For the Cake

• 1 cup sour cream
• 1/2 cup milk
• 1 cup (2 sticks) salted butter, softened
• 2 cups sugar
• 4 large eggs, at room temperature
• 2¾ cups cake flour (I like White Lilly and Swan’s Down)
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• Caramel Frosting (recipe follows)

For the Frosting

• 1/3 cup plus 2½ cups sugar, in all, divided
• 1 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 1 cup whole milk
• 3/4 cup (1½ sticks) unsalted butter
• 1 teaspoon vanilla

Southern Caramel Cake 

For the Cake:

• 2 cups sugar
• 1¾ cups all purpose flour
• 1/2 cup cocoa powder
• 1/4 cup extra dark cocoa powder
• 1½ teaspoons baking powder
• 1½ teaspoons baking soda
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 2 large eggs at room temperature
• 1 cup milk (2 percent or whole)
• 1/2 cup vegetable oil
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 teaspoon raspberry liquor
• 1 cup boiling water
• Fabulous, Sinful Chocolate Frosting
• 8-10 toasted walnut halves for garnish (if desired)

For the Fabulous, Sinful Chocolate Frosting:

• 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter
• 1/2 cup cocoa powder
• 1/4 cup extra dark cocoa powder
• 3 cups powdered sugar
• 1/3 cup milk (2 percent or whole)
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/2 teaspoon raspberry liquor

Note: Double this recipe for both the cake and the frosting to make a 3 layer cake and 12 standard cupcakes to share with your children.

Fabulous Chocolate Cake

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• 1/2 cup (1 stick) butter
• 1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/2 cup heavy cream

Toffee Sauce

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• 1 cup long grained rice
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon butter
• 1 quart whole milk
• 6 large eggs
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 4 teaspoons orange rind, finely chopped
• 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 3/4 teaspoon nutmeg, freshly grated best

Creole Rice Custard

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• 1 cup (2 sticks) salted butter
• 2 cups sugar
• 2¼ cups flour
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 cup milk
• 5 large eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

New Orleans Pound Cake

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• 11 eggs
• 1¼ cups sugar
• 1 quart whole milk
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 24 inch slices of French bread (baguettes)
• 1 lb salted butter
• 1 lb light brown sugar
• 4 bananas
• 1/2 cup Praline Liqueur 

Galatoire's Banana Bread Pudding with Banana Sauce

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Bread Pudding

• 6 slices day old French or Italian Bread
• 2 tablespoons plus 1/2 cup sugar
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 4 eggs
• 2 cups milk
• 2 tablespoons melted butter
• 1/2 cup seedless raisins
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Rum Sauce

• 2 cups milk
• 1/2 stick butter
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1 tablespoon nutmeg
• 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
• Rum to taste
• 1 tablespoon oil
• 2 tablespoon flour

Bread Pudding with Rum Sauce

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• 4 cups milk (low fat OK)
• 5 whole cloves
• 2½ teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 12 egg yolks
• 1½ cups sugar
• 2½ cups light rum
• 4 cups light cream
• 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1/2 teaspoon ground mace

Egg Nog

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• 3 cups half-and-half
• 2 eggs
• 3/4 cup white sugar
• 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup flaked coconut, toasted
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 (9 inch) pie shell, baked
• 1 cup frozen whipped topping or heavy cream

Coconut Cream Pie

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Bread Pudding

• 6 croissants
• 2 cups heavy cream
• 3 eggs
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/3 cup pumpkin puree

Louisiana Molasses Gastrique

• 1/2 cup Louisiana molasses
• 1/3 cup bourbon
• 2 tablespoons champagne vinegar

Candied Pecans

• 1/3 pound Louisiana pecan pieces
• 1/4 cup powdered sugar

Pumpkin Bread Pudding with Louisiana Molasses Bourbon and Candied Pecans