VANILLA CAKE WITH VANILLA BEAN BROWNED BUTTER GLAZE

VANILLA CAKE WITH VANILLA BEAN BROWNED BUTTER GLAZE

This is my new favorite vanilla cake and you'll be in vanilla heaven. It’s an easy, no mixer cake that adapted my favorite buttermilk cake base. Cakes always turn out supremely moist, springy, and fluffy thanks to buttermilk, sour cream, and oil. The glaze really helps make this cake and it’s just out-of-this world amazing. The secrets are browned butter and glorious specks of vanilla beans, which help boost the overall vanilla flavor profile. You won't miss the chocolate here.

YIELD: one 8x8 pan, 9 to 12 generous squares
PREP TIME: 15 minutes
COOK TIME: about 29 - 32 mintues
TOTAL TIME: about 2 1/2 hours, for cooling

INGREDIENTS:
Cake

• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 3/4 cup granulated sugar
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• pinch salt, optional and to taste
• 1 large egg
• 1/2 cup buttermilk 
• 1/3 cup sour cream, lite is okay (plain Greek yogurt may be substituted)
• 3 tablespoons canola or vegetable oil
• 2 teaspoons McCormick Extra Rich Pure Vanilla Extract

Glaze

• 1/4 cup unsalted butter, browned (how to brown butter tutorial)
• 1 heaping cup confectioners' sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla bean paste (or seeds from 1 large vanilla bean; 1 tablespoon McCormick Extra Rich Pure Vanilla Extract extract may be substituted)
• pinch salt, optional and to taste
• about 1/4 cup cream or milk, or as necessary for consistency

DIRECTIONS:

1. Preheat oven to 350F. Line an 8-by-8-inch baking pan with aluminum foil, spray with cooking spray; set aside.
2. Cake - In a large bowl, whisk together flour, granulated sugar, baking powder, optional salt; set aside.
3. In a separate small bowl, whisk together the egg, buttermilk, sour cream, oil, and vanilla.
4. Add the wet mixture to the dry, mixing lightly with a spoon or folding with a spatula until just combined. Small lumps will be present, don't overmix or try to stir them smooth.
5. Turn batter out into prepared pan and bake for about 29 to 32 minutes, or until center is set and not jiggly, and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean or with a few moist crumbs, but no batter.
6. Place pan on a wire rack and allow cake to cool. While cake cools, make the glaze.
7. Glaze - Brown the butter (click for tutorial). Cook butter over medium-high heat in a small saucepan until it's amber to brown in color, about 5 minutes depending on pan size, but watch it closely so you don't burn it. I swirl the pan in the last minute or so to make sure I can really see the color changes. Butter will go through stages of hissing, sputtering, and making noise until the water cooks off at which point the browning occurs. Butter will smell nutty and aromatic.
8. Transfer butter, including brown bits at the bottom of the pan (they're flavor powerhouses, keep them) from pan to large mixing bowl which stops any carryover cooking.
9. Add the confectioners' sugar, vanilla bean paste, optional salt, and slowly add the milk, whisking until smooth or beat with a handheld electric mixer. As necessary, add additional cream (or confectioners' sugar) to reach desired glaze consistency.  Glaze should be of medium thickness and easily pourable.
10. Evenly pour glaze over cake (doesn't have to be fully cooled), smoothing it lightly with a spatula if necessary, but glaze will likely just slide into place.
11. Allow cake to cool in pan uncovered for at least 2 hours (or overnight and cover with a sheet of foil) before slicing and serving so glaze can set up. Cake will keep airtight at room temperature for up to 5 days, or in the freezer for up to 6 months.

Cake base adapted from Blueberry Muffin and Buttermilk Pancakes Cake, Glaze adpated from Fudgy Banana Bars with Vanilla Bean Browned Butter Glaze

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