Make your celebration cake memorable with chocolate and caramel flavors
Written by Pashupati Saha | December 29, 2024
When itÕs time to celebrate, there's something undeniably alluring about the combination of rich chocolate and smooth caramel. This Chocolate and Caramel Cake brings the best of both flavors, layering a deeply chocolatey sponge with silky caramel frosting and finishing it all off with a drizzle of luscious caramel sauce. Perfect for birthdays, anniversaries, or even just because, this cake makes every occasion feel that much more special.
Why This Recipe Works
This recipe balances sweetness and richness in a way that feels both luxurious and comforting. The chocolate cake itself is moist and soft, with a slight bitterness from cocoa powder that perfectly offsets the sweetness of caramel. The frosting is whipped to a fluffy, smooth texture thatÕs easy to spread but stays stable on the cake layers. And the final drizzle of caramel? ItÕs like the pice de rsistanceÑadding that extra bit of decadence to take this dessert over the top.
Ingredients
Dry Ingredients:
- 220 gm all-purpose flour
- 90 gm unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 _ tsp baking powder
- 1 _ tsp baking soda
- _ tsp salt
Wet Ingredients:
- 120 ml vegetable oil
- 115 gm butter, melted and slightly cooled
- 400 gm granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs, room temperature
- 240 ml buttermilk
- 240 ml hot water or strong brewed coffee (to deepen the chocolate flavor)
Caramel Frosting:
- 170 gm butter
- 220 gm brown sugar
- 80 ml heavy cream
- 300 gm powdered sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
Caramel Sauce for Drizzle:
- 60 gm brown sugar
- 30 gm butter
- 60 ml heavy cream
- A pinch of salt (optional, for salted caramel)
Process
Prepare the cake layers:
Preheat your oven and get those cake pans ready with a light coat of butter and flour. In a large bowl, sift together the flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, and saltÑthese dry ingredients are the base of your cakeÕs structure. In a second bowl, beat the sugar, eggs, oil, and buttermilk until everything is fully combined. Now, bring the two mixtures together, and finish by adding in the hot water (or coffee if youÕre looking to enhance the chocolate depth). Stir gently to a smooth consistency, divide evenly between the prepared pans, and bake until a toothpick slides out clean.
Make the caramel frosting:
In a saucepan over low heat, melt the butter and brown sugar together. Stir continuously until the mixture is smooth. Add the heavy cream and let it come to a gentle boil, cooking for about one minute. Take the pan off the heat and let it cool for a few minutes. Then, beat in the powdered sugar until the frosting becomes creamy and smooth. This caramel frosting complements the rich chocolate in the cake.
Assemble the cake:
Place one cake layer on your serving plate. Using a spatula, spread a thick layer of caramel frosting over it. Add the second cake layer on top. Frost the top and sides of the entire cake, using smooth, even strokes. Take your time here, donÕt rush. The frosting is your chance to make the cake look as delicious as it tastes!
Drizzle with caramel sauce:
For the caramel sauce, combine brown sugar, butter, and heavy cream in a small saucepan. Cook over low heat until the mixture thickens slightly. Let the sauce cool before drizzling it over the frosted cake, letting it drip naturally down the sides for a beautiful finish.
Tips and Tricks
- Mixing is easier, and your cake bakes more evenly with room-temperature ingredients.
- Espresso powder or brewed coffee can elevate chocolateÕs flavor profile without giving the cake a coffee taste.
- A fully cooled cake holds frosting well, so give it time before applying that caramel frosting layer.
If you are a fan of caramel in your desserts, make this Gems and Caramello Loaded Cake. It is sweet, indulgent and perfect for birthdays! And our chocolate and caramel cake is ideal with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or a strong cup of black coffee. With each bite, youÕll experience rich chocolate and buttery caramelÑperfect for both special celebrations and those cozy nights when you just want something indulgent. Enjoy!