Burnt Sugar Cake

Ingredients

• 1.75 cups white sugar, divided
• 1/3 cup hot water
• 3 cups sifted cake flour
• 3 teaspoons baking powder
• 0.5 teaspoon salt
• 0.75 cup unsalted butter, softened
• 3 large eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2/3 cup milk

Steps

1. Place 1/2 cup sugar into a heavy skillet over medium-high heat. Cook, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon, until sugar melts. Continue to cook and stir until it becomes dark brown, but not burnt. Remove from the heat. Add hot water very slowly and stir until incorporated. Set burnt sugar aside to cool completely.
2. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees F). Line two 9-inch round baking pans with parchment paper.
3. Sift flour, baking powder, and salt together.
4. Cream remaining 1 1/4 cups sugar and butter in a large bowl with an electric mixer until light and fluffy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating thoroughly after each addition. Mix in cooled burnt sugar and vanilla.
5. Add dry ingredients and milk to the creamed mixture and mix until smooth—do not overmix. Divide batter into the prepared pans.
6. Bake in the preheated oven until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, 25 to 30 minutes.
7. Cool on a wire rack briefly, then run a table knife around the edges to loosen. Invert carefully onto a serving plate or cooling rack.
8. Let cool completely before filling and frosting as desired.