Southern Caramel Cake! Just saying the name takes me back to my grandmother’s kitchen, where the sweet smell of caramel and happiness filled the air. This dessert is very special to me because it brings back memories of family gatherings, laughter, and the happy moment when the first piece was served. This isn’t just a cake; it’s a party on a plate!
The rich, buttery caramel frosting on this moist yellow cake makes each bite feel like a warm hug. This recipe is sure to make anyone smile, and I love how it brings people together. There is also something special about homemade caramel that you can’t get from store-bought versions. Your taste buds will thank you for the work!
What goes into Southern Caramel Cake?
Let’s look at the parts that make this cake so delicious. The buttery, caramel goodness comes from each of these ingredients:
Cake flour is the main ingredient in our cake. It is lighter than all-purpose flour, which gives the cake its soft, tender crumb, which is very important for a Southern cake. For the best results, I suggest using a brand like Swans Down.
Sugar: We’ll use brown sugar for the caramel frosting and granulated sugar for the cake. The brown sugar gives the caramel flavor a nice depth that makes it even better.
We use baking powder to make the cake light and fluffy. To get the best rise, always make sure your baking powder is fresh.
Unsalted Butter: You can’t go wrong with butter that is high quality. It makes the cake and frosting taste better. I like Kerrygold and other brands like it because they are creamy.
Eggs: Fresh eggs are important because they hold everything together and add moisture. For easier mixing, make sure they are at room temperature.
Vanilla Extract: A little bit of vanilla makes all the other flavors in the cake taste better.
Heavy cream is what you need for the caramel frosting. Heavy cream is very smooth because it is so rich.
A little bit of salt It perfectly balances the sweetness and rounds out the flavors.
Is Southern Caramel Cake Healthy?
Let’s talk about health for a minute now. This cake isn’t exactly “health food,” but sometimes you need to treat yourself to something sweet for your soul!
Butter is tasty, but it has a lot of saturated fat. Remember that moderation is the key!
Sugar: This cake needs sugar to be sweet and moist. Sugar can make you feel more energetic, so it’s best to eat it only once in a while.
You can enjoy each slice, knowing that it was made with love from scratch. Also, sharing this cake with friends and family can make you feel better. That’s a health benefit you should keep!
List of Ingredients
This recipe makes about 12 servings:
– 2 ½ cups of cake flour – 2 cups of sugar – 1 tablespoon of baking powder
– ½ teaspoon of salt – 1 cup of softened unsalted butter
– Four big eggs that are at room temperature
– 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
– 1 cup of whole milk that is at room temperature
– 1 1/2 cups of brown sugar for the frosting
– 1 cup of heavy cream for frosting
How do you make Southern Caramel Cake?
1. Set your oven to 350°F (175°C). Put flour and grease on three 9-inch round cake pans.
2. Mix the cake flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt together in a big bowl.
3. Mix in the softened butter on low speed until it looks like fine crumbs.
4. In a different bowl, mix the eggs, vanilla, and milk together. Slowly mix this into the flour mixture until everything is well combined.
5. Split the batter evenly between the three pans you made and smooth the tops.
6. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean. Let them cool in the pans for about ten minutes, then move them to a wire rack to cool all the way.
7. Make the caramel frosting while the cakes are cooling. Put the brown sugar and heavy cream in a saucepan over medium heat and stir constantly until the mixture thickens a little. Take it off the heat and let it cool until it’s easy to spread.
8. Put one layer of cake on a serving plate after the cakes have cooled completely. Put a lot of caramel frosting on top.
9. Put on the second layer and frost it again. Then put on the last layer. Use the rest of the frosting to cover the top and sides of the cake.
10. Wait about 30 minutes before cutting it.
Sweet Advice for Southern Charm
– **Variations:** You can make this cake even better by putting chopped pecans between the layers or by sprinkling sea salt on top of the frosting for a salted caramel flavor.
– **Suggestions for Serving:** For an extra “wow” factor, serve this cake with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or a dollop of whipped cream.
– **How to Store:** If you do have leftovers (which is very unlikely), you can keep them in an airtight container at room temperature for up to three days or in the fridge for about a week.
I hope you try this Southern Caramel Cake! It really makes any gathering more fun. I can’t wait to hear how it goes for you! This cake will definitely make sweet memories, whether it’s for a special occasion or a family dessert night. So get your ingredients together, let your inner baker out, and let the magic of caramel happen! Have fun!
