We Tried Reese Witherspoon's Sour Cream Cake with Praline Frosting

Reese Witherspoon loves her Grandma Draper'south recipe for Sour Cream Cake—but the praline frosting sure tin be choosy. Hither's how it came out for us.

Reese Witherspoon is one of those women who seems to do everything well. She's an extra, producer and entrepreneur who happens to love Southern staples. I assume she spends any fourth dimension she has left in the kitchen! That's where I would hang out if my grandma handed down this recipe for Sour Cream Cake.

Reese's grandmother, Dorothea Draper, used to spoil her with rich desserts and taught her about baking and Southern living. This recipe was first featured in Candace Nelson's cookbook. (She's the founder of Sprinkles bakery and a good friend of Reese's.) Now Reese has her own cookbook: Whiskey in a Teacup. And if those new recipes are anything similar this i, I'll be ordering mine later today.

Like Reese says, "Y'all, this cake is and then good!"

What you need

For the cake:

• 3/4 cup (1 one/2 sticks) unsalted butter, slightly softened, plus more for greasing
• 3 cups block flour, plus more for flouring the pans
• ane/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon blistering pulverisation
• ane/2 teaspoon fine sea salt
• 1 ane/iv cups full-fatty sour foam
• 4 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
• 2 cups saccharide
• vi large eggs

For the frosting:

• i/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, slightly softened
• 1/2 cup lightly packed dark brown sugar
• 1/two cup heavy cream, plus more if necessary
• 3 3/iv cups confectioners' carbohydrate, sifted
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

Getting started

As anxious as I was to get this cake baked, I'm glad I followed the recipe's communication and took the fourth dimension to properly ready my pans. (Post-obit the directions is one of grandma'south blistering secrets.) This moist, fluffy block can very easily stick to the pan, so start by buttering your two ix-inch cake pans, then cut parchment paper circles to line the bottoms, buttering again and finally flouring both pans.

Mixing the batter

Then per the instructions, I sifted together the flour, baking soda, baking pulverization and common salt. For a light, sweet cake, it's of import to measure the dry out ingredients the right way. In a separate small bowl, I stirred together the vanilla and sour cream.

I then pulled out my trusty stand mixer (I use this KitchenAid) with the paddle zipper and trounce the butter and sugar together until light and smooth. This part felt a little irksome, but I went with it. I slowly added each egg, so one-third of the flour mixture, half the sour cream mixture, half the remaining flour mixture, the remaining sour cream mixture and finally the remaining flour mixture. Normally I'd ignore that and dump it all together, but the results were too good to cut corners.

Blistering your cake

Once the batter was smooth with no streaks, I divided it among my 2 prepared pans and broiled them for near 30 to 40 minutes. The recipe called for thirty minutes, but that wasn't quite long enough for my oven. Make sure a toothpick inserted into the middle of the cake comes out clean before removing them. It was hard with that heavenly smell in my kitchen, but I let the cakes cool completely before turning them upside down over my cake stand. They came correct out with no trouble.

The best part

Taste of Dwelling house

This frosting is out of this world, just a little tricky. Information technology hardens quickly, and so make sure your cakes are cooled and set up-to-go before assembling. I started by melting the butter in a saucepan over medium rut, then stirred in the dark-brown sugar and cream. As before long as it reached a boil, I poured the mixture into a mixing bowl and started beating it at medium speed. I slowly added the confectioner's sugar and vanilla until it reached the correct consistency.

The frosting might look a piddling thin, but it will harden quickly. If it feels too thick to spread, try calculation a tablespoon or ii of extra cream. As soon equally information technology's ready, scoop most ¾ cup of frosting onto i cake layer and stack the other cake on top. Then, using a knife or spatula, speedily frost the top and sides.

Gustatory modality of Home

While my block wasn't exactly equally beautiful as the cookbook motion picture—that frosting sets fast!—the taste more than made up for my slightly lopsided creation. Will I brand information technology again? Oh, yes.

More Vintage Cakes Like Grandma'south

One-time-Fashioned Carrot Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting

A pleasingly moist cake, this care for is the one I requested that my mom make each yr for my birthday. It'south dotted with sweet carrots and a hint of cinnamon. The fluffy buttery frosting is scrumptious with chopped walnuts stirred in. I piece of this homemade carrot cake is never enough—amend than all the other carrot cakes recipes I've tried!—Kim Orr, Due west Grove, Pennsylvania

Psst! These are the cloak-and-dagger ingredients Grandma used to make her cake sense of taste and then nifty.

Chocolate Bavarian Torte

Whenever I take this eye-catching torte to a potluck, I become so many requests for the recipe. —Edith Holmstrom, Madison, Wisconsin

Best Red Velvet Cake

It's just non Christmas at our firm until this festive cake appears. This is unlike from other crimson velvet block recipes I've had; the icing is every bit calorie-free as snow. —Kathryn Davison, Charlotte, Northward Carolina

Archetype Pineapple Upside-Downwardly Cake

This pineapple upside-down cake is a classic recipe that never goes out of way! Information technology'due south delicious with the traditional pineapple, but try it with peaches or a combination of cranberries and orangish. —Bernardine Melton, Paola, Kansas

Hummingbird Cake

This impressive hummingbird block is my dad's favorite, so I ever make it for his birthday. It makes a memorable dessert for any celebration and is lovely with a summer meal. —Nancy Zimmerman, Cape May Court House, New Jersey

Contest-Winning Gingerbread with Lemon Sauce

I asked my mother in law for this recipe once I learned information technology'south my hubby'due south favorite. Now I bake it whenever he needs an extra-special care for. Spice cake topped with lemony sauce makes the states both grinning. —Kristen Oak, Pocatello, Idaho

German language Blackness Forest Block

Every bit far as I know, this cake recipe can exist traced dorsum to my High german great-grandma. When I got married, my mother gave me a copy and I promise to someday pass it down to my children. —Stephanie Travis, Fallon, Nevada

Spiced Devil's Food Cake

One of my mom's friends gave her this recipe when I was a child, and it has been a family unit favorite ever since. When your chocolate sweet molar acts up, this really hits the spot! —Linda Yeamans, Ashland, Oregon

7UP Pound Cake

My grandmother gave me this 7UP pound block recipe. On top of being delicious, this 7UP block represents family tradition, connection and honey. —Marsha Davis, Desert Hot Springs, California

Moist Lazy Daisy Cake

We always called this Mama'southward "never neglect" recipe. I approximate the aforementioned holds truthful for me, since I've entered this lazy daisy cake in contests and won with information technology. This tasty dessert is popular in our family, and information technology e'er brings back fond memories of Mama. —Carrie Bartlett, Gallatin, Tennessee

Lady Baltimore Block

I get-go made this block for my fathers' altogether and now it is the just block that he requests. This cake has circuitous flavors and is very unique. —Cleo Gonske, Redding, California

Southern Lane Cake

I just love this southern-style dessert, and so practice dinner guests. With pecans, cherries and raisins in the filling and topping, this version reminds me of a fruitcake—merely so much improve! —Mabel Parvi, Ridgefield, Washington

Gran's Apple Cake

My grandmother occasionally brought over this wonderful cake warm from the oven. The spicy apple flavor combined with the sweet cream cheese frosting made this recipe 1 that we treasured. Fifty-fifty though I've lightened it up, it'southward still a family favorite. —Lauris Conrad, Turlock, California

Grandma's Tandy Kake

My grandmother fabricated this for all our family gatherings. Anybody loves information technology now I go far for every party we attend or host. —John Morgan III, Lebanese republic, Pennsylvania

Flourless Chocolate Torte

Here'due south the perfect dessert for chocoholics—like me! I broil this melt-in-your-mouth torte all the fourth dimension for special occasions. For an elegant finish, dust it with confectioners' sugar. —Kayla Albrecht, Freeport, Illinois

Banana Block with Cream Cheese Frosting

As a mother of three sons, sweets are a staple in my kitchen! I buy ripe fruit on sale and freeze information technology to make this cake. My banana block with foam cheese frosting is a favorite among loved ones at my family picnics and dinners. —Bonnie Krause, Irvona, Pennsylvania

Coconut Italian Cream Cake

I'd never tasted an Italian cream cake before moving to Colorado. Now I bake for people in the area, and this beauty is one of my most requested treats. —Ann Bush, Colorado City, Colorado

Classic Tres Leches Block

Tres leches means "iii milks." This cake gets its name because it uses three kinds of milk—evaporated, condensed and foam. This cake'south light and airy texture has made it a classic in Mexican kitchens for generations. —Gustatory modality of Home Test Kitchen

Best Angel Food Cake

For our daughter's wedding ceremony, a friend made this lovely, affections food cake from a recipe she's used for decades. It actually is one of the best angel food cake recipes I've establish. Serve slices plain or dress them upward with fresh fruit. —Marilyn Niemeyer, Doon, Iowa

Walnut Honey Cake

This lite and fluffy marvel all but melts in your mouth. Back in the day, information technology took effort for my grandmother's kitchen helper to go far, only information technology's a cakewalk now that we accept stand mixers. —Lily Julow, Lawrenceville, Georgia

Pumpkin Spice Cake with Maple Glaze

Serve upwardly some fun with this delicious cake that'southward yummy any time of the twelvemonth, but especially prissy during the vacation season. No one will approximate that cake mix simplifies the recipe. The traditional pumpkin and spices plus the delectable maple glaze give it a real from-scratch taste. —Barbara Elliott, Tyler, Texas

Kokosnoot Chiffon Block

Toasted kokosnoot adds visual appeal to this tall and impressive cake. With an airy texture and heavenly coconut-ginger season,it'due south a lovely end to meals throughout the year.

Sandy's Chocolate Block

Years ago, I drove 4-one/2 hours to a cake contest, belongings my entry on my lap the whole way. Just information technology paid off. One seize with teeth and you'll see why this velvety beauty was named the all-time chocolate block recipe and won first prize. —Sandra Johnson, Tioga, Pennsylvania

Spicy Applesauce Cake

This picnic-perfect cake travels and slices very well. With chocolate fries, walnuts and raisins, it's a real oversupply pleaser. —Marian Platt, Sequim, Washington

Jeweled Fruitcake

I hope this jeweled fruitcake is but fantastic. Even my friends and family members who don't normally treat fruitcake say they love it! —Sharon Hoffman, Donna, Texas

German Chocolate Tres Leches Cake

I first tried tres leches block while in Ecuador several years ago. Since then, I've inverse it up by calculation some of my favorite ingredients, namely chocolate and kokosnoot. This version also has a splash of rum for an adults-but treat. —Lisa Varner, El Paso, Texas

Gingered Apple Upside-Downwards Cake

I like that this gingerbread delight is so deeply flavored and delicious. Served warm from the oven, a nice scoop of vanilla edible bean ice cream is definitely the icing on this cake. —Raymonde Bourgeois, Swastika, Ontario

Buttermilk Pound Cake

Now that I've retired from teaching, I accept more time to bake. This buttermilk pound block is the one I make nearly oft. It is a truly southern recipe, and one I recollect can't be topped—once people gustation it, they won't become dorsum to their other recipes with buttermilk. —Gracie Hanchey, De Ridder, Louisiana

Glazed Spiced Rum Pound Cakes

My recipe makes 2 loaf-sized treats, perfect for sharing. The spiced rum flavour really comes through in both the cake and the coat. —Christine Russell, Littleton, New Hampshire

Butter Pecan Layer Cake

Pecans and butter give this block the same irresistible flavour as the popular butter pecan ice cream flavour. —Becky Miller, Tallahassee, Florida

hannemancomativel.blogspot.com

Source: https://www.tasteofhome.com/article/reese-witherspoons-sour-cream-cake-with-praline-frosting/

Share this post