BUTTER BEER CAKE

I started my new job!  What????  Did my first week there and I really like it so far.  It has a lot of positives.  It's 40 hours and I do miss my old 35 hours a bit.  Getting home later leaves even less time for things that need to get done. Eh.  I am learning to live with not done and lower expectations.  

Thank Goodness for my little minions kids.  They do their part.  Thank goodness.  I definitely need to up their game a little.  They think Saturday morning is the be all end all of cleaning.  We need to work more on picking up after yourself and tidying up on a daily basis.  I can't complain though, I have great kids who are growing, very quickly, into fine young adults.  Don't get me wrong, things are no rosy... but hey, when are things rosy.

I gave my oldest daughter some choices on what cake she would like for her birthday.  She chose butter beer, all Harry Potter like.

I am going to give you two different recipes for this cake here.  The one with cream soda I made and found to be so very dense.  I like the idea of putting the pudding in but I don't think the cream soda much matters.  I think I need to tweak it a bit.  The flavor is good though.

The other cake is much lighter and more of the outcome I wanted.  

Somewhere in between these two cakes is the perfect cake.  I will get back to you on that.

Oh, the frosting... omg! COMPLETELY addicting.  Use it at your own risk!

BUTTER BEER CAKE

2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
2 1/4 teaspoons baking powder
3.5 oz butterscotch instant pudding mix one package
1/2 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup unsalted butter room temperature
1 cup granulated sugar
3 large eggs room temperature
1 1/4 cups cream soda clear
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Preheat oven to 350F.   Spray or grease and line 2- 9" rounds with parchment.

In a medium bowl, whisk flour, baking powder, pudding mix, and salt until well combined. Set aside.

Cream butter and sugars on med-high until pale and fluffy (approx 4 mins). Reduce speed and add eggs one at a time fully incorporating after each addition. Add vanilla.

Alternate adding flour mixture and cream soda, beginning and ending with flour (3 additions of flour and 2 of cream soda). Fully incorporating after each addition.

Bake for about 40 mins or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.

Place cakes on wire rack to cool completely.

BUTTER BEER CAKE PART II

2 cups cake flour (like Swan's Down)
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
3/4 cup brown sugar or brown sugar blend, packed
3 large eggs, room temperature
1 cup buttermilk
2 tsp vanilla extract
2 tsp butter flavoring

Preheat oven to 350F.   Spray or grease and line 2- 9" rounds with parchment.

In a medium bowl, whisk flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt until well combined. Set aside.

Cream butter and sugars on med-high until pale and fluffy (approx 4 mins). Reduce speed and add eggs one at a time fully incorporating after each addition. Add vanilla and butter flavoring.  Add buttermilk and finally the flour mixture. 

Bake for about 40 mins or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.

Place cakes on wire rack to cool completely.

BROWN BUTTER FROSTING

1/4 cup butter, and 1/2 cup butter
3 tablespoon flour
3/4 cup whole milk
1 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup powdered sugar
1/4 cup brown sugar or brown sugar blend


In a medium saucepan over medium-high heat, brown 1/4 cup butter. Once the butter is browned, add the flour to the pot and whisk together.

Slowly whisk in the milk, working out any lumps. Keep whisking while bringing the mixture to a boil so it thickens.

Remove the pot from heat and whisk in the vanilla extract and and let cool. If you try to move ahead while it is warm in anyway, this will not work. Be patient. Beat together butter and powdered sugar and then add flour mixture. Cream together until fluffy.