Butter Brickle Cake with Brown Butter Frosting

I was struggling with what kind of birthday cake to bake for myself this year.  Usually, chocolate is the winner (or some variation).  However, I kept thinking about how when I was a kid . . .the big treat was that we got to pick out what kind of ice cream we had with our birthday cake.  And I always picked Butter Brickle.  That flavor seems to be pretty elusive these days, so I tried to tackle it in the form of a cake.  And the the flavor of the cake was right on.  The density of the cake is much like a pound cake - a little heavy.  But it baked up beautifully and the browned butter frosting is to-die-for (the frosting recipe is a Southern Living recipe).

Butter Brickle Cake with Browned Butter Frosting

Cake Ingredients:

1 and 1/4 Cup Unsalted Butter, room temperature

2 Cups Flour

1 Teaspoon Baking Powder

5 Eggs, room temperature

1/2 Cup Brown Sugar

1/2 Cup White Sugar

1 Tablespoon Vanilla Extract

2 Cups Toffee pieces (I used Heath Bits without the chocolate, which can be found by the baking chips in our grocery store)

Step 1:  Preheat the oven to 325 degree Fahrenheit.  Prepare two 8 inch round pans (grease and flour).  Set aside.

Step 2:  Cream the butter and sugar together until well blended.  

Step 3:  Continue to beat and add the eggs one at a time, making sure each is incorporated before adding the next.  Be sure to scrape down your mixer bowl every now and then.

Step 4:  Add the vanilla.

Step 4:  In a separate bowl, measure out your flour and add the baking powder.  Stir to combine.

Step 5:  Slowly combine the flour mixture to the sugar/egg mixture.  Stir until just combined.  Do not over mix.

Step 6:  Add the toffee bits to the batter and stir in.

Step 7:  Divide the batter between the baking pans.  The batter will be thick - you may need to spread it out with a spatula.

Step 8:  Bake in the oven for 30 minutes, tops will be golden brown and a toothpick inserted will come out clean.

Step 9:  Let cool completely before frosting.

Browned Butter Frosting Ingredients:

1 Cup Butter

16 oz Powdered Sugar

1 Teaspoon Vanilla Extract

1/4 Cup Milk

Step 1:  Place the butter in a small heavy saucepan over medium heat, stirring constantly, 8 to 10 minutes or until butter begins to turn golden brown. Remove pan immediately from heat, and pour butter into a small bowl. Cover and chill 1 hour or until butter is cool and begins to solidify.

Step 2:  Beat butter at medium speed with an electric mixer until fluffy; gradually add sugar alternately with milk, beginning and ending with sugar. Beat at low speed until well blended after each addition. Stir in vanilla.