** It has LOTS of spices in it. Gram made it with chopped walnuts or pecans, but my daughters and I prefer it with just extra golden raisins instead.
** It can be made as 3 layers (8" or 9"), 2 layers (10") or even a 1 layer rectangle. The cooked frosting is truly the very best frosting you've ever tasted! (it's like pralines, without the nuts)
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Gram’s SOUR CREAM SPICE CAKE with PRALINE FROSTING
1/4 lb. plus 4 TB butter, softened.................................................3 cups flour
2-1/4 cups light brown sugar, packed ........................................3 egg yolks
3/4 cups chopped pecans or walnuts (or omit nuts and increase golden raisins to about 1 cup)
3/4 tsp salt...........................................................................................1/2 cup golden raisins
1-1/2 tsp baking soda......................................................................3 TB cinnamon
1-1/2 TB ground cloves..................................................................3/4 TB nutmeg
2-1/4 cups sour cream....................................................................3 egg whites, beaten stiff
Preheat oven to 350. Spray 2 10" round pans (or 3 8" or 9" round pans ~ or 1 9x13" rectangle pan) with non-stick baking spray (containing flour) and set aside.
Cream butter, adding sugar gradually. Add egg yolks one at a time; beat well and add nuts/raisins.
Combine dry ingredients in a bowl ~ then add alternately with sour cream. Beat well. Carefully fold in egg whites (I use a rubber scraper).
Bake for 25-30 min. Cool and frost.
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PRALINE FROSTING:
1/4 lb. butter (1 stick)........................................................................1/2 cup evaporated milk (NOT condensed)
1 cup light or dark brown sugar, packed (Gram used light ~ I use dark)
3 cups sifted powdered sugar
pecan or walnut halves (to decorate top), or seasonal sprinkles
Melt butter in saucepan; add brown sugar & milk. Bring to boil over high heat; boil or 1 min. Remove from heat & add powdered sugar gradually. Beat until of spreading consistency. Spread between layers, on top & sides of cake. Decorate with pecan halves or seasonal sprinkles.