Salted Caramel Cake is an indulgent dessert made for true caramel lovers. This stunning layer cake features moist vanilla cake layers, rich salted caramel filling, and a luscious salted caramel buttercream. With its balance of sweet and salty flavors and dreamy, creamy textures, it’s the ultimate showstopper for birthdays, special events, or holiday gatherings. Whether you’re a seasoned baker or trying a layer cake for the first time, this recipe walks you through every step to create a bakery-worthy treat at home.
Full Recipe:
Ingredients
Salted Caramel Sauce
140g granulated sugar
1½ tablespoons water
40g butter
150g heavy cream
Big pinch of salt
Vanilla Cake Layers
340g all-purpose flour
2 tablespoons cornstarch
¾ teaspoon baking powder
¾ teaspoon baking soda
¾ teaspoon salt
180g butter, room temperature
300g granulated sugar
4 large eggs, room temperature
240g sour cream (14–18%), room temperature
60g vegetable oil (e.g. canola)
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
Caramel Buttercream
400g butter, room temperature
660g powdered sugar, sifted
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2–3 tablespoons salted caramel
Directions
Make the Caramel:
In a saucepan, combine sugar and water over medium-high heat until golden brown. Reduce heat and stir in butter until melted. Slowly add cream, stirring constantly (careful—it bubbles up!). Once smooth, stir in salt and let cool in the fridge.
Make the Cake Layers:
Preheat oven to 340°F (170°C). Line three 8-inch (20 cm) round pans with parchment. Sift together flour, cornstarch, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
In a mixer, beat butter and sugar for 3 minutes. Add eggs two at a time, mixing to combine. Add half of the dry mix on low speed. Add sour cream, oil, and vanilla. Add remaining dry ingredients and mix until just combined.
Divide batter into pans and bake for 19–22 minutes or until a tester comes out clean. Cool completely.
Make the Buttercream:
In a mixer, beat butter on medium-high for 4 minutes. Add powdered sugar, vanilla, and caramel in two parts, mixing well between additions. Mix for an additional minute on low until smooth.
Assemble the Cake:
Place the first cake layer on a serving plate. Add a generous scoop of buttercream and spread evenly. Spoon 2–3 tablespoons of caramel on top and spread, leaving edges clean. Repeat with next layer.
Add final cake layer, then apply a crumb coat and chill for 20 minutes. Finish with the remaining frosting and top with extra caramel. Sprinkle with flaky sea salt if desired.
Nutrients (per slice, based on 12 servings)
Calories: 945
Carbohydrates: 118g
Protein: 6g
Fat: 57g
Saturated Fat: 33g
Cholesterol: 192mg
Sodium: 611mg
Sugar: 93g
Fiber: 1g
Calcium: 73mg
Iron: 2mg
Vitamin A: 1690 IU
Vitamin C: 0.4mg
A Showstopping Centerpiece for Any Occasion
Whether you’re hosting a birthday, holiday gathering, bridal shower, or simply craving a layered cake that’s a little extra special, this salted caramel creation delivers in every way. The combination of soft vanilla cake layers and smooth caramel buttercream not only tastes amazing but also creates a gorgeous visual presentation. With glossy drips of golden caramel cascading down the sides and a swirl of buttercream on top, this cake looks like it came straight from a boutique bakery. It’s the kind of dessert that guests talk about long after the last slice is gone.
The Magic of Homemade Salted Caramel
At the heart of this cake is a silky salted caramel sauce that adds depth and contrast to every component. Making your own caramel from scratch might sound intimidating, but the result is worth it. Rich, amber-colored, and perfectly balanced between sweet and salty, homemade caramel elevates the entire dessert. It’s used in both the filling and the frosting, and an extra drizzle on top gives the cake a beautiful finish and an extra burst of flavor. The slight saltiness cuts through the sweetness, making the caramel complex rather than cloying, and keeping every bite irresistible.
Vanilla Cake Layers That Are Moist and Flavorful
While the caramel may be the star, the supporting act—the vanilla cake layers—is equally important. These aren’t just basic sponge cakes. They’re made with a combination of sour cream, butter, and a touch of oil, resulting in a texture that’s both rich and incredibly moist. The sour cream adds a slight tang that balances the sweetness and enhances the flavor, while the oil helps maintain softness even after chilling. The cake layers are light enough to contrast the richness of the frosting but sturdy enough to stack beautifully without collapsing.
A Buttercream That’s Smooth, Dreamy, and Full of Caramel
The caramel buttercream is what brings this cake together. Made with softened butter and powdered sugar, it’s whipped until airy and then infused with generous spoonfuls of the salted caramel sauce. The result is a buttercream that’s luxuriously smooth, rich with caramel flavor, and not overly sweet. It spreads like a dream and creates a soft, creamy layer between the cakes that ties all the elements together. For those who love frosting that’s rich but not overpowering, this one hits the mark perfectly.
Layering for Flavor and Aesthetics
Assembling the Salted Caramel Cake is part of the fun. Between each vanilla layer, a thick spread of buttercream is topped with a drizzle of salted caramel, which sinks slightly into the cake, infusing it with flavor. Stacking the layers carefully and applying a light crumb coat allows you to create a clean, professional-looking finish. Once the cake is fully frosted, additional caramel is drizzled over the top and down the sides, giving it a dramatic, glossy finish. A final sprinkle of flaky sea salt adds texture and enhances the caramel’s depth, making the cake both beautiful and bold.
Texture and Flavor in Every Bite
What makes this cake truly outstanding is the variety of textures and flavors in every forkful. The soft vanilla cake contrasts with the silky buttercream, while the salted caramel adds a slight chew and deep richness. The salt balances the sugar, preventing the dessert from becoming overly sweet. Each bite is an experience, with layers that melt in your mouth while offering a delightful contrast between sweet and salty, soft and creamy. It’s the kind of cake where people pause between bites to savor the balance and complexity of the flavors.
Ideal for Make-Ahead and Celebrations
Salted Caramel Cake is perfect for preparing ahead of time, which makes it a lifesaver for busy hosts. You can make the caramel sauce in advance and store it in the fridge until ready to use. The cake layers can also be baked a day ahead, wrapped tightly, and chilled to make assembly easier. Even the buttercream holds well, so you can prepare all the components separately and put the cake together when it suits your schedule. This flexibility makes it a great choice for events where timing is tight but you still want to serve something memorable and stunning.
Versatile and Customizable
While the classic version of this cake is an elegant combination of vanilla and caramel, you can easily adapt it to suit your preferences. Swap in chocolate cake layers for a richer dessert, or add chopped pecans or toffee bits between the layers for added crunch. For an even more dramatic presentation, try a drip glaze with extra caramel or decorate with caramel shards or spun sugar. The recipe is a reliable base that welcomes creativity, allowing you to tweak the flavor, texture, or look to match any occasion or personal taste.
A Rewarding Bake for All Skill Levels
Even if you’re new to baking layer cakes, this recipe is approachable and offers a great opportunity to practice essential cake techniques. From making caramel to stacking layers and applying buttercream, you’ll gain confidence with each step. The detailed nature of the recipe ensures that you can achieve professional-looking results at home, and the rich flavor ensures that even if your frosting isn’t perfect, no one will complain. It’s a fun and rewarding project that results in a cake worthy of any celebration.
Conclusion
Salted Caramel Cake is the kind of dessert that leaves a lasting impression. From its moist, fluffy vanilla layers to the silky caramel buttercream and glossy drizzle of salted caramel on top, it delivers indulgence in every bite. With the perfect balance of sweet and salty, this cake brings bakery-level quality to your kitchen, whether you’re baking for a birthday, holiday, or just because. It’s a showstopping centerpiece that’s as fun to make as it is to eat, and once you taste it, it’s sure to become a go-to favorite for any occasion that calls for something truly special.
