Caramel Cake | Recipe by Leigh Anne Wilkes (2024)

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By: Leigh Anne Wilkes

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The secret to a good caramel cake is all in the frosting. And the caramel frosting on this cake is the best.

Caramel Cake | Recipe by Leigh Anne Wilkes (1)

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 frosting is the star of the show.

I’ve experimented with lots of from scratch cakes and I’ve finally found one that is everything a cake should be. Light, fluffy, tender, moist and flavorful. And it make the perfect base for this caramel cake.

The caramel frosting is rich and delciious. 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.

Caramel Cake | Recipe by Leigh Anne Wilkes (2)

Ingredients

  • Cake Flour
  • Sugar, granulated sugar, powdered sugar, and dark brown sugar
  • Eggs
  • Butter
  • Baking Powder
  • Salt
  • Vanilla Extract
  • Whole Milk
  • Evaporated Milk
Caramel Cake | Recipe by Leigh Anne Wilkes (3)

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 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 at 350 degrees until golden, 25-30 minutes.
  • Cool on a rack for 10 minutes; invert cakes onto a cooling rack; let cool completely.
Caramel Cake | Recipe by Leigh Anne Wilkes (4)

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. 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.
Caramel Cake | Recipe by Leigh Anne Wilkes (5)

Now all that is left is to serve and enjoy.

Check out more of my favorite cake recipes:

  • Key Lime Cake
  • California Orange Cake
  • Texas Sheet Cake

Be sure and follow me over onYou Tubefor weekly cooking demos.

Prep:30 minutes minutes

Cook:25 minutes minutes

Total:55 minutes minutes

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Ingredients

  • 1 cup butter softened
  • cups cake flour
  • 1 tablespoon baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • cups sugar
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 4 eggs room temperature
  • cups milk I used whole milk

Frosting

  • 1 cup butter 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:

Cake Recipe from Saveur
Recipe may need to be adapted for high altitude baking –see this post.

Nutrition Facts:

Calories: 982kcal (49%) Carbohydrates: 165g (55%) Protein: 7g (14%) Fat: 34g (52%) Saturated Fat: 20g (125%) Cholesterol: 141mg (47%) Sodium: 423mg (18%) Potassium: 278mg (8%) Sugar: 138g (153%) Vitamin A: 1090IU (22%) Vitamin C: 0.2mg Calcium: 153mg (15%) Iron: 1mg (6%)

* Disclaimer: All nutrition information are estimates only. Read full disclosure here.

Course:Dessert

Cuisine:American

Caramel Cake | Recipe by Leigh Anne Wilkes (7)

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Reader Interactions

Leave a Review

  1. Laurie Johnson says

    Omg! Made this cake and shared it with family! What a beautiful cake, it’s a have again, amazing, were some of the comments! The vanilla cake was so moist and is now my go to cake recipe!

    Reply

  2. Kim says

    Just wanted to point out that your instructions don’t mention adding vanilla to the frosting, although it is listed under ingredients. At which point should the vanilla be added? I’m looking forward to trying this recipe! Thanks for sharing!

    Reply

    • Leigh Anne says

      Kim, Thanks for bringing that to my attention. I updated the recipe.

      Reply

  3. Melanie says

    Can I use a 13×9 pan instead of round cake pans?

    Reply

    • Leigh Anne says

      Melanie, I haven’t used a 9 x 13 but it should work, it may end up thicker so the baking time may need to be longer. Bake until a toothpick comes out clean.

      Reply

  4. Ashley says

    Can this same recipe be used and made into cupcakes instead?

    Reply

    • Leigh Anne says

      Ashley, Haven’t tried it but it should work

      Reply

Older Comments

Caramel Cake | Recipe by Leigh Anne Wilkes (2024)

FAQs

What kind of cake did Elvis like? ›

An Elvis Presley cake is a single-layer classic yellow cake that's topped with a pineapple glaze. Much like a poke cake, the syrup and juices of the pineapple will seep into the cake through fork holes, resulting in a decadent, ultra-moist cake.

Does Martha Stewart make cakes? ›

Our best cake recipes include one-pan cake recipes and how to decorate a cake, but also include favorites like: chocolate cake recipes, red velvet cake recipes, carrot cake recipes, sponge cake recipes, pound cake recipes, angel food cake, bundt cake recipes as well as coffee cake recipes.

What did Elvis gift every girlfriend? ›

Eventually, he settled down with his wife, Priscilla Presley, with whom he had a daughter, Lisa Marie Presley - who died on January 12, aged 54. No matter the relationship, however - girlfriend, wife, mother, daughter - every one of Elvis' women received a special gift: A dog.

What ice cream did Elvis eat? ›

For instance, Elvis' last supper was actually a snack. The day he died, or reportedly died, he ate two scoops of Sealtest peach ice cream and two scoops of another flavor of Sealtest ice cream. The flavor of the second ice cream is unknown, Adler wrote.

Who bakes the Kardashians cakes? ›

In the clip, Kim reveals that the family has been using Hansen's for many important events, including Khloe and Lamar's wedding. The Kardashian family's genuine loyalty to the bakery is something that fans appear to appreciate, with one user commenting, "I've always loved how consistent the Kardashians are.

Who makes the Kardashians cakes? ›

For over 30 years, Hansen's Cakes in Los Angeles has been making cakes for the Kardashian-Jenner family — specifically their flower-topped basket weave cake.

Who make the best cake mix? ›

The Duncan Hines cake was more rich and buttery. The others were slightly less flavorful, despite having great textures and baking evenly. Call me Goldilocks, but the Pillsbury cake verged on too sweet, and the Betty Crocker one wasn't quite sweet enough. Duncan Hines' cake was a perfect middle.

What is Elvis Presley's favorite snack? ›

Elvis Presley

Presley's fondness for peanut butter and banana sandwiches is well established; however, bacon is not mentioned in all accounts. A book about Presley and his mother, Gladys Presley, though, says he had "sandwich after sandwich of his favorite—peanut butter, sliced bananas, and crisp bacon".

What is an Elvis pancake? ›

Tender and delicious pancakes featuring peanut butter, bananas, and chocolate chips! Inspired by the folklore surrounding Elvis and his fried peanut butter and banana sandwiches. Serve with butter and maple syrup and try not to think about the weight you're about to gain!

Why is it called Elvis cake? ›

It was called the Elvis Presley cake because it was the one he asked for most often. His grandmother made it for him. I always think back fondly to Elvis as I eat/ bake this. My husband thought this was a silly cake when I baked it for a party.

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