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Old-Fashioned Caramel Icing

Old-Fashioned Caramel Icing

This Old-Fashioned Caramel Icing is rich, smooth, and deeply flavorful, made the classic stovetop way. Cooked to the soft-ball stage and finished with cold butter, it creates a nostalgic caramel frosting perfect for pound cakes, layer cakes, and spice cakes.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings: 12 servings
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Icing Ingredients
  • 3 cups granulated sugar
  • 1 1/3 cups whole milk cold
  • 1 1/2 sticks butter cold, cut into small pieces
  • 5 tablespoons granulated sugar for caramelizing

Method
 

  1. In a heavy saucepan, combine 3 cups of granulated sugar and the whole milk over medium heat, stirring gently to combine.
  2. In a small skillet, heat 5 tablespoons of sugar over medium-high heat, stirring constantly until it melts and turns golden and bubbly.
  3. Carefully and slowly whisk the caramelized sugar into the milk-sugar mixture.
  4. Continue cooking for about 15 minutes, stirring regularly, until the mixture reaches the soft-ball stage.
  5. Remove from heat and stir in the cold butter until the icing is smooth and glossy.
  6. If the icing becomes too thick, add milk one tablespoon at a time until spreadable.
  7. Allow the icing to cool slightly before spreading over a completely cooled cake.

Notes

This icing sets quickly, so spread it while still warm. If it firms up, gently reheat while stirring.