Cakes are among the popular baked items, which are often decorated with frosting or icing. It is believed that frosting was created for the first time, during the seventeenth century. At that time, frosting was made of sugar, flavoring agents and egg white, which were cooked together and poured over the cake, as part of cake decorating. Such frosting had to be baked for a few minutes, in order to bring out a glaze. Now, we have different types of frosting, which are used as per the flavor and texture of the cake. Apart from decorating cakes, frosting also enhance the flavor and texture of cakes and seal in the moisture. While butter cream frosting, royal icing, etc. are rich and thick, cooked frosting is comparatively light and airy. Caramel frosting is one such type, but it can be made thicker and fluffy by making some changes in the ingredients and measurements. The color of this frosting also range between golden to somber brown, as per the length of cooking time. Scroll down for some easy caramel frosting recipes.
Easy Caramel Frosting Recipe
This is one of the basic caramel frosting recipe, which is commonly used. Use a large saucepan with a heavy bottom to prepare this recipe. While cooking, you have to constantly stir the contents with a flat-sided wooden spoon. This prevents burning of the ingredients. The following are the ingredients, which are required to make this caramel frosting recipe.
- Powdered sugar - One cup
- Brown sugar (tightly packed) - ⅓ cup
- Butter - Two tablespoons
- Water - Two tablespoons
- Vanilla - One teaspoon
You can start the process of making caramel frosting recipe by mixing the brown sugar, water and butter in the saucepan. Make sure that the brown sugar is tightly packed in the cup. Turn on the heat and cook the mixture on medium-high flame, till the butter-sugar mixture melts and boils. Once the mixture boils, you have to continue cooking for one or two minutes only (throughout the cooking time, you have to stir the ingredients in the saucepan constantly). The next step is to remove the mixture from heat and add vanilla extract and powdered sugar, when the mixture is warm. The powdered sugar has to be added as per the consistency you need for the frosting. Now your
caramel frosting is ready.
Caramel Frosting Recipe with Cream
Adding some extra ingredients can enhance the flavor and texture of caramel frosting. In this caramel frosting recipe, we have to add some heavy cream. The ingredients of this recipe is as follows.
- Brown sugar (tightly packed) - Two cups
- Heavy cream - One cup
- Unsalted butter - Three tablespoons
- Vanilla Extract - One and a half teaspoon
This caramel frosting recipe is also very easy to prepare. Mix brown sugar and heavy cream in a saucepan with heavy bottom. Place it on medium heat and stir constantly till it starts to boil. Once it starts to boil, cover the saucepan and simmer it for around two minutes so that the sugar melts fully. Remove the lid and check whether whole sugar crystals are sticking to the side of the pan. If there is any, remove them. Cook the mixture without lid, till it breaches 238° F. You can use a candy thermometer to measure the temperature. Once this temperature is reached, remove the saucepan from heat and add butter. You don't have to stir the mixture, after removing from heat. Let it cool for about one hour and reach a temperature of 110° F. Now, add vanilla and beat the mixture, till it reaches the desired consistency. Once the caramel frosting is ready, use it immediately. If the frosting is too thick, you may add some hot water and beat it so that it becomes thin.
Both the above said caramel frosting recipes are very easy to prepare. You can use this frosting with most of the desserts, oatmeal cakes and bars, granola bars and apple pie.
