Three simple recipes is all you need to make this perfect Salted Caramel Cake
Moist chocolate cake dripping with caramel in every bite and perfect caramel buttercream ties it all together
The caramel corn is optional but adds a fun and delicious touch for a unique decor!
Watch the video tutorial where I show you how easy it is to actually tie all of these components together!
Take your caramel game to the next level with this easy hack for super thick caramel!
Many people have trouble with caramel, But in the video tutorial linked below I show you a valuable trick
You can of course use any caramel recipe you love the most, and I have several options to choose from here on my website
One last note!
For an alternative recipe to the chocolate you may want to try my latest creation for Caramel Cake Layers! Yes the actual sponge cake is caramel!
Notes for Success:
I use 7″ cake pans for 3- Layers of cake, but if you only have 8″ layers just divide the batter evenly between the 2 pans for a 2-layer cake instead
I am using the American Buttercream recipe today, but I held back on two cups of the sugar since I’m adding caramel to it
Since I am not leaving this cake sit out at room temperature for more than an hour I very rarely use shortening in my buttercream recipes and the stability is totally fine!
If you have to travel with this cake or let it stay out at room temperature for more than 4 hours I would recommend to use the shortening addition for more stability
While I do have five recipes of buttercream to choose from, I find the American Buttercream recipe to be the easiest and most stable when it comes to adding in flavors
Of course you can use any recipe you prefer just be sure not to “break” the emulsion by adding in the caramel sauce
Very important that the caramel is super cold before adding it to the buttercream
The caramel popcorn will not stay crunchy for long since humidity is the enemy of caramel; especially refrigerated the caramel corn decor will get soggy after the first day
Chocolate cake layers can be made ahead of time up to one week stored in the refrigerator or freezer wrapped well to prevent drying out.
CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL YOUTUBE VIDEO TUTORIAL FOR HOW TO MAKE THIS CAKE
Salted Caramel Cake
Ingredients
Caramel Sauce:
- Granulated Sugar 2 cups (400g)
- Water 6 Tablespoons (90ml)
- White Vinegar 2 teaspoons (10ml)
- Salt 1 teaspoon
- Canned Coconut Milk 1 cup (240ml)
Caramel Corn:
- Whole Kernel Corn ¼ cup
- Coconut Oil 1 Tablespoon
- Brown Sugar ½ cup (100g)
- Vegan Butter 6 Tablespoons (85g)
- Baking Soda ¼ teaspoon
- Vanilla Extract 1 teaspoon (5ml)
- Salt ¼ teaspoon
Instructions
- Grease & parchment line the cake pans and preheat your oven to 350°
- Follow the recipe instructions for the chocolate cake recipe
- Prepare the buttercream recipe of your choice while the cakes are baking, but leave out 2 cups of the confectioners sugar.
- Prepare the caramel sauce recipe by combing the sugar, vinegar & water together in a heavy bottom sauce pot, stirring to dissolve the sugar before it comes to a boil
- Once the sugar mixture is boiling DO NOT STIR
- Bring to 320°F or once the color of the syrup turns from pale yellow to medium amber then remove it from the heat
- Let the pot stand for about an minute then add the coconut milk gently while stirring BE VERY CAREFUL AS THE HOT SUGAR SYRUP WILL BUBBLE UP & SPATTER!
- Add the salt & vanilla extract then pour into a heat proof container to cool slightly
- Pour the caramel into the work bowl of your stand mixer with the balloon attachment and whip on low speed first to be sure there is so spattering, then slowly increase the speed to medium and whip for about 8-10 minutes.
- The caramel will cool as you whip while incorporating air, turning it lighter and thicker.
- it will also thicken as it is refrigerated.
- Add about ¾ cup of cooled caramel sauce to the buttercream recipe and whip smooth
- Once the cakes are cooled you can assemble the cake as shown in the video tutorial
- For the Caramel Corn:
- First pop the corn by combing the coconut oil and the kernel corn in an 8qt stock pot with a heavy bottom.
- Over high heat with the lid on, shake the pan once in a while to coat the kernels with hot oil and wait for it to start popping
- Once it is popping quite vigorously turn the heat down to medium and continue to cook until the popping slows down
- Remove from heat and pour the popped corn into a large bowl
- Prepare the caramel by combining the vegan butter with the brown sugar and stir to dissolve the sugar over low heat
- Once it comes to a boil stop stirring and let it boil until it reaches 300°F on a candy thermometer
- If you don't have a candy thermometer it's ok, just let it boil for about 4 minutes then remove it from the heat and stir in the salt, baking soda and vanilla extract stirring to incorporate, it will bubble up slightly so be careful
- Pour the hot caramel over the popped corn in the large bowl and toss to coat evenly
- Pour the caramel corn out onto a lightly oiled sheet pan or a silicone mat to cool
- Store in an airtight container to prevent it going stale & getting sticky
Notes
Salted Carmel Cake can be stored at room temperature for up to 3 days in very cool temperatures
For longer storage cover loosely and keep refrigerated for up to 1 week
* the caramel corn will melt & go sticky when refrigerated
Hi Gretchen
What can i say, but another MASTERPIECE. Wow its so beautiful,love the caramel tip, will try this again. With your help i made the salted caramel with vanilla cake, beautiful cake, then i made salted caramel cake with chocolate cake and roasted peanuts with peanut butter filling. It was amazing. Thanks so much for generosity and talent. Love you work
Much appreciation and kind regards.
awesome!! Sorry it took me so long but I’m glad I came back around to do this one! Your Idea!
Hi Getchen! I’m a big fan of you☺️
Can I use soy milk conversion to coconut milk? I’m trying to make a vegan caramel these days. I started with a recipe in the book you wrote. But I failed every time, and I found this reciepe.
Hi! For which part? I mean yes you can sue any plant milk you prefer, but I am curious as to which part of the recipe? The cake batter itself?
Gretchen, hello! I am about to make this cake for us to celebrate my husband’s 60th on Sunday. I am also a vegan, and this will be my first foray into such a luscious cake endeavor. I’ve watched the video a couple of times. Looks like I can make the cake layers today (2 in 8 inch pans). After they cool, I plan to wrap in plastic (separately) and freeze.
How many days ahead can I make the buttercream and caramel?
Ice the cake with the layers straight out of the freezer same day or one day ahead?
Thanks in advance!
Hi Jean! Awesome! While everything about this cake can be made on the same day, I just find it easier to break it up into two (or more) since you definitely need those cake layers cold before assembling
That said, you can bake the layers today yes, wrap in plastic separately and freeze until Friday or Saturday? I guess you would be building it?
At any rate you can make the buttercream up to 1 week ahead, just CLICK HERE FOR RE-WHIPPING buttercream to spreadable workable consistency
I Always ice frozen cake layers, since technically they won’t be very frozen by the time you even get your 3rd layer on there! They thaw fast & cold cake is much easier to work with!
I love this recipe. I used it for a party this summer and it was a huge hit. There were only two vegans there, me and one other person, but everyone loved it.
I used your vanilla cake recipe, as I love vanilla and caramel much more than chocolate and caramel. It was so beautiful, too.
Oh, and I brought the caramel for the top separately and poured it over in front of the other guests, everyone was mesmerized! lol
Thank you for the recipe.
HI again Gretchen – Can I double your salted caramel recipe, or should I make it in single batches? Wondered if you have ever tested this. I am using it in the filling of several cakes, along with pecans and chocolate ganache, so will need a large amount.
Thank you in advance, and thank you also for sharing your amazing expertise and talent so generously!
Yes to double! I do it all the time just be sure your pot is large enough as it does bubble up quite aggressively! Thank you & your welcome too!