I don't know if any of you remember, but a few years back I asked if anyone had a recipe

[Arkansas Granny]

for a caramel frosting that I remembered from when I was a kid. One of our neighbors made a chocolate Crazy Cake that she topped with a frosting that had the consistency of a soft caramel flavored pudding. My mother had the cake recipe, but not the frosting that she used.

I have found it! My sister and I were talking about it a few days ago and it put me on another search. What if it was a cake filling, not a frosting, and what if it was butterscotch instead of caramel? BINGO!

I made a batch and it is what I've been looking for. I'm posting the recipe I found and the modifications I made.

BUTTERSCOTCH FILLING

1/2 C packed brown sugar
1/4 C cornstarch
1/4 t. salt
1/2 C water
1 T butter

Mix together the brown sugar, cornstarch, salt and water in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil and stir constantly for 1 minute.
Remove from heat and add the butter. Allow the mixture to cool slightly and spread between layers.

This was much stiffer than I remembered, so after cooking I kept adding hot water until it was the consistency I liked. I used about 1 cup of water in total. You could probably reduce the amount of cornstarch, as well. This made enough to frost an 8 inch square cake.

Nothing would do until I had made a cake and, lo and behold, I had duplicated the taste from childhood.

[PJMcK]

1. This was my favorite cake icing when I was a kid

My mom would make it for me for every birthday. I loved it.

Then I forgot about it until a couple of years ago when my sister surprised me with a cake iced with this yummy treat.

Thank you for the recipe, Granny! Now that I have it, I'll probably get diabetes from eating too much!

[dem in texas]

2. I Used to Make a frosting like that

I'd put it on a devil's food cake and sprinkled toasted coconut on top. Now about the only cake I make is my gooey coconut cake,
I am into making pies and cobblers. But - think I will try the chocolate cake with caramel frosting. Can't remember the recipe, but I know it was brown sugar, butter, cream and powder sugar. Can't go wrong with those ingredients!

[dem in texas]

3. Dulce de Leche

Forgot about this. Cajeta or Dulce de Leche is sweetened caramelized milk. It is traditionally made of goats' milk, but the supermarket products are made of cows' milk. It is easy to make at home, there are many recipes for it on the internet. I make it in the crock-pot. Take a can of condensed (NOT evaporated) milk, remove label and place in crock pot, cover with water going over the top of the can at least 1/2 inch, one inch is better. Cook over two hours, using tongs, turn can over and cook another hour or so. Let cool before opening.

It makes a thick custard like caramel. I have used it for spreading on a cake, for filling in dessert crepes, ice cream and just eating from a dish with some raw apple slices on the side.

Nestles sells the dulce de leche, it is not as thick as homemade, but it is a good product. I have used it in making ice cream.

I like to make my own because I can cook it a little longer and make it darker than the store bought, it has a stronger more caramel taste.

[blaze]

4. It must have been so exciting to discover this!!!

I just LOVE those "aha" moments! Looking for *that* taste and finally discovering it!

Is the cake recipe special as well?

[Arkansas Granny]

5. The cake was about the easiest cake recipe ever, Crazy Cake.

https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/7475/crazy-cake/

I cut the ingredients in half for an 8 inch square cake. It makes a dark, moist cake.

[blaze]

6. Thanks!! nt