Simple Salted Caramel Cake


Cakes & Cupcakes Fall Gluten Free High Altitude No Seed Oils Sweet & Salty Desserts | Published October 10, 2022 by Mimi Council

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This Simple Salted Caramel Cake was always a best seller at my bake shop! Now, I'm sharing the recipe with you. This classic yellow layer cake is frosted with a homemade caramel buttercream frosting, using my Homemade Caramel Sauce. There's salted caramel in the layers and all over the top of the cake. This Salted Caramel Cake is perfect for any occasion!

If you love caramel, check out some of my other favorite caramel desserts like my Salted Caramel Brownies, Caramel Apple Pie, or my Peanut Butter Caramel Chocolate Chip Blondies.

salted caramel cake
salted caramel cake

Why You'll Love This Recipe

Sweet & Salty: Learn how to make a homemade Salted Caramel Cake that is both sweet and salty! I love sweet and salty desserts as they have the perfect balance. This moist and fluffy vanilla cake is filled with homemade salted caramel and finished with creamy caramel buttercream. You will be so glad you know how to make a homemade Salted Caramel Cake once you try this one!

Caramel: Caramel is everyone's favorite! You simply can't go wrong with caramel. And, if you add salted caramel it only makes it better. This simple Salted Caramel Cake is sure to be a crowd pleaser!

Perfect for Any Party: This simple Salted Caramel Cake is perfect for any party. Whether it's a birthday, a celebration, or even a holiday! This simple Salted Caramel will impress all your guests and I bet you they will ask you how to make a homemade Salted Caramel Cake after taking just one bite!

salted caramel cake

Ingredients

Organic Valley Salted Butter

Wholesome Organic Cane Sugar

Simply Organic Vanilla Extract

Organic Valley Large Eggs

Organic Valley Grassmilk

Organic Valley Sour Cream

Homemade Organic Cake Flour

Wholesome Organic Powdered Sugar

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Tools Needed

Digital Food Scale

High Heat Spatula

3-Quart Pot

Stand Mixer

6-inch Cake Pan (use code MIMIBAKES for 10% off Kana, my favorite sustainable cake pans!)

Parchment Paper (use code MIMIBAKES for 10% off Kana, my favorite non toxic parchment paper!)

Cake Turntable

Cake Spatula

salted caramel cake

Step by Step Instructions

Step 1

Make sure the Caramel Sauce is made ahead of time.

Step 2

Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line three 6-inch cake pans with parchment paper.

Step 3

To make the batter: In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, add the butter, cane sugar, and vanilla extract and mix no low until combined and there are no chunks of butter. Add the eggs, milk, and sour cream and mix on low until combined, scraping down the sides of the bowl.

In a separate bowl, add the cake flour, baking powder, and sea salt and whisk together. With the mixer on low, slowly add the flour mixture to the butter mixture. Continue to mix on low until you don’t see any specs of flour, scraping down the sides of the bowl. Divide the batter evenly into the prepared pans, about 226 grams each.

Step 4

Bake for 20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Allow to cool completely in the cake pans. (If you're baking at high altitude, be sure to check the Notes at the bottom of the recipe for high altitude baking instructions).

Step 5

To make the frosting: In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, add the powdered sugar, butter, and caramel sauce. Mix on low until combined, then speed mixer up to high for 1 to 3 minutes or until light and fluffy.

Step 6

To assemble the cake: Place a dollop of frosting on a cake stand or cake spinner and add the first cake layer. Using a cake spatula add a layer of frosting to the top of the cake. Drizzle with caramel sauce and sprinkle it with sea salt. Place the second cake layer on top, and repeat this process to crumb coat the cake completely.

Step 7

Frost the cake with some texture and add caramel sauce all over the top. Sprinkle the top with sea salt.

salted caramel cake

FAQ's

Do I need to make homemade caramel sauce for this cake?

If you are pressed for time, or just lazy, and don’t want to make homemade Caramel Sauce, then you can buy an organic Caramel Sauce. King’s Cupboard or Get Your Hot Cakes makes the best ones you can buy. If using Get Your Hot Cakes make sure to taste it before adding the additional salt, as they have sea salt in the caramel already!

How do you make homemade salted caramel?

Homemade salted caramel is made the same way homemade Caramel Sauce is, but you just add sea salt. Yep, it’s that simple! You can add sea salt into the caramel itself, but I prefer to actually just sprinkle it on top of the caramel when I use it, as that makes it more versatile. Because if I want caramel or salted caramel, then I easily can have both!

Can you turn caramel into salted caramel?

Yes, any caramel sauce can be turned into salted caramel. You can add salt into the caramel sauce and stir it up, or you can sprinkle it on top as you use it. The latter is my favorite option and what I always do!

How do you store this cake?

This is best kept in a cake dome, so it doesn’t dry out. You can store it in the fridge, so long as it’s covered or in an airtight container (so it doesn’t dry out). But, this cake does not have to be refrigerated as the caramel is fine to sit out for a few days.

salted caramel cake

Craving More?

salted caramel cake

Simple Salted Caramel Cake

Mimi Council
Learn how to make a homemade Salted Caramel Cake with this easy recipe! Moist and fluffy vanilla layer cake is filled with homemade caramel, caramel buttercream, and a sprinkle of sea salt for a sweet and salty cake that everyone will love!
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 35 minutes
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Makes 8 servings
Calories 739 kcal

Ingredients
 
 

Batter

Frosting

Instructions
 

  • Make sure the Caramel Sauce is made ahead of time.
  • Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line three 6-inch cake pans with parchment paper.
  • To make the batter: In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, add the butter, cane sugar, and vanilla extract and mix no low until combined and there are no chunks of butter. Add the eggs, milk, and sour cream and mix on low until combined, scraping down the sides of the bowl.
  • In a separate bowl, add the cake flour, baking powder, and sea salt and whisk together. With the mixer on low, slowly add the flour mixture to the butter mixture. Continue to mix on low until you don’t see any specs of flour, scraping down the sides of the bowl. Divide the batter evenly into the prepared pans, about 226 grams each.
  • Bake for 20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Allow to cool completely in the cake pans. (If you're baking at high altitude, be sure to check the Notes at the bottom of the recipe for high altitude baking instructions).
  • To make the frosting: In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, add the powdered sugar, butter, and caramel sauce. Mix on low until combined, then speed mixer up to high for 1 to 3 minutes or until light and fluffy.
  • To assemble the cake: Place a dollop of frosting on a cake stand or cake spinner and add the first cake layer. Using a cake spatula add a layer of frosting to the top of the cake. Drizzle with caramel sauce and sprinkle it with sea salt. Place the second cake layer on top, and repeat this process to crumb coat the cake completely.
  • Frost the cake with some texture and add caramel sauce all over the top. Sprinkle the top with sea salt.

Notes

TipTo learn how to crumb coat a cake, read my tutorial How to Crumb Coat a Cake.
Gluten Free — Replace the cake flour with 170 grams (1 cup plus 1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon) gluten free flour blend.
High Altitude — Bake at 350°F for 17 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

Nutrition

Calories: 739kcalCarbohydrates: 99gProtein: 5gFat: 38gSaturated Fat: 23gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 10gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 138mgSodium: 521mgPotassium: 86mgFiber: 1gSugar: 82gVitamin A: 1194IUVitamin C: 0.1mgCalcium: 79mgIron: 0.5mg
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