Ah, the Southern Caramel Cake—a classic rich, buttery cake with layers of caramel frosting and a drizzle of caramel glaze. It’s indulgent, slightly sticky, and absolutely decadent. Here’s a detailed recipe for making it from scratch.
Southern Caramel Cake
Ingredients
For the Cake
- 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- 2 ½ tsp baking powder
- ½ tsp baking soda
- ½ tsp salt
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 2 cups granulated sugar
- 4 large eggs, room temperature
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 cup buttermilk, room temperature
For the Caramel Frosting
- 1 cup unsalted butter
- 1 ½ cups packed brown sugar
- ½ cup evaporated milk (or whole milk)
- 2 cups powdered sugar, sifted
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
Optional Caramel Drizzle
- ½ cup brown sugar
- ¼ cup heavy cream
- 2 tbsp butter
Instructions
1. Make the Cake
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour two 9-inch round cake pans.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
- In a large bowl, cream butter and granulated sugar until light and fluffy (~3–4 min).
- Beat in eggs one at a time, then add vanilla.
- Alternate adding dry ingredients and buttermilk in 3 additions, beginning and ending with dry ingredients. Mix until just combined.
- Divide batter evenly between prepared pans and bake 25–30 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean. Cool completely on a wire rack.
2. Make the Caramel Frosting
- In a medium saucepan, melt butter over medium heat.
- Add brown sugar and evaporated milk; bring to a boil while stirring constantly.
- Boil for 1–2 minutes, then remove from heat and cool 10–15 minutes.
- Gradually whisk in powdered sugar and vanilla until smooth and spreadable.
3. Assemble the Cake
- Place one cake layer on a serving plate. Spread a thick layer of caramel frosting.
- Top with second layer and frost the top and sides with remaining frosting.
- Optional: Make a quick caramel drizzle by heating brown sugar, cream, and butter in a saucepan until smooth, then drizzle over the top.
Tips for the Perfect Southern Caramel Cake
- Room temperature ingredients help the cake rise evenly.
- Don’t overmix the batter once the dry ingredients are added—keeps it tender.
- Cook the frosting gently—boil only briefly or it can become too thick or grainy.
- For extra decadence, sprinkle chopped pecans over the frosting or drizzle.
If you want, I can give a shortcut trick to make the frosting extra creamy and silky, which is a Southern baker’s secret for that melt-in-your-mouth texture.
Do you want me to do that?
