Monday, March 16, 2026
HomeBakingSouthern Caramel Cake - The Nation Prepare dinner

Southern Caramel Cake – The Nation Prepare dinner


This Southern Caramel Cake is a real traditional for a motive. A selfmade smooth and moist vanilla cake with a scrumptious caramel frosting!

An Previous-Customary Southern Cake

Whenever you develop up within the south, you’re in all probability very conversant in caramel cake. The cake is moist and fluffy with a lightweight vanilla style and the caramel frosting is thick, easy and completely flavorful! When you have by no means tried a Caramel Cake earlier than, now’s the time. That is one recipe that will get requested to be dropped at all of the gatherings!

Slice of Southern Caramel Cake on white plate with fork cutting a bite out.

Let me let you know I don’t have sufficient time to specific how scrumptious this recipe was. I made it final night time and it was completely one of the best caramel cake recipe I’ve ever had and I saved it and I’ll share it ceaselessly. Thanks a lot to your scrumptious recipe. It was moist. It wasn’t too candy. I adopted the recipe to the “T” and it didn’t disappoint!!
– Sherry

Often Requested Questions:

Why do my components have to be at room temperature?

This helps create an emulsion that permits air to be launched whereas baking which leads to a lightweight, fluffy and tender cake.

What if I don’t have buttermilk?

Buttermilk is vital on this cake. The fats within the buttermilk helps this cake grow to be very moist. So to switch that you’d want to make use of heavy cream (the quantity known as for within the recipe) and one teaspoon of lemon juice or vinegar. Combine nicely and permit to take a seat for about 5 minutes earlier than utilizing. Common milk is way too skinny and doesn’t have sufficient fats.

Do I’ve to make use of darkish brown sugar?

No, this simply creates a extra wealthy and deeper caramel taste. In case you shouldn’t have darkish brown sugar available you may simply use mild brown sugar as an alternative. This mixture of brown sugars actually units this recipe other than others.

What’s the texture and taste of this cake?

The feel of the cake itself is mild and fluffy with a silky however agency caramel frosting. It is a candy cake due to the sugars however not overly candy that it isn’t pleasant.

Can I take advantage of a cake combine as an alternative?

If you don’t really feel like making your personal selfmade cake you should use a yellow cake combine as an alternative however the frosting is a should!

How do I retailer leftovers?

This may be saved in a cake saver or in an hermetic container at room temperature the place it is going to maintain for as much as 5 days. You possibly can prolong the life to 1 week by placing it into the fridge. This will also be frozen. Place cooled cake wrapped in plastic wrap after which foil (or in a freezer container) the place it is going to maintain for as much as 3 months. To defrost, take away cake to the countertop till defrosted.

Pinterest image of a slice of Southern Caramel Cake on flower plate.

How To Make Southern Caramel Cake:

Preheat the oven 350°F. Flippantly spray (2) 9-inch cake pans with baking spray. Place parchment paper within the backside of the pans. Spray the highest of the paper with baking spray. Put aside. In a medium-sized bowl, stir collectively the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.

Dry ingredients mixed together in bowl.

Within the physique of a stand mixer with the paddle attachment combine the butter with the oil till mixed. 

Butter and oil mixed together in bowl of stand mixer.

Add the granulated sugar and brown sugar. Beat them collectively on medium pace for 3 minutes.

Sugar beaten into oil and butter in bowl of stand mixer.

Then, add the eggs separately till absolutely combined in. Stir within the vanilla.

Egg and vanilla added to bowl of stand mixer.

Add half of the dry components and stir it in till mixed.

Half of the flour added to bowl of stand mixer.

Subsequent, add half of the buttermilk, stir till mixed. 

Milk added to bowl of stand mixer.

Repeat with the remaining dry components and buttermilk, scraping down the edges as wanted.

Divide the batter between the 2 cake pans. Take a spatula and easy out the highest, this may make sure the muffins bake evenly.

Cake batter added to two prepared pans.

Bake for 22-28 minutes, till a toothpick inserted into the middle comes out clear. Let cool fully within the pan. When the muffins are cool and you’re able to assemble, minimize any doming or uneven elements off the cake if there are any, after which make the frosting.

Finished cakes in pans on wire rack.

Place the sunshine brown sugar, darkish brown sugar, butter, and salt right into a medium-sized saucepan. Place the pot over medium warmth and whisk continually till the butter and the sugars are melted. 

Brown sugars, butter and salt added to saucepan.

Pour within the evaporated milk then the heavy cream, whisk to mix. Deliver to a simmer and simmer for 4 minutes, it is going to begin to thicken. Instantly pour right into a heatproof bowl.

Evaporated milk and heavy cream added to melted brown sugar butter mixture.

Utilizing an electrical hand mixer, add the powdered sugar a bit at a time till absolutely combined in. Then combine within the vanilla.

Vanilla being added to caramel mixture in bowl.

When the frosting is finished, we have to work quick to frost the cake whereas it’s nonetheless spreadable. Place one of many muffins prime facet up onto your serving platter. Add ¾ cup of the frosting and utilizing an offset spatula or one thing related, unfold it out excessive of the cake.

One cake layer being spread with caramel frosting.

Place the opposite cake prime facet down on prime.

Second cake layer added to top of frosting.

Frost the edges and prime of the cake as quick as you may earlier than the frosting hardens.

Finished frosted Southern Caramel Cake on cake server.

Let the cake sit till the frosting fully hardens, about 2 hours earlier than slicing to serve.

Cake server holding up a slice of Southern Caramel Cake.

Craving Extra Recipes?

Close up square image of Southern Caramel Cake on flower plate.

Forestall your display from going darkish

  • Preheat the oven 350°F. Flippantly spray (2) 9-inch cake pans with baking spray (I like the sort with flour in it). Place parchment paper within the backside of the pans. Spray the highest of the paper with baking spray. Put aside.

  • In a medium-sized bowl, stir collectively 2 ⅔ cup all-purpose flour, 2 teaspoon baking powder, ½ teaspoon baking soda and ½ teaspoon salt. Put aside.

  • Within the physique of a stand mixer with the paddle attachment (or in a bowl with an electrical hand mixer) combine ½ cup unsalted butter, softened to room temperature and ½ cup vegetable oil till mixed.

  • Add in 1 cup granulated sugar and ¾ cup mild brown sugar, packed. Beat them collectively on medium pace for about 3 minutes.

  • Then, add 4 massive eggs, room temperature, separately, till absolutely combined in. Stir in 1 tablespoon vanilla extract.

  • Add half of the dry components and stir it in till mixed.

  • Subsequent, add 3/4 cup buttermilk, stir till mixed.

  • Repeat with the remaining dry components and 3/4 cup buttermilk, scraping down the edges as wanted.

  • Divide the batter between the 2 cake pans. Take a spatula and easy out the highest, this may make sure the muffins bake evenly.

  • Bake on the center rack for about 22-28 minutes, till a toothpick inserted into the middle comes out clear. Let cool fully within the pan.NOTE: Oven instances can fluctuate. Please go by doneness, not simply by time.
  • When the muffins are cool and you’re able to assemble, minimize any doming or uneven elements off the highest of the cake if there are any, after which make the frosting.

  • Place the 1 cup mild brown sugar, packed, 1 cup darkish brown sugar, packed and 1 cup unsalted butter (minimize into Tablespoons) and ½ teaspoon salt right into a medium-sized saucepan.

  • Place the pot over medium warmth and whisk continually till the butter and the sugars are melted.

  • Pour in ⅓ cup evaporated milk and ⅓ cup heavy cream, whisk to mix.

  • Deliver to a simmer and simmer for about 4 minutes, it is going to begin to thicken. Instantly pour right into a heatproof mixing bowl.

  • Utilizing an electrical hand mixer, add 2 cups powdered sugar, sifted, a bit at a time, till absolutely combined in. Then combine in 1 teaspoon vanilla extract.

  • When the frosting is finished, you could work quick to frost the cake whereas it’s nonetheless spreadable.

  • Place one of many muffins prime facet up onto your serving platter. Add ¾ cup of the frosting and utilizing an offset spatula or one thing related, unfold it out excessive of the cake.

  • Place the opposite cake prime on prime (you need the flattest facet dealing with up).

  • Frost the edges and prime of the cake as quick as you may earlier than the frosting hardens.

  • Let the cake sit till the frosting fully hardens (about 2 hours) earlier than slicing to serve.

YouTube video
  • You need to use a yellow field cake combine if you don’t really feel like making selfmade.
  • In case you can not discover or shouldn’t have buttermilk, you can also make your personal. See above on how to try this.
  • This may be frozen, see above on learn how to freeze.
  • Different toppings may be added, see a few of my strategies on the prime.
  • That is finest served at room temperature.

Course: Dessert

Delicacies: American

Energy: 792kcal | Carbohydrates: 110g | Protein: 6g | Fats: 38g | Sodium: 315mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 88g

“The Nation Prepare dinner” will not be a dietician or nutritionist, and any dietary info shared is an estimate. If calorie rely and different dietary values are vital to you, we suggest operating the components via whichever on-line dietary calculator you like. Energy and different dietary values can fluctuate fairly a bit relying on which manufacturers had been used.

Initially revealed: September 2022
Up to date photographs and republished: March 2026

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