Spice Cake With Caramel Frosting

By
Diana Rattray
Diana Rattray
Diana Rattray
Southern-cuisine expert and cookbook author Diana Rattray has created more than 5,000 recipes and articles in her 20 years as a food writer.
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Updated on 12/22/22
spice cake slice

Roy Gr / EyeEm / Getty Images

Prep: 15 mins
Cook: 40 mins
Total: 55 mins
Servings: 8 servings
Yield: 1 9-by-13-inch cake

Top this easy spice cake recipe with the caramel icing, or use cream cheese icing, or your favorite frosting. No matter which you choose, it's sure to be delicious.

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Ingredients

For the Cake:

  • Cooking spray, or butter, for greasing pan

  • 2 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for pan

  • 1 1/3 cups granulated sugar

  • 3 1/2 teaspoons baking powder

  • 1 teaspoon salt

  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

  • 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg

  • 1/3 cup shortening

  • 1 cup milk

  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

  • 2 large eggs

For the Caramel Icing:

  • 1 1/2 cups brown sugar, packed

  • 1/4 cup milk

  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter

  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

Steps to Make It

Make the Spice Cake

  1. Gather the ingredients. Preheat oven to 350 F. Generously greased and floured 9-by-13-by-2-inch baking pan

  2. Sift together flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg.

  3. Add shortening, milk, and vanilla; beat on slow to medium speed of electric mixer for 2 minutes. Scrape sides and bottom of mixing bowl several times.

  4. Beat in eggs and continue to beat for 2 minutes longer.

  5. Spoon batter into the prepared pan.

  6. Bake for 40 to 45 minutes.

  7. Cool completely and frost with caramel icing.

Make the Caramel Icing

  1. Gather the ingredients.

  2. In a saucepan, combine brown sugar, milk, and butter.

  3. Stirring constantly; bring to a boil and boil for 3 minutes.

  4. Remove from heat and add vanilla. Let cool to lukewarm.

  5. Beat until creamy and thick enough to spread. If too thick, add a little more milk or a small amount of cream.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
514 Calories
13g Fat
94g Carbs
6g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 8
Amount per serving
Calories 514
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 13g 17%
Saturated Fat 6g 30%
Cholesterol 61mg 20%
Sodium 524mg 23%
Total Carbohydrate 94g 34%
Dietary Fiber 1g 4%
Total Sugars 69g
Protein 6g
Vitamin C 0mg 0%
Calcium 211mg 16%
Iron 2mg 12%
Potassium 158mg 3%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)