Skill required: Very confident baker
Cakes: Vegetable oil cooking spray for pans
3 3/4 cups all purpose flour
1 1/4 teaspoons baking powder
3/4 teaspoon baking soda
2 1/2 teaspoons coarse salt
10 ounces (2 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
2 1/2 cups packed dark brown sugar
4 large eggs, room temperature
1 tablespoon + 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 1/4 teaspoons rum, preferably golden or dark
1 1/4 cups buttermilk, room temperature
Frosting: 12 ounces unsalted butter (3 sticks) - 1 stick left whole; 2 sticks cut into small pieces, softened
2 cups packed dark brown sugar
1 cup heavy cream
1/2 teaspoon coarse salt
20 ounces cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup confectioners' sugar, sifted
Butterscotch sauce: 2/3 cup packed dark brown sugar
3 ounces (6 tablespoons) butter, cut into pieces
1/2 cup light corn syrup
1/4 teaspoon coarse salt
1/2 cup heavy cream
2 cups pecan halves, toasted and chopped, plus more halves for ganish.
1. Cakes: Preheat oven to 325 degrees.
2. Coat three 8-by-2-inch round cake pans with cooking spray, line with parchment and coat parchment.
3. Whisk flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a medium bowl.
4. Beat butter and brown sugar with a mixer on medium-high speed until pale and fluffy, about 5 minutes.
5. Beat in eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition.
6. Add vanilla and rum. Reduce speed to low.
7. Add flour mixture in 2 additions, alternating with buttermilk.
8. Raise speed to medium-high, and beat for 2 minutes.
9. Divide batter among pans.
10.Bake cakes until golden brown and testers inserted in centers come out clean, about 40 minutes.
11.Transfer pans to wire racks and let cool slightly. Invert cakes onto racks. Let cool.
12.Frosting: Melt 1 stick butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat until dark golden brown, about 10 minutes.
13.Add brown sugar, cream and salt, stirring until sugar dissolves.
14.Bring to a boil, whisking constantly, and cook for 3 minutes. Transfer to a mixer bowl and let cool.
15.With machine running, add remaining butter, a few pieces at a time, and beat on low until incorporated.
16.Raise speed to medium, and beat for 2 minutes.
17.In another bowl, beat cream cheese and confectioners'sugar on medium-high until fluffy and smooth, about 3 minutes.
18.Add brown butter mixture to cream cheese and beat until smooth.
19.Cover and refrigerate until chilled, at least 2 hours, beating on low speed before using.
20.Butterscotch sauce: Mix sugar, butter, corn syrup and salt in a small saucepan over medium heat and cook, stirring, until sugar dissolves.
21.Bring to a boil and cook for 2 minutes.
22.Remove from heat and whisk in cream.
23.Return to heat and cook for 2 minutes. Let cool slightly.
24.Assembly: Trim tops of 2 cake layers and top and bottom of third. (Third will be the middle layer.)
25.Brush 1/4 cup + 2 tablespoons butterscotch sauce on cut sides. Let cool.
26.Spread 1 cup frosting on 1 layer, then place middle layer on top, sauce side down.
27.Spread 1 cup frosting on middle layer, then place third layer on top, sauce side down.
28.Spread 1 cup frosting on top and sides. Refrigerate until firm, about 1 hour.
29.Using an offset spatula, spread remaining frosting on top and sides of cake.
30.Press chopped pecans on sides and garnish top with pecan halves.
31.Transfer cake to a serving plate or cake stand. Refrigerate until firm, at least 4 hours.
Yield: 12 - 14 servings.
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