Hey all, 

I've officially gone to war with caramel.  I'm a born and bred Southerner and have actually never had a caramel cake, but had one requested, so I dove in.  I've now scrapped my second batch of caramel frosting, both were delicious, but the first wouldn't thicken then thickened to the point where it just rolled off the cake, the second never thickened and was just more of a caramel sauce.  (Both cooked in a thick dutch oven to the soft ball stage, both looked like they were on their way....then nope.)

Does anyone have a good recipe that's not going to take an hour (or two, like the first batch) to make?  I've run out of time (and money) to experiment, but this is for family, so I hate to give up on it!