Today is World Baking Day and so I had to share a cake recipe with you! I made this caramel cake for my Mum’s birthday last month, and the recipe originally comes from the Clandestine Cake Club Cookbook (it’s a recipe by Nelly Ritchie who is in the Newcastle CCC – yay!). It was the first time I had made it but it was super easy – I just went a bit mad with the milk in the buttercream and it ended up being a little too runny as you can see! But it tasted amazing so nobody was too bothered 🙂 

 

Ingredients (serves 8)

 

175g butter, softened

100g light muscovado sugar

200g canned caramel

1 x 9g sachet vanilla paste (or 1 tsp vanilla extract)

2 large eggs

175g plain flour

100g ground almonds

2 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp ground cinnamon

Pinch of ground cloves

Pinch of ground ginger

Chocolate decorations (optional)

 

For the caramel buttercream

 

45g butter, softened

100g canned caramel

300g icing sugar

Pinch of cinnamon

1-2 tbsp milk

 

Method

 

1. Preheat the oven to 220C (180 fan)/gas mark 6. Grease and line two 18cm round sandwich tine.

 

2. Beat the butter, sugar and caramel using a wooden spoon or electric mixer until light and fluffy, then add the vanilla paste or extract. Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition, and adding a tablespoon of flour with the final egg to prevent curdling.

 

3. Add the rest of the flour, almonds, baking powder and spices and continue beating until thoroughly combined. Divide the mixture between the tins, spreading it evenly.

 

4. Bake the sponges for 25-35 minutes or until a skewer inserted into each centre comes out clean and the tops are springy to the touch. Leave to cool in the tins for a few minutes then turn out on to a wire rack to cool completely.

 

5. Meanwhile, make the buttercream. Beat the butter and caramel until creamy, then sift in the icing sugar and cinnamon and beat until smooth. Add the milk a little at a time, until the mixture has a spreading consistency.

 

6. To assemble the cake, spread a layer of buttercream over one of the cooled sponges, then top with the other spine and cover the top of the cake with the remaining buttercream. Decorate with sprinkles and then cut a big slice – enjoy! 🙂