BURNT SUGAR CAKE

Steps:

• Burnt Sugar Syrup:.
• Heat 1 cup sugar in a large skillet over low heat.
• until melted and amber colored;.
• remove from heat.
• Carefully stir in 1 cup boiling water until sugar is disolved; cool.
• Pepare burnt sugar syrup, cool.
• Measure 1/2 for cake.
• Reserve 3 tablespoons or more for frosting.
• Sift flour, salt and baking powder onto wax paper.
• Grease two 9 by 1 1/2 inch layer cake pans.
• line with wax paper.
• grease wax paper.
• Preheat oven to moderate (350 degrees).
• Beat butter with one cup of the sugar, egg yolks and vanilla in a large bowl.
• Beat until fluffy.
• Beat in the 1/2 cup burnt sugar syrup.
• Stir in flour mixture alternately with the milk.
• beating after each addition.
• until batter is smooth.
• Beat egg whites in a medium size bowl.
• until foamy.
• Beat in the remaining 1/4 cup of sugar slowly.
• until meringne forms soft peaks.
• Fold meringne into batter until no streaks of white remain.
• Pour into prepared pans.
• Bake in preheated moderate (350 degree) oven.
• for 25 minutes or.
• until center springs back when lightly touched with fingertip.
• cool pans on wire rack 5 minutes.
• Remove from pans.
• Peel off paper.
• cool completely.
• Fill and frost with Burnt Sugar Frosting.
• Garnish with pecan halves and chopped pecans.
• Burnt Sugar Frosting:.
• Mix cream cheese and butter together until well blended.
• Gradually add confectioners sugar, burnt sugar syrup and vanilla.
• Frost layers, top and sides with frostin.
• Garnish top with pecan halves around the rim of cake.
• Press chopped pecans arounds sides of cake.