Salted Caramel Cappuccino Chocolate Cake
Salted caramel cappuccino chocolate cake is my new favorite layer cake, the kind of cake that’s perfect for parties, holiday entertaining, or a chilly afternoon served up with a steaming mug of coffee. Showcasing layers of Devil’s food chocolate cake, light and airy cappuccino frosting, and salted caramel sauce, each bite is simply divine!
Tips for Cake Success
I baked this cake in three 9-inch round pans. For thicker cake layers, divide the batter between two 9-inch round pans and bake as directed below. Alternatively, divide the batter between three 8-inch round cake pans and bake each layer for 20 to 22 minutes. For even cake layers, place your cake pans on a scale and weigh each pan as you add the batter.
Make the salted caramel sauce first (or even a day in advance) so that you have plenty of time for it to thicken and cool before assembling the cake. For a festive finish, decorate the cake with swirls of frosting, a sprinkle of flaky sea salt, or chocolate shavings. Here’s to a super decadent, delicious cake!
Chocolate Perfected
How to Bake the MOST Decadent Chocolate Desserts
Salted Caramel Cappuccino Chocolate Cake
- Prep Time: 75 minutes
- Cook Time: 19 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 34 minutes
- Yield: Yield: 1 9-inch cake, serves 12
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Bake
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Salted Caramel Sauce
- 1 cup sugar
- 1/4 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature and cubed
- 1/2 cup heavy cream, at room temperature
- 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/4 tsp salt
Cake
- 1 1/2 cups flour
- 3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa
- 1 1/2 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 tsp baking soda
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1 cup sugar
- 1/2 cup light brown sugar
- 2 large eggs plus 1 egg yolk, at room temperature
- 1/2 cup milk, at room temperature
- 1/2 cup plain fat-free Greek yogurt, at room temperature
- 1/2 cup vegetable or canola oil
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- 2 tsp instant espresso
- 1/2 cup boiling water
Cappuccino Frosting
- 3 Tbsp milk
- 3/4 tsp instant espresso
- 3/4 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 1/4 cups unsalted butter, at room temperature
- 3 oz reduced fat cream cheese, at room temperature
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 3 3/4 cups powdered sugar, sifted
Instructions
- For the salted caramel sauce, cook sugar in a heavy saucepan over medium heat, stirring constantly with a heat-resistant spatula. Continue cooking until sugar forms clumps and melts into a light amber colored liquid, about 4-5 minutes. Once the sugar is completely melted, carefully add butter a few pieces at a time, whisking constantly until incorporated. Slowly drizzle in heavy cream while whisking constantly. Let mixture boil for 1 minute, then remove from heat and pour into a glass bowl. Stir in vanilla and salt. Let cool to room temperature, then chill until ready to use.
- Preheat oven to 350°F and spray three 9-inch round cake pans with nonstick spray. Whisk together flour, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a large bowl; make a well in the center of the mixture. Add sugars, eggs, egg yolk, milk, yogurt, oil, and vanilla to flour mixture; whisk in just until incorporated. Dissolve instant espresso in boiling water; add to batter and whisk in just until smooth.
- Divide batter evenly between cake pans and smooth with an offset spatula. Tap pans sharply to reduce air bubbles. Bake for 17 to 19 minutes, until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean or with a few crumbs, and the edges are pulling slightly away from the pan. Cool cakes completely in pans on a wire rack.
- For the frosting, warm milk in the microwave until very warm. Stir in instant espresso and vanilla; let cool to room temperature. Beat butter, cream cheese, and salt in a large mixer bowl until combined. Mix in powdered sugar on low speed 1 cup at a time, until fully incorporated. Add cooled espresso mixture and mix in on low speed until incorporated. Increase speed to medium-high, and beat until frosting is light and airy.
- To assemble, place one cake layer on a rotating cake stand. Use an offset spatula to spread about 1/2 cup frosting over the layer, all the way to the edges. Spoon 2 tablespoons of salted caramel sauce in the center of the cake layer, and gently spread over the frosting with an offset spatula, leaving a 1-inch border. Add second cake layer and repeat with frosting and caramel sauce.
- Repeat the process of frosting the top cake layer, swirling the frosting generously over the edge of the layer. Use the offset spatula to apply frosting to the sides of the cake while you rotate the cake stand, then use a bench scraper to gently smooth the edges of the cake and remove any excess frosting. Chill frosted cake for 20 minutes before topping with additional caramel sauce. If desired, fill a piping bag with leftover frosting and pipe around the top edge of the cake.
Notes
Cake Layers: You can bake this cake in either 2 or 3 layers. For 2 layers, divide batter evenly between two 9-inch round cake pans and bake for 20 to 22 minutes. For even cake layers, place your cake pans on a scale and weigh each pan as you add the batter.
Salted Caramel Sauce: The salted caramel sauce can be made in advance and refrigerated for up to a week. Bring to room temperature before assembling the cake (you can also heat the sauce briefly in the microwave, 25 to 30 seconds, before using).
Keywords: Salted Caramel, Espresso, Chocolate
More chocolate cake recipes you’ll love:
Caramel Fudge Layer Cake
Classic Chocolate Layer Cake
Kahlua Chocolate Cakes
Black Forest Sheet Cake
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Any advice on how to apply the caramel so it doesn’t clump? Thanks
Hi Fran, bring the caramel sauce to room temperature before assembling the cake. You should be able to drizzle it across the top of the cake – if it’s still too thick at room temperature, warm for 10 to 15 seconds and stir until smooth.
Could I use half and half in the caramel sauce?
Hi Liz! I’ve only made the caramel sauce with heavy cream. Half-and-half should work, though the texture of the sauce may not be as thick due to the lower fat content. I would definitely make the caramel sauce ahead and give it a chance to cool completely and thicken up before using.
Looks delicious! I’d like to make this as a vanilla cake, though. Possible? Just do a vanilla recipe, or tweak the existing recipe to leave out the cocoa? Thanks for any suggestions..and thank you especially for adding to my waistline..lol.
Thanks Cat! For a vanilla cake, you can use the cake from this recipe (just omit the Nutella ribbon): https://tutti-dolci.com/nutella-swirl-layer-cake/ It’s a soft and fluffy vanilla layer cake that also bakes in two 8-inch rounds. Hope that helps and happy baking! 🙂
This cake is a stunner! And I love all the flavours going on here, too 🙂 Lovely!
An epic and gorgeous cake, Laura! Perfect for entertaining or for enjoying it all by my self! 😀
Thanks Traci! 🙂
Salted caramel pairs perfectly with chocolate! This cake is perfect for holiday celebrations.
What a magnificent cake! Beautiful and filled with all my favorite flavors! Brava!!
★★★★★
Yes! It looks totally divine Laura! And so perfect for the upcoming holidays. I’m swooning over the flavors!
★★★★★
This cake looks simply amazing, and so perfect for Holiday entertaining! Love the swirls on the top!