Classic Yellow Layer Cake with Caramel-Pecan Frosting

[kaci]

Classic Yellow Layer Cake with Caramel-Pecan Frosting



Cooking spray
1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
1-2/3 cups sugar
1/2 cup butter or stick margarine, softened
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
3 large eggs
2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
2 1/4 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1-1/4 cups fat-free milk
Caramel-Pecan Frosting*

Caramel Pecan Frosting*
1/4 cup butter or stick margarine
1/2 cup dark brown sugar
6 tablespoons evaporated fat-free milk
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
3 cups powdered sugar
1/4 cup chopped pecans


Preparation
Melt butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add brown sugar. Cook 3 minutes; stir constantly with a whisk. Add milk, 1 tablespoon at a time; cook 3 minutes, stirring constantly. Cool. Stir in vanilla. Combine butter mixture and powdered sugar in a bowl; beat at high speed of a mixer until smooth. Frost cake as directed; sprinkle with pecans.
Note: If it's too thick, add 1 tablespoon evaporated fat-free milk.

Yield 2 cups

Preheat oven to 350°. Coat bottoms of 2 (9-inch) round cake pans with cooking spray (do not coat sides of pan); line bottoms with wax paper. Coat wax paper with cooking spray; dust with 1 tablespoon flour.

Beat sugar, butter, and vanilla at medium speed of a mixer until well-blended (about 5 minutes). Add eggs, 1 at a time; beat well after each addition. Lightly spoon 2 1/4 cups flour into dry measuring cups; level with a knife. Combine with baking powder and salt; stir well with a whisk. Add
flour mixture to sugar mixture alternately with milk, beginning and ending with flour mixture.

Pour batter into prepared pans. Sharply tap pans once on counter to remove air bubbles. Bake at 350° for 30 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pans 10 minutes on a wire rack; remove from pans. Remove wax paper. Cool completely on wire rack.

Place 1 cake layer on a plate; spread with 1/2 cup Caramel-Pecan Frosting, and top with remaining layer. Spread remaining frosting over top and sides of cake. Store cake loosely covered in refrigerator.

Yield 18 servings (serving size: 1 slice)

Cooks Illustrated