Indulge in the classic simplicity of the 1-2-3-4 Cake, an American favorite that has stood the test of time. With its straightforward ingredient ratios, this cake is a breeze to make and offers endless possibilities for customization. From the basic vanilla version to decadent chocolate or fruity variations, the 1-2-3-4 Cake is a blank canvas for your culinary creativity. This article presents a collection of four enticing recipes that showcase the versatility of this timeless cake. Embark on a baking journey that promises moist, fluffy cakes topped with luscious caramel icing, rich chocolate ganache, or a medley of fresh berries. Get ready to delight your taste buds and impress your loved ones with these irresistible variations of the iconic 1-2-3-4 Cake.
Here are our top 5 tried and tested recipes!
1-2-3-4 CAKE WITH CARAMEL ICING
This cake with caramel icing is super easy to make. The cake is moist and tender, blending nicely with the caramel icing. See how you can make it too!
Provided by linda mcdougal
Categories Cakes
Number Of Ingredients 13
Steps:
- 1. Preheat oven 350.
- 2. In a large mixing bowl, cream the butter and sugar together with an electric mixer until smooth add the eggs and continue beating until smooth.
- 3. In a bowl, mix the flour and baking powder together and add alternately with the milk to the butter mixture, beating steadily until smooth.
- 4. Add the vanilla and beat until well blended.
- 5. Grease and flour three 9 inch cake pans, divide the batter evenly among the pans, \"spank\" the bottom of the pans to distribute the batter evenly, and bake until a straw inserted in centers comes out clean, 25 to 30 minutes. Let cool completely.
- 6. Meanwhile, to make the icing: melt the butter over low heat in a saucepan, add the brown sugar and milk, bring to a boil and remove from the heat to cool.
- 7. Add the powdered sugar and mix until well blended.
- 8. When the cake layers are cooled, remove from the pans, place one layer on a cake plate and spread one third of the icing on the layer.
- 9. Place a second layer over the icing and spread with more icing.
- 10. Top with the third layer and spread icing over the top and around the sides.
CARAMEL FROSTING I
I have had this recipe for over 30 years. Cream may be substituted for the milk for added richness.
Provided by MaryKaye
Categories Desserts Frostings and Icings
Time 15m
Yield 12
Number Of Ingredients 5
Steps:
- In a saucepan over medium heat, melt the butter, and mix in 3 tablespoons milk and brown sugar. Boil vigorously for 1 minute.
- Remove from heat, and beat in 1/2 cup confectioners' sugar. Cool slightly, and beat in the vanilla and remaining 1/2 cup confectioners' sugar. Add more milk if the mixture is too thick.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 93.1 calories, Carbohydrate 19.2 g, Cholesterol 5.4 mg, Fat 2 g, Protein 0.2 g, SaturatedFat 1.3 g, Sodium 17.9 mg, Sugar 18.9 g
CARAMEL CAKE
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour three 9-inch cake pans.
- Cream white sugar, 1 1/2 cups butter, and eggs together in a bowl. Beat well.
- Combine flour, baking powder, and 1/4 teaspoon salt. Add to the sugar mixture alternately with milk. Add vanilla extract. Beat until batter makes ribbons when falling from the whisk or beater. Divide batter among the prepared cake pans.
- Bake in the preheated oven until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, about 30 minutes. Cool layers on a rack before icing, at least 1 hour.
- Combine brown sugar, 1 cup butter, and 1/4 teaspoon salt in a saucepan over medium heat. Stir until brown sugar is dissolved, about 3 minutes. Add evaporated milk and continue stirring. Bring to a gentle boil and let bubble for about 4 minutes, stirring constantly to avoid sticking. Remove from heat and allow to cool, about 5 minutes.
- Mix confectioners' sugar and vanilla extract into the butter-milk mixture using an electric mixer until icing caramelizes and thickens to the desired consistency.
- Spread icing onto the cooled cake layers. Stack layers; ice top and sides.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 1019.4 calories, Carbohydrate 154.5 g, Cholesterol 185.8 mg, Fat 42.7 g, Fiber 1 g, Protein 8.6 g, SaturatedFat 26.1 g, Sodium 455.4 mg, Sugar 125.7 g
1-2-3-4 CAKE WITH CARAMEL ICING
This really a scrumptious cake, though it is true, as some reviewers have noted, that the frosting just barely covers all three layers. You could double the recipe, as some people have done, or you could make a batch and a half. Your call. To make a batch and a half, the measurements would then be: 3/4 cup butter; 1-1/2 cups dark brown sugar; 1/4 + 2 tablespoons milk; and 3 cups of confectioner's sugar. Hopefully, this will give you enough frosting without having too much left over in your bowl, which, if you're anything like me, you will then be forced to eat at least *some* of, so as not to have to wash it all down the sink. ; )
Provided by MSnow
Categories Dessert
Time 50m
Yield 12 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 11
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- Grease three 9-inch-round cake pans.
- Line bottoms with waxed paper. Grease paper, and flour insides of pans.
- Combine flour and baking powder in bowl.
- Beat butter and sugar in another bowl at medium speed until smooth. Add eggs, beating until smooth.
- At low speed, alternately beat in four mixture and milk.
- Beat in vanilla.
- Scrape into prepared pans, dividing evenly.
- Bake in 350-degree oven 20 to 25 minutes or until wooden pick comes out clean. Cool in pans on wire racks 10 minutes.
- Remove cakes from pans and cool completely on racks.
- Meanwhile, prepare icing. *NOTE: The recipe states that "although the amount of icing seems small, it is enough to frost the cake. If you wish, the recipe may be doubled." I've found this to be true, but I recommend that you either double it or make a batch & a half, which is what I do.
- Melt butter in saucepan over low heat. Add brown sugar and milk Bring to boiling, stirring to dissolve sugar.
- Remove from heat. Cool.
- Beat confectioners' sugar into milk mixture until smooth.
- Frost and stack cake layers on cake plate, spreading 1/3 cup icing between each layer. Frost top and sides of cake with remaining icing.
1-2-3-4 CAKE
Here's a Paula Deen update of my mom's favorite cake recipe. I remember Mom using the recipe as it was, printed on the side of the "Swans Down Cake Flour" box. A great Birthday-Cake kind of recipe, it's called "1-2-3-4 Cake" because, the ingredients, at that time, were listed: "1 cup butter, 2 cups sugar, 3 cups cake flour, 4 eggs" etc. Paula's recipe simplifies some steps, with nothing lost in flavor and texture.
Provided by Fauve
Categories Dessert
Time 50m
Yield 1 3 layer cake, 12 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 6
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
- Grease and flour 3 (9-inch) cake pans,.
- Using an electric mixer, cream butter until fluffy.
- Add sugar and continue to cream well for 6 to 8 minutes.
- Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition.
- Add flour and milk alternately to creamed mixture, beginning and ending with flour.
- Add vanilla and continue to beat until just mixed.
- Divide batter equally among prepared pans.
- Level batter in each pan by holding pan 3 or 4 inches above counter, then dropping it flat onto counter.
- Do this several times to release air bubbles and assure you of a more level cake.
- Bake for 25 to 30 minutes or until done.
- Cool in pans 5 to 10 minutes.
- Invert cakes onto cooling racks.
- Cool completely and spread cake layers with your favorite frosting to make a 3-layer cake.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 413.1, Fat 18, SaturatedFat 10.8, Cholesterol 105.5, Sodium 565.9, Carbohydrate 57.6, Fiber 0.8, Sugar 33.5, Protein 6
Tips:
- Use room temperature ingredients. This will help the cake batter mix more evenly and produce a smoother cake.
- Do not overmix the batter. Overmixing can develop the gluten in the flour, resulting in a tough cake.
- Bake the cake until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. This will ensure that the cake is cooked through.
- Allow the cake to cool completely before frosting. This will help the frosting set properly.
- Store the frosted cake in the refrigerator. This will help the frosting stay firm and prevent it from melting.
Conclusion:
This 1-2-3-4 cake with caramel icing is a classic recipe that is easy to make and always a crowd-pleaser. The simple ingredients and straightforward instructions make it a great recipe for beginner bakers. The cake is moist and fluffy, while the caramel icing is rich and decadent. This cake is perfect for any occasion, from birthday parties to potlucks.
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