This post may contain affiliate links. Please see disclosure policy here.
The secret to a good caramel cake is all in the frosting. This light, tender and moist yellow cake is frosted with an amazing caramel buttercream frosting.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
I love caramel cake and spent years on a quest for the perfect recipe. This caramel cake has the base of a nice, light, fluffy yellow cake, but the homemade caramel icing is the star of the show. It has the perfect caramel flavor.
This cake is light, fluffy, tender, moist and flavorful. And it makes the perfect base for this caramel cake.
The caramel frosting is rich and delicious. And unlike many caramel frostings, this one doesn’t need to be cooked for long periods of time. Just cook it in the microwave for a few minutes and then into the mixer it goes.
Ingredients
- Cake Flour. You can also use all purpose flour but cake flour makes the cake more tender.
- Sugar, granulated sugar, powdered sugar, and dark brown sugar
- Eggs
- Butter
- Baking Powder
- Salt
- Vanilla Extract
- Whole Milk
- Evaporated Milk
How To Make Caramel Cake
- Prepare three 8-inch pans by spraying them generously with baking spray and flour. Cut circles of parchment paper or wax paper to fit pans and place one in the bottom of each pan.
- Combine cake flour, baking powder, and salt together; set aside.
- Beat butter and sugar in the bowl of a stand mixer with the paddle attachment at medium speed until light and fluffy.
- Add vanilla and then eggs one at a time, beating after each addition.
- Add flour mixture and milk alternately in 3 batches, beating until smooth after each addition.
- Divide cake batter between prepared pans.
- Bake at 350 degrees until golden, 25-30 minutes.
- Cool on a wire rack for 10 minutes; invert cakes onto a cooling rack; let cool completely.
Caramel Frosting Ingredients
- Dark Brown Sugar
- Vanilla Extract
- Butter, salted
- Evaporated Milk
- Powdered Sugar
How To Make Caramel Frosting
- Place 1/2 cup butter, brown sugar and evaporated milk into a microwave safe bowl. Microwave for 1 minute, stir. Return to microwave and cook on high for 2-3 more minutes or until the mixture is smooth and no longer gritty. Can also be done in a saucepan on the stovetop over medium heat. Heat until ingredients are combined and no longer gritty.
- Cool mixture for 15 minutes.
- Pour caramel sauce into bowl of stand mixer and add in powdered sugar and mix on low until incorporated.
- Turn to medium high and mix for another minute. It will look crumbly and dry.
- Add in 1/2 cup of softened butter and vanilla and mix on medium high for 3-4 minutes or until light and fluffy. Frosting should be a nice spreadable consistency. Add more milk if too stiff or more sugar if too thin.
- Place a layer of caramel frosting between each cake layer.
- Frost the outside and top of the cake with an offset spatula.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I store caramel cake?
The cake can be stored covered in an air tight container at room temperature for 2-3 days. It will last for a week if kept refrigerated
My frosting is too thick to spread nicely.
If it is too thick, add a little more milk. If it is too thin, add some more powdered sugar.
Can I freeze caramel cake?
To freeze, wrap individual slices of cake in plastic wrap and then a layer of aluminum foil. Freeze for up to 3 months. To serve, thaw in the fridge and allow 30 minutes to come to room temperature before serving for best texture.
Check out more of my favorite cake recipes:
Be sure and follow me over on You Tube for weekly cooking demos.
Caramel Cake Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 cup butter salted and softened
- 3¼ cups cake flour
- 1 tablespoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 2½ cups sugar
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 4 eggs room temperature
- 1¼ cups milk I used whole milk
Frosting
- 1 cup butter salted, divided
- 2 cups dark brown sugar
- 1/2 cup evaporated milk
- 1 1/2 tsp vanilla
- 6 cups powdered sugar
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350?F.
- Spray three 8-inch pans generously with baking spray and flour. Cut circles of parchment paper or wax paper to fit pans and place one in the bottom of each pan.
- Combine cake flour, baking powder, and salt together; set aside.
- (If you are using the extra fine cake flour you won’t need to sift the flour, if not put the flour, baking powder and salt through a sifter.)
- Beat butter and sugar in the bowl of an electric mixer until light and fluffy.
- Add vanilla and then eggs one at a time, beating after each addition.
- Add flour mixture and milk alternately in 3 batches, beating until smooth after each addition.
- Divide batter between prepared pans.
- Bake until golden, 25-30 minutes.
- Let cool on a rack for 10 minutes; invert cakes onto a cooling rack; let cool completely.
- Brush off crumbs from sides and top of cake.
- Place one cake layer on a plate or cake stand.
- Add icing and spread to cover. Repeat with remaining layers.
- Frost entire cake with a generous layer of icing.
Frosting
- Place 1/2 cup butter, brown sugar and evaporated milk into a microwave safe bowl. Microwave for 1 minute, stir. Return to microwave and cook on high for 2-3 more minutes or until the mixture is smooth and no longer gritty. Can also be done in a saucepan on the stovetop. Heat until ingredients are combined and no longer gritty.
- Cool mixture for 15 minutes.
- Place in mixer and add in powdered sugar and mix on low until incorporated.
- Turn to medium high and mix for another minute.
- Add in 1/2 cup of softened butter and vanilla and mix on medium high for 3-4 minutes or until light and fluffy.
- Frosting should be a nice spreadable consistency. Add more milk if too stiff or more sugar if too thin.
- Frost cake.
Tips & Notes:
Recipe may need to be adapted for high altitude baking –see this post. To freeze cake: Wrap individual slices of cake in plastic wrap and then a layer of aluminum foil. Freeze for up to 3 months. To serve, thaw in the fridge and allow 30 minutes to come to room temperature before serving for best texture.
Recommended Products
Nutrition Facts:
kmart says
This cake looks yummy
Leigh Anne says
It was amazing and the frosting is so good!
Crystal says
Cake looks so delicious!! Thanks for the suggestion of using Red Bob’s cake flour. I’m going to try it. Thanks for the awesome recipe!!
Carol says
This looks so delicious and plan to make it this weekend. Would any type of cake flour work if I am unable to find Bob Red Mill cake flour? Thanks
Leigh Anne says
Carol, yes you can use any brand of cake flour
Camber says
Have you tried making these in cupcakes? How long would I bake them and would I need to change anything?
Leigh Anne says
Camber, I have only made it as a layer cake so not sure how it would translate to a cupcake. If you are in a higher altitude you might need to adjust the recipe.
Gail says
I made this yesterday and the Caramel frosting was much easier for the same result as the stove top method, so that was a win. The cake, however, was an epic fail! This post read like an advertisement for cake flour, which I am sure it was, even though it was not stated as a sponsored post. There was a link to purchase the cake flour along with just about everything else. The funny thing is, I am quite sure that the cake flour is precisely the problem with the cake. It cratered and had no structure what soever. I was making cup cakes instead of layer cake and they were terrible. I also made one layer with the leftover batter and it was no better than the cupcakes, so size of cooking vessel was not the problem. I had to dump the whole thing and start over. If you want a real tried and true vanilla cake that does not require special ingredients try this one from Gesine Bullock Prado: http://www.gbakes.com/2008/06/recipe-in-honor-of-renaissance-of-home.html
With this recipe the cake and the frosting were PERFECT! I am sorry to give a bad review, but it is honest. I am in Utah, so maybe your recipe does not work at high altitude?
Leigh Anne says
Gail, I am sorry the cake didn’t turn out for you. It worked beautifully here in Oregon and I am pretty sure the problem was you are baking at a high altitude. I bake at sea level. In the notes of the recipe there are some ways to adjust a recipe when baking at a high altitude. I always adjust recipes when I am visiting in Utah and baking at a high altitude.
Awkotaco says
I just made it in 2 round pans, and used my leftovers for cupcakes, and it turned out so good in both! So sorry yours didn’t turn out well, but I think I have a new favorite vanilla cake recipe!
Leigh Anne says
So glad you loved it too!!