• Burnt Sugar CandyBar Cake

  Filed under dessert - cakes/cupcakes
  Feb 25
  
  First of all, I want to point out the link that I have added to the left sidebar on my blog. If you remember, my New Year’s resolution for 2008 was to have a blog entry about at least one recipe from each of my cookbooks. I have created a new blog (to add to the way too many blogs I already have) that lists my cookbooks with links to the recipes that I have made from them. This way I can be held accountable, and it’s fun for me to look and see which cookbooks I still need to cook from. It’s also helped me to stop buying as many cookbooks so that I can at least try to keep up!!

  And I have so many recipes waiting to be blogged about – and this is one of them. I actually made this for a work birthday last month. I have mostly been doing cupcakes for work birthdays, but I decided to go for a cake for this particular birthday. I had this recipe picked out, and was so excited about it, but unfortunately it did not live up to it’s hype. But the wonderful thing about this recipe is that it really does have so much potential. The flavor was amazing, but it was much too sweet. I am obviously having a hard time finding that perfect balance, because this one was too sweet, and the last cupcakes I blogged about were not sweet enough!!

  This cake is a burnt sugar cake. It might sound a little intimidating, but it was actually quite easy. The “burnt sugar” flavor comes from cooking the sugar until it is caramelized, creating a deeper flavor. The cake is filled with a brown butter frosting and candy bar of your choice. The picture in the cookbook showed many different kinds of chocolate candy bars, but I thought that Heath candy bar would compliment the flavors of the cake and the frosting the best, so I stuck with the one flavor or candy bar. The cake is then frosted and then topped with more candy bars.

  When I was making this frosting, I absolutely loved it. I couldn’t stop taking little samples of it – it was just so good. But something happened overnight. It was still just as tasty the next day when I served the cake, but it’s sweetness multiplied. I will be trying this frosting again, but will cut down on the amount of powdered sugar added. I think by just decreasing it a bit, this would make an excellent frosting that would go well on many different flavors of cake.

  The cake was gobbled up at work, but I would like to try to tweak a few things on this cake to make it better, because like I said before, I think it has a lot of potential. And it is a pretty impressive looking cake, because who isn’t impressed and eager to dig into something that is covered in candy bar pieces!?!

  Burnt Sugar Candy Bar Cake
  From Better Homes and Gardens Test Kitchen Favorites

  3/4 cup granulated sugar
  3/4 cup hot water
  3 cups all-purpose flour
  1-1/2 teaspoons baking powder
  1/4 teaspoon baking soda
  1-1/2 cups granulated sugar
  2/3 cup butter, softened
  2 egg yolks
  2 teaspoons vanilla
  2 egg whites
  1-1/2 cups finely chopped assorted candy bars
  1/2 cup butter (no substitute)
  2 3-ounce packages cream cheese, softened
  3 tablespoons butter
  6-1/2 cups sifted powdered sugar
  2 to 3 teaspoons milk
  Coarsely chopped assorted candy bars, such as Hershey’s, Mars, Nestle, or other (optional)
  1 teaspoon vanilla

  Grease and lightly flour three 8×1-1/2-inch round baking pans or two 9×2-inch pans. In a large skillet cook the 3/4 cup sugar over medium-high heat until the sugar just begins to melt. Do not stir. Reduce heat; cook until sugar is golden brown, 1 to 3 minutes more, stirring mixture constantly.

  Carefully stir in hot water (syrup will form lumps). Bring mixture to boiling; reduce heat. Continue stirring until mixture is free of lumps. Remove from heat. Pour syrup into a large glass measuring cup. Add additional water to equal 1-3/4 cups liquid. Set aside to cool.

  In a large mixing bowl, stir together flour, baking powder, and baking soda. Beat together the 1-1/2 cups sugar, the 2/3 cup butter, egg yolks, and the 2 teaspoons vanilla with an electric mixer on medium speed for 1 minute or until mixture is smooth.

  Alternately add flour mixture and sugar syrup to egg yolk mixture, beating on low speed after each addition just until combined. Clean beaters thoroughly. In a medium mixing bowl beat egg whites until stiff peaks form (tips stand straight). Fold into batter. Divide batter into baking pans; spread evenly.

  Bake in a 350 degree F oven for 25 to 30 minutes or until a wooden toothpick inserted near center comes out clean. Cool in pans on wire rack for 10 minutes. Remove cakes from pans; transfer to wire racks; cool completely.

  For icing, in a small saucepan heat and stir 1/2 cup butter over low heat until melted. Continue heating until butter turns a nut-brown color.

  Remove from heat; cool for 5 minutes. In a large mixing bowl beat together cream cheese and the 3 tablespoons butter until combined. Beat in 2 cups of the sifted powdered sugar. Beat in the browned butter and 1 teaspoon vanilla. Gradually beat in 4-1/2 more cups sifted powdered sugar and enough milk to make frosting of spreading consistency.

  To assemble, spread 1/2 cup frosting over bottoms of two of the cake layers. Sprinkle each frosted layer with half of the finely chopped candy. Stack these layers on cake plate, frosted sides up. Place the third (unfrosted) layer on top, rounded side up.

  Spread remaining frosting on top and sides of cake. Garnish with the coarsely chopped candy bar pieces, if desired. Makes 16 servings.

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  48 Comments

48 Responses to “Burnt Sugar CandyBar Cake”

1. 

   slush said on February 25th, 2008 at 4:44 pm

   YUM! It looks fantastic. How could you go wrong with this cake? Cake, buttercream, candy bars, Oh my!

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2. 

   Joy the Baker said on February 25th, 2008 at 4:45 pm

   I love the burnt sugar and browned butter idea for the cake. But too sweet? Bummer. Still looks beautiful!

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3. 

   Dhanggit said on February 25th, 2008 at 4:47 pm

   oh my god!!! this cake is gorgeous!!

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4. 

   michelle @ Us vs. Food said on February 25th, 2008 at 5:50 pm

   that cake is beautiful, the the burnt sugar and brown butter sound fantastic. all the candy is making my teeth itch a little, though!

   not that i would kick that cake out of bed or anything.

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5. 

   Emiline said on February 25th, 2008 at 6:38 pm

   Wow, that cake is towering. I like it!
   It looks wonderful. I bet the burnt sugar flavor does really go well with the Heath Bar.

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6. 

   Bridget said on February 25th, 2008 at 6:46 pm

   Bummer that it didn’t taste as good as it looks! It certainly sounds great – I’m intrigued by burnt sugar desserts right now. I have a recipe for burnt sugar ice cream that I’m excited about making.

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7. 

   Tempered Woman said on February 25th, 2008 at 6:56 pm

   wow his sounds ridiculously good… too sweet huh? It might just be perfect for my freakozoid hubby then…

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8. 

   Jenny said on February 25th, 2008 at 6:58 pm

   That looks ridiculously delish! Definately on my “To Make” list! Yummm! I love making tall cakes!

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9. 

   Meeta said on February 25th, 2008 at 7:12 pm

   This looks so decadent. Cakes like this always intimidate me. I am in awe of those who create them. Nice one!

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10. 

    Kelly-Jane said on February 25th, 2008 at 7:15 pm

    It looks so good! and as someone across the pond, I’m so pleased to see a close up of a heath bar (!), I sort of thought they were like dime or diam bars, and they look it, but they are thicker, yum!

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11. 

    Astra Libris said on February 25th, 2008 at 7:37 pm

    Impressive indeed – and beautiful, and stunning… Oh my goodness that cake looks so delicious… Ooooh!

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12. 

    noble pig said on February 25th, 2008 at 8:17 pm

    This is down right sinful. I it looks divine and the burnt sugar does sound intimadating but you have explained the recipe perfectly. I think I will try it.

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13. 

    Madam Chow said on February 25th, 2008 at 9:04 pm

    Oh, boy, that looks good – CANDYBARS?! Mmm!

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14. 

    Melanie said on February 25th, 2008 at 9:58 pm

    Despite being too sweet, the cake looks stupendous! Really…a very stunning cake. And the burnt sugar title sounds so unique. I love it.

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15. 

    Gabi said on February 25th, 2008 at 10:02 pm

    What lucky people who work with you! The cake looks very appealing.
    I overdose on sugar very easily so I understand the “trying to find that perfect balance thing” I hope you tweak it and let us know what happens.
    x x x

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16. 

    Cakespy said on February 25th, 2008 at 10:04 pm

    I might call this…a hunka hunka burnt sugar love!!! Wow!

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17. 

    Arfi Binsted said on February 25th, 2008 at 10:27 pm

    Oh I can taste the flavour of the burnt sugar and candy at the same time. Must satisfy the sweetest tooth!!

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18. 

    The Baker & The Curry Maker said on February 25th, 2008 at 11:11 pm

    Oh Yeah! Looks GREAT!

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19. 

    The Baker & The Curry Maker said on February 25th, 2008 at 11:11 pm

    Oh Yeah! Looks GREAT!

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20. 

    Mary said on February 25th, 2008 at 11:44 pm

    OH MY! I really really want a piece of that cake now please. It looks fabulous and I love Heath bars!

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21. 

    Michelle said on February 25th, 2008 at 11:57 pm

    that cake is so pretty! I love Heath Bar!

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22. 

    Ben said on February 26th, 2008 at 3:25 am

    Oh, I want that for dessert! It looks really good.

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23. 

    glamah16 said on February 26th, 2008 at 3:51 am

    That cake looks fantastic.! Beautiful presentation.

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24. 

    Peabody said on February 26th, 2008 at 3:55 am

    This looks so good. I love cake, I love candy bars…perfect!

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25. 

    Shandy said on February 26th, 2008 at 5:46 am

    This cake looks fabulous! I can see why you would want to tweak the recipe if it is too sweet. Yum! My daughter’s teenage friends may beg to differ on the to sweet part. They are now into drinking those energy drinks, like the Monster drink. I can’t imagine a teenager needing an energy drink =},
    Deb. . .Again, Awesome Cake!
    Shandy

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26. 

    Katie said on February 26th, 2008 at 6:47 am

    Oh wow! The cake sounds absolutely amazing, totally indulgant. What are the flavours used in health bars? We don’t have them in the UK.

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27. 

    The Caked Crusader said on February 26th, 2008 at 9:21 am

    Beautiful looking cake – I’m rather partial to burnt sugar cakes. Too sweet? Does not compute!!!

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28. 

    bbaking said on February 26th, 2008 at 10:56 am

    save me a slice? mmmmm

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29. 

    Shari G said on February 26th, 2008 at 1:41 pm

    Your photos are beautiful! The cake looks delicious and definitely worth a try. Burnt sugar and chocolate, yum.

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30. 

    Catherine Wilkinson said on February 26th, 2008 at 3:28 pm

    I like the end comment, “garnish if desired”…heck yeah, mama, I desire!!!! This cake is a showstopper!

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31. 

    marye said on February 26th, 2008 at 3:56 pm

    That is awesome! Wow..I was going ot make a cake today…maybe I need to make this one instead of what I was planning!
    oh..and thanks for stopping by apronstrings! I do like the crullers done that way..they flip themselves in the oil

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32. 

    Patricia Scarpin said on February 26th, 2008 at 4:53 pm

    Deb, that idea is fabulous! I’m off to check the blog.

    As far as I’m concerned, adding candies to cake = perfection.

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33. 

    JennDZ - The Leftover Queen said on February 26th, 2008 at 5:32 pm

    Wow, that is seriously impressive looking! I love it!

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34. 

    Jerry said on February 26th, 2008 at 9:03 pm

    Oh my! I think this is added to my dessert list!

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35. 

    bbaking said on February 26th, 2008 at 9:35 pm

    aah you beat me, I was gonna tell you! x

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36. 

    Brilynn said on February 26th, 2008 at 10:02 pm

    I hope your coworkers appreciate all the work you do for them, the cake looks amazing and it can never really be too sweet…

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37. 

    kellypea said on February 27th, 2008 at 12:17 am

    What a fun cake. And you’re so right — it’s pretty impressive. I love the idea of the burnt sugar and have seen it it with ice cream…YUM!

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38. 

    Kevin said on February 27th, 2008 at 2:22 am

    That cake looks great! The icing does sound good. I will have to try it.

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39. 

    Ginny said on February 27th, 2008 at 3:41 am

    I am drooling! Delicious! I can’t wait to make it!

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40. 

    eatme_delicious said on February 27th, 2008 at 3:45 am

    Yummm drool etc! You always choose the most yummy sounding cakes and make them look so good!

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41. 

    KJ said on February 27th, 2008 at 7:14 am

    That is one good looking cake. I think it would be irresistible.

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42. 

    Suzana said on February 27th, 2008 at 12:30 pm

    What a beautie! And I bet it’s delicious too. Loved the caramel/brown butter combo!

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43. 

    Gigi said on February 27th, 2008 at 9:10 pm

    Gorgeous, indulgent, candy and in cake form? The Perfect Cake!

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44. 

    Kate / Kajal said on February 27th, 2008 at 10:47 pm

    sounds wonderful.this is a new one for me and i’d love to give it a try.
    the cake looks wonderful.

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45. 

    Nan said on February 28th, 2008 at 4:31 am

    HOLY CRAP that looks amazing. Beautiful cake!

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46. 

    Cheryl said on February 28th, 2008 at 2:54 pm

    Its amazing how when we think something is too sweet, how our co-workers just eat it right up. I think the cake looks amazing.

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47. 

    Gretchen Noelle said on February 28th, 2008 at 9:48 pm

    Uhhmm…yeah…my birthday is in June. I’d like one of these then. Kay?

    This looks DELICIOUS! Cannot wait to try it! (June, remember, June)

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48. 

    Annina said on March 5th, 2008 at 7:47 pm

    Hi

    I’m annina and I love your blog! These heart cookies looks sooo cute! So.. I added your link on my Food-Blog! Hope this is ok! (www.anninasfood.blogspot.com) have a good day!

    greetings, annina

    [Reply]

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