Ingredients

  • 2 cups cake flour
  • 1 cup white sugar
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 3/4 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
  • 1 cup fresh dairy buttermilk
  • 3/4 cup brown sugar
  • 1/2 cup shortening
  • 3 whole eggs
  • Frosting
  • 1/2 cup salted butter
  • 1 cup brown sugar, packed
  • 1/4 cup evaporated milk
  • 1 3/4 - 2 cups powdered icing sugar

Method

  • In a mixer bowl, sift flour, white sugar, powder, soda, salt and spices.
  • I also sometimes add a grating of fresh nutmeg, and a pinch of ginger if desired.
  • (never measured amounts).
  • Add buttermilk, brown sugar, and shortening.
  • Beat for two minutes.
  • Add eggs, and beat another and final two minutes.
  • Spread batter into two greased and floured 9 inch round cake pans.
  • Bake 350 degrees for 30 minutes, until tester shows done.
  • Cool and remove to wire rack for perfect cooling.
  • Penuche Frosting:
  • In saucepan melt the half cup butter and stir in the one cup brown sugar.
  • Cook until dissolved and boil for two minutes.
  • Remove from heat and add the quarter cup evaporated milk.
  • Return to heat and return to boiling point stirring constantly.
  • Remove from heat.
  • Cool to lukewarm.
  • Beat in 1 3/4 to 2 cups powdered icing sugar.
  • If its too thick add in a few tablespoons more milk little at a time.
  • If its too thin add in more icing powder a little at a time.
  • When to your desired spreading consistency, fill and frost cake.