. On low speed, beat in powdered sugar, 1 cup at a time, until smooth and creamy.
• Frost cake using 2/3 cup between layers. Frost sides with a thin layer of frosting so sides are covered but still showing through. Spread remaining frosting on top. Refrigerate uncovered at least 2 hours.
• When ready to serve, carefully pour and spread 1/3 cup caramel sauce over top of cake, allowing some to drip down sides; sprinkle sea salt on top. Cover and refrigerate any remaining cake.

SALTED CREAM CHEESE CARAMEL FROSTING

Steps:

• Combine the sugar, water and corn syrup in a large saucepan and stir with a wooden spoon over medium heat until sugar is dissolved.
• Cover the saucepan and let it cook over medium heat for 3 minutes. Do not open lid.
• After 3 minutes, remove the lid, increase the heat to medium and bring to a boil.
• Do not stir from this point on, but instead swirl the liquid around the pan so that the caramel doesn't burn. Stirring forms sugar crystals and it will become grainey.
• Continue to cook until the caramel turns an even amber color then remove from the heat and let stand for about 30 seconds.
• Carefully pour the heavy cream into the mixture. The mixture will bubble up significantly and is very hot. Stir the mixture; add the butter, lemon juice and salt. Stir, again, until combined.
• Pour caramel into a heat-proof measuring cup. Stir occasionally and allow to cool until thickened and warm to the touch, about 20 minutes.
• Beat butter and cream cheese at medium speed until creamy.
• Add 4 cups sifted powdered sugar into the butter/cream cheese mixture and beat to combine.
• Add 3/4 cup of the prepared salted caramel and beat to combine.
• Add additional powdered sugar until the frosting is the sweetness and consistency desired.

SALTED CARAMEL POKE CAKE

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 180C/160 fan/gas mark 4 and line 2 x 20cm sandwich cake tins. In a bowl or freestanding mixer, cream the butter and both sugars until light and fluffy. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating until the whole mixture is really aerated (if your mixture looks like it might be splitting, add a little of your flour). Add the vanilla, then mix in the flour and baking powder, alternating with the milk. Divide the mixture between the tins and cook for 25-30 minutes or until the top and edges are golden brown and a skewer comes out clean. Leave to cool in tins for 10 minutes before flipping onto a wire cooling rack and peeling off the baking parchment. Allow to cool.
• Make the salted caramel sauce by heating the sugar in a medium saucepan over a low to medium heat. Resist the temptation to stir. Instead, when it starts to melt, gently swirl the pan. Cook until amber in colour - this will take 5-6 mins. Remove from the heat and add all the butter. The mixture will bubble up, but let it melt completely before stirring. Slowly pour in the cream and add the sea salt, put back on a gentle heat and warm until it's a smooth sauce. Pour into a jug and leave to cool to room temperature.
• To make the cream cheese caramel icing: cream the butter with a freestanding mixer or in a bowl until light and creamy, slowly adding in half of the sifted icing sugar in parts until fully incorporated and fluffy. Add the cream cheese, 100g of the salted caramel sauce and the remaining icing sugar, then whisk until pale and smooth. Keep in the fridge until needed.
• Once the cakes are cooled, move them to a flat surface and use a large skewer or thick straw to poke holes across the top of the cakes, being careful not to poke all the way through! Drizzle most of the remaining caramel sauce (reserving some for decoration) into the holes in the cake layers, topping up as they sink in, then spread any overspill across the cake layer. Leave to cool completely.
• To assemble, carefully place one layer onto a serving plate and cover with half of the cream cheese frosting. Repeat with the next layer, then use the remaining caramel to create a marbled pattern on top of the cake.

CARAMEL CREAM CHEESE FROSTING

Steps:

• Melt brown sugar and 4 tablespoons butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Stir until sugar dissolves. Bring to a boil over medium heat; remove from heat. Whisk in cream; blend well. Transfer to a heat-resistant bowl. Cool at room temperature, stirring occasionally.
• Place remaining 6 tablespoons butter and cream cheese in a large bowl; beat with a mixer on medium-high speed until smooth. Beat in vanilla and salt. With mixer running, slowly pour in cooled brown sugar mixture; beat until smooth. Add powdered sugar gradually, beating well after each addition until completely smooth. Chill slightly for a firmer texture, stirring occasionally.