Mom's Caramel Icing

Growing up, this icing poured over a slice of warm cake was one of my very favorite treats. It was always a challenge to stop at just one piece. My mom made this icing for us often, and it quickly became my most‑requested birthday dessert.

My dad loved caramel icing just as much, and he has a story from his college days at Mississippi State University that still makes me laugh. Back then, dorms were pretty bare‑bones — this was the mid‑1950s, after all. One weekend, his roommate returned from home with a sheet cake covered in caramel icing. The two of them decided to save it for later in the week, imagining how good it would taste after classes and cafeteria food.

When they finally sliced into it, the knife went straight through as if there were no cake at all. A little more investigating revealed the culprit: a tiny mouse had eaten its way inside and devoured every bit of the cake, leaving only the caramel shell behind. Needless to say, both boys were more than a little disappointed.

I hope you enjoy this icing as much as we always have. It’s wonderful on Nana’s Silver Cake or any cake you love — rich, nostalgic, and so indulgent.