Chocolate? Check.
Tons of frosting? Check!
Salted Caramel? CHECK.
Anyone else already hungry? I know I am, and I’ve eaten at least two slices of this beauty already! Sometimes you just need cake, and with a cocktail party on the cards for the Bank Holiday weekend it was the perfect excuse to try a new recipe.
This chocolate layer cake with vanilla frosting and salted caramel drizzle is a decadent dream, and inspired by two of my new cake blogging crushes. Firstly, Tessa Huff of Sweet Style CA and Rosie of Rosie’s Dessert Spot – both make insanely beautiful cakes and are definitely worth a follow right now! Go!
This was my first attempt at a drip cake, and even though I’ve watched like a bajillion videos and read SO many blog posts on them, I think some more practise will be in order! Getting the right consistency of ‘drip’ and ensuring you add the right amount is trickier than I imagined it would be.
An excuse to practise by making another cake is hardly a trial though right? I’ve become a little (read ALOT) obsessed with layer cakes at the moment, and can’t stop watching videos of frosting being perfectly smeared onto stacks of cake. So apologies if it gets a little cake heavy round thee parts soon! Though, is an apology for more cake really needed??
If you make any element of this bake though, go for the salted caramel drizzle. Its the PERFECT recipe, and makes more than you need which came in really handy for our household when my sister brought over brownies!
This chocolate layer cake recipe is SUPER moist! Its one of those bakes that needs to be left in the pans for a good 10-15 minutes after taking them out the oven. The sponges are also super bouncy, meaning you have to be delicate in transferring them to your cake stand. But once they’re cooled and encased in light fluffy buttercream they are so delicious – and even better the day after baking!
This buttercream is so light and fluffy – but you have to be prepared to whip that butter for a good 5 minutes or so to ensure it! You need to whip the butter to the point where it looks like frosting, which is confusing for the mind when you decide to taste it!
So have I convinced you that you need to try this yet?
Chocolate Layer Cake with Vanilla Frosting and Salted Caramel Drizzle
Ingredients
Cake
- 310 g plain flour
- 80 g cocoa powder
- 2 &1/2tsp baking powder
- 3/4 tsp bicarbonate of soda
- 1 tsp salt
- 155 ml vegetable oil
- 400 g caster sugar
- 2 large eggs + 1 egg yolk
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/2 tsp almond extract
- 340 ml whole milk
- 225 ml hot strong-brewed coffee
Salted Caramel
- 150 g caster sugar
- 2 tbsp golden syrup
- 2 tbsp water
- 115 ml double cream
- 2 tbsp unsalted butter
- flaked sea salt to taste
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
Frosting
- 500 g unsalted butter room temperature
- 1 kg icing sugar
- 1 tbsp vanilla extract
- 2 tbsp whole milk
Instructions
- For the Cake: Firstly, pre-heat the oven to 180C and grease and line three 8" baking pans. In a small bowl, sift together the flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, bicarb and salt. Then set aside until needed.
- Using a hand mixer beat together the oil and sugar for about two minutes. With the mixer still running, add the eggs, egg yolk, vanilla and almond extract ensuring you scrape down the sides to incorporate all the mixture. On a low speed, add the flour mixture in three batches, alternating with the milk, beginning and ending with the flour mixture. Again, ensure you scrape down the sides to incorporate all the mixture. Remaining on a low speed, stream in the coffee until just combined.
- Evenly divide the batter between the three prepared pans. Bake in the oven for 23-25 minutes until a skewer comes out clean and the sponges bounce back. Let them cool on a wire rack in the pans for at least 10-15 minutes, before removing them from the pans to completely cool.
- For the salted caramel: While the cakes are cooling begin making the salted caramel drizzle by placing the sugar, golden syrup and water in a heavy-bottomed pan and stir to combine.
- Heat over a high heat, occasionally swirling the pan, until it turns a medium gold amber colour - this will take about 10 minutes. Once the caramel starts to deepen in colour, remove the pan from the heat. Slowly and carefully whisk in the cream, the mixture will bubble up so stand clear and keep stirring.
- Add the butter, whilst continuing to stir until melted. Then add the salt and vanilla to combine, I added around 4 large pinches. Pour into a heat-safe container (a pyrex bowl, jug or a jam jar will do) and set aside to cool and thicken.
- For the frosting: Put the unsalted butter into a large bowl and using a hand mixer beat for a good 6 minutes, until it is super creamy. Then slowly add the icing sugar in batches, beating continually with the hand mixer until all incorporated. Add the milk and vanilla extract, and continue beating with the hand mixer until it is super light and fluffy.
- For the assembly: Place one sponge onto your cake stand and using a palette knife spread a layer of frosting on top. Repeat this with the next two layers. Frost the entire cake with the remaining buttercream, and then using a cake scraper or a palette knife drag it around the cake to achieve a smooth finish, removing any excess buttercream.
- Finally, pour the salted caramel over the top of the cake, coaxing it to slowly drip over the sides.
