Browned Butter Cake with Vanilla-Honey Frosting
Servings: 16
Ingredients
candied thyme
- 2 egg whites, beaten until frothy
- 20 thyme sprigs
- 1 cup sugar
cake
- 3 cups cake flour
- 1 ½ teaspoon baking powder
- ¾ teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 ¾ cups superfine sugar
- 1 cup unsalted butter, browned and cooled
- 3 eggs, lightly beaten
- 1 ½ cups whole milk
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
frosting
- ½ cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened
- 4 ounces cream cheese, softened
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 2 ½ to 3 cups powdered sugar, sifted
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- milk, as needed (1 tablespoon at a time)
garnishes
- candied thyme sprigs
- edible flowers
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350˚F.
- For candied thyme: Fully dip each sprig of thyme into the frothed egg whites, shaking off as much excess as possible. Carefully dredge each sprig in the sugar until fully coated, shaking off any excess. Place each coated thyme sprig onto a baking sheet, lined with a cooling rack and allow sprigs to dry for at least 1 hour (can be made 1 to 2 days ahead of time).
- For cake: Pour flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt into a mixing bowl and whisk together.
- Pour sugar, butter and eggs into another mixing bowl and whisk together. Pour the flour mixture into the egg mixture and whisk together until very thick and combined.
- Stir in the remaining ingredients until fully incorporated and the batter is smooth.
- Pour the batter into three prepared cake pans (bottoms lined with parchment and lightly greased) and bake for 25 to 30 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean when inserted into the center of the cake.
- Allow the cakes to cool in the pans for 15 to 20 minutes before removing from pans and allowing to cool completely.
- For frosting: Place butter, cream cheese and honey into a stand mixer, with a paddle attachment (or using n electric hand mixer), and whip until light and fluffy. Add sugar, ½ cup at a time, until fully incorporated and most of the lumps disappear. Add vanilla and continue to beat together until light and fluffy. (If frosting is too stiff add milk, 1 tablespoon at a time, as needed).
- To assemble: Place a thin layer of frosting over the top of one of the cakes and top with the other cake, inverted (so both cake circle tops are touching one another). Repeat with remaining cake layer, so all three are stacked atop one another.
- Gently frost the entire cake with a thin layer of frosting.
- Place a ‘crown’ of thyme sprigs around the base and top of the cake and continue to decorate with other edible flowers and petals. Serve.
Notes
- *Makes 3 (8”) cakes
- *To brown butter, place butter in a saucepan over low heat and melt. Once butter has melted, raise the heat slightly to medium-low and cook until butter begins to release a nutty smell and turn a light brown. Scrape the browned, toasted bits from the bottom of the pan and allow butter to cool before using.
- *If you want more frosting surrounding the cake, just place in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes., after the first coat. Once the frosting has firmed up, coat the cake in another layer of frosting and smooth the frosting on the top of the cake, before adding the garnishes.