I am known for my cakes.  If there is a gathering, it can be heard, “Let Patty bring the cake!”  In fact when my youngest daughter married a few years back, it was voted that we have a cake bar because no one could decide which cake to offer, so we offered a variety.  This just caused a frenzy among friends.  Now, what to choose?! “Choose them all,” I say. Life’s too short to pass on the sweet parts.

Isn’t that what cakes represent–the sweet moments of relationship?  Be it a wedding, a birthday, or a new baby, cakes seem to be involved. Cake shows up to funeral dinners to comfort and at doorsteps of a sick neighbors to encourage. Cake brings community together, not for the sake of cake, but for the pleasure of doing life side-by-side in good times or bad.  That is the icing of life–the sweet fellowship of friends.

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This is one of my most requested cake frostings. I first discovered it in Better Homes and Gardens in an article that included a recipe for a  Candy Bar Cake.  I quickly ditched the cake recipe for a boxed mix, but kept the one for frosting. It’s the star anyway.  The original recipe called for chopped candy bars to be sprinkled on the top. On occasion, we still include them but it takes it to an extreme level of richness. I use this recipe on yellow or carrot cake but please do try it on your favorite and let me know how you like it.  This is my version. It is slightly different from the original.

Browned Butter Cream Cheese Frosting

• 1/2 cup butter
• 8 ounces cream cheese
• 5 cups (625 g) powdered sugar
• 2-4 tablespoons milk
• 2 teaspoons vanilla

Directions

1. Melt butter in small skillet over medium low heat.  Continue to cook, keep a close watch, until butter becomes golden in color. Remove from heat and cool slightly.
2. In mixer, beat cream cheese until creamy.
3. Add 2 cups of powdered sugar and beat until smooth.
4. Pour in melted butter.  Beat until smooth.
5. Continue mixing, adding powered sugar 1/2 cup at a time and beating briefly after each addition. Add a little milk to keep frosting at a mixable consistency.
6. Add vanilla beating until incorporated.
7. Get in on the cake before you eat it all with a spoon.
8. Enjoy!

Cakes are special. Every birthday, every celebration,

ends with something sweet, a cake and people remember.

It’s all about the memories.

~Bubby Valastro