This is a newer, and more foolproof, traditional southern caramel icing recipe. Just like your grandmother made.
** One thing I’ve learned since posting this is to add a little bit (1 tsp at a time) of hot water to the final icing to keep it smooth for longer and easier to work with!
The first one I did still works great. This one is just a little easier to get to the end results.
For the icing:
3/4 cup granulated sugar (for browning)
3 3/4 cups granulated sugar
1 tbsp plus 1 1/2 teaspoons flour
3/4 tsp salt (if you didn't use salted butter - otherwise leave this out)
1 1/2 cups evaporated milk
2 sticks + 1 tbsp butter
1 tbsp + 1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1. Put 3/4 of sugar into cast iron or other heavy skillet over medium heat.
2. Let sugar melt and turn into an amber color.
3. While the sugar is melting, put 3 3/4 cups sugar, butter, flour, salt (if needed), evaporated milk into large sauce pan and bring to a boil.
4. Add melted/browned sugar and continue boiling until temperature reaches "soft ball" stage or 232 degrees.
*Steps 1-4 took me about 25 minutes
5. Remove from heat and begin whisking with an electric mixer.
6. Add vanilla and continue whisking until icing has cooled to a spreadable but not runny consistency.
*steps 5-6 took about 5 minutes
7. Ice the cake (or just eat the whole pan of icing after it cools because it tastes like candy!)
You can use this vanilla cake recipe: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CW2HcUD04Qo&t=495s&ab_channel=KrystalJenkinsBakes
The original caramel cake video can be seen here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=331GqhNDEdI&t=1333s&ab_channel=KrystalJenkinsBakes
Candy thermometer:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0011YVZMQ/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o08_s02?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Offset spatula:
https://www.amazon.com/Ateco-1385-Spatula-4-5-Inch-Stainless/dp/B000WG14FC/ref=sr_1_7?s=home-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1537979015&sr=1-7&keywords=offset+spatula+small
Rubber spatula:
https://www.amazon.com/Cuisinart-CTG-00-S3MS-Mini-Spatulas-Multicolor/dp/B00WRPOXEA/ref=sr_1_4?keywords=Small+Silicone+Spatula&qid=1636645151&qsid=140-3780221-0384012&s=home-garden&sr=1-4&sres=B00WRPOXEA%2CB073P2Y69T%2CB01MV7EHEQ%2CB001QTVT4K%2CB084H89YLC%2CB08BLNQRZG%2CB08PNW2QT3%2CB07D7P4CDP%2CB08X1N26TC%2CB07FVQ4ZF4%2CB089SWQS21%2CB07SHV72HZ%2CB00Y60M6QQ%2CB07QRYQHWK%2CB01M15MTN0%2CB00ESCL0KA%2CB000RWMUP4%2CB00KSMBL26%2CB08DRDS8DT%2CB094XC2HKV&srpt=FOOD_SPATULA