The Perfect Salted Caramel Butterscotch Cake Recipe for Dreamers

Sweet memories bloom around this decadent salted caramel butterscotch cake that captures rich, nostalgic flavors.

Complex layers whisper stories of indulgence and comfort.

Delicate butterscotch notes dance across each tender crumb, creating a symphony of warmth.

Delightful salt crystals punctuate the sugary landscape, awakening every taste bud with unexpected depth.

Caramel ribbons weave through soft cake textures, promising an experience beyond ordinary desserts.

Unexpected harmony emerges from classic ingredients transformed by careful crafting.

Bake this remarkable treat, and you’ll understand why simple ingredients can create extraordinary magic.

Why Salted Caramel Butterscotch Cake Is A Showstopper

• Whip Up Effortless Elegance: This cake offers stunning results with surprisingly simple steps, making even novice bakers feel like professional pastry chefs. Anyone can create a show-stopping dessert without complicated techniques.
• Customize Your Comfort: The butterscotch sauce and salted caramel provide delightful flavor flexibility, allowing bakers to adjust sweetness and intensity according to personal taste preferences. Personalization makes this recipe extra special.
• Perfect Party Pleaser: Designed for celebrations, this three-layer cake delivers visual drama and rich, indulgent flavors that will wow guests at birthdays, holidays, or weekend gatherings. Its impressive appearance guarantees compliments and second servings.
• Quick Weekend Baking Joy: With just 45 minutes of total preparation and baking time, this recipe fits perfectly into busy schedules. Home bakers can easily craft a gourmet dessert without spending hours in the kitchen, making weekend baking a delightful and stress-free experience.

Everything You Need For Salted Caramel Butterscotch Cake

• All-Purpose Flour, Cake Flour: Provides structure and soft texture for the cake, with cake flour adding extra tenderness.
• Baking Powder: Helps the cake rise and creates a light, airy texture.
• Salt: Enhances overall flavor and balances sweetness.

• Butter, Brown Sugar: Creates rich, deep butterscotch flavor with caramelized undertones.
• Eggs: Adds moisture, richness, and helps bind the cake ingredients together.
• Vanilla Extract: Provides warm, classic background flavor.
• Butterscotch Sauce: Intensifies the cake's signature butterscotch profile.
• Milk: Adds moisture and helps create a smooth cake batter.

• Salted Caramel Sauce: Adds complex sweetness and a hint of saltiness for depth.
• Additional Butterscotch Sauce: For drizzling and extra flavor intensity.

Steps To Make Salted Caramel Butterscotch Cake

Step 1: Prepare Baking Setup

Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Grab three 8-inch round cake pans and coat them with butter or cooking spray. Line the bottom of each pan with parchment paper for easy cake removal.

Step 2: Create Dry Mixture

• All-purpose flour
• Baking powder
• Salt

Whisk these ingredients together until they’re perfectly blended and set aside.

Step 3: Whip Butter and Sugar

• Softened butter
• Brown sugar

Beat the mixture until it becomes fluffy and light, creating a smooth and airy base for your cake.

Step 4: Incorporate Wet Ingredients

• Eggs (one at a time)
• Vanilla extract
• Butterscotch sauce

Mix each ingredient thoroughly, ensuring a consistent and smooth batter.

Step 5: Combine Ingredients

Slowly fold the dry mixture into the wet ingredients. Alternate adding the flour mixture and milk, starting and ending with the dry ingredients. Gently mix until just combined, being careful not to overmix.

Step 6: Bake the Cake

Pour the batter evenly into the prepared cake pans. Place in the preheated oven and bake for 25-30 minutes. Check doneness by inserting a toothpick into the center – it should come out clean. Remove from oven and let the cakes cool completely on a wire rack before frosting.

Tips For Rich Salted Caramel Butterscotch Cake

• Optimize Moisture: Add an extra tablespoon of butterscotch sauce to keep the cake layers incredibly soft and prevent dryness during baking.
• Master Smooth Mixing: Beat butter and brown sugar for at least 3-4 minutes to create a silky, light texture that ensures even cake consistency.
• Control Temperature Precision: Let eggs and milk reach room temperature before mixing to guarantee smoother batter incorporation and more uniform cake texture.
• Prevent Sticking Strategy: Use parchment paper rounds and generously grease cake pan sides to ensure easy cake removal without breaking delicate layers.
• Enhance Flavor Depth: Sprinkle flaky sea salt over the caramel frosting to amplify the sweet-salty contrast and elevate the overall taste profile of the cake.

How To Store Salted Caramel Butterscotch Cake Right

• Preserve the delicate flavors of your salted caramel butterscotch cake with these smart storage techniques.
• Keep the frosted cake covered in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days, ensuring maximum freshness and moisture.
• Refrigerate the cake if you want to extend its shelf life to 5-7 days, but remember to bring it to room temperature before serving to restore its soft, tender texture.
• For longer storage, wrap the cake tightly in plastic wrap and freeze for up to 2 months, keeping the delicious taste locked in for later enjoyment.
• When ready to serve the frozen cake, thaw it overnight in the refrigerator and let it sit at room temperature for about an hour to regain its original delightful consistency.

Best Drinks With Salted Caramel Butterscotch Cake

• Complement Caramel Sweetness: Pair this decadent salted caramel butterscotch cake with a rich, bold espresso or cappuccino. The coffee's robust flavor cuts through the cake's sweetness, creating a balanced and luxurious taste experience.
• Elevate with Beverage Harmony: Serve alongside a glass of tawny port wine, which highlights the butterscotch's deep, complex notes. Its subtle nutty undertones and warmth perfectly embrace the cake's rich caramel profile.
• Enhance Flavor Contrast: Add a scoop of vanilla bean ice cream or a dollop of whipped cream to provide a cool, creamy counterpoint to the cake's warm, intense butterscotch flavor. The contrast creates a delightful sensory experience that amplifies each bite.
• Refresh with Beverage Pairing: Enjoy a cold glass of whole milk or a creamy Irish cream liqueur. These smooth, velvety drinks complement the cake's dense texture and enhance its sweet, buttery essence.

Salted Caramel Butterscotch Cake Mix-Up Ideas

• Chocolate Caramel Butterscotch Cake: Incorporate cocoa powder into the dry ingredients and add melted dark chocolate to the batter for a rich, decadent chocolate version of the original cake.
• Nutty Butterscotch Delight: Fold chopped pecans or walnuts into the batter and sprinkle additional nuts between cake layers for extra crunch and depth of flavor.
• Spiced Butterscotch Sensation: Add ground cinnamon, nutmeg, and a pinch of ginger to the dry ingredients to create a warm, aromatic variation that complements the butterscotch's sweetness.
• Salted Caramel Apple Butterscotch Cake: Fold finely diced fresh apples into the batter and drizzle additional caramel sauce between layers for a fruity, autumnal spin on the classic recipe.

FAQs For Salted Caramel Butterscotch Cake

• What makes this cake different from other desserts?

This salted caramel butterscotch cake stands out with its rich blend of sweet and salty flavors, combining the deep caramel notes of butterscotch with a hint of salt that elevates the entire dessert experience.

• Can I use regular sugar instead of brown sugar?

Brown sugar is crucial for this recipe as it provides a deeper, more complex flavor profile that’s essential to the butterscotch taste. Regular white sugar won’t give the same depth and richness to the cake.

• How do I know if my cake batter is mixed correctly?

The batter should look smooth and well-combined, with no flour streaks visible. When you alternate dry and wet ingredients, mix just until everything is incorporated to avoid overmixing, which can make the cake tough.

• Is butterscotch sauce difficult to make at home?

Butterscotch sauce is actually quite simple to prepare. It typically involves cooking brown sugar, butter, and cream together until smooth and glossy, making it an easy homemade addition to enhance the cake’s flavor.

Salted Caramel Butterscotch Cake Recipe

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4.9 from 25 reviews

• Total Time: 55 minutes
• Yield: 12 1x

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Description

Creamy salted caramel butterscotch cake creates pure dessert magic with rich layers of indulgence. Sweet and salty notes dance together, inviting you to savor each luxurious bite of this irresistible treat.

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Ingredients

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Cake Base Ingredients:

• 2 ½ cups (300 grams) all-purpose flour
• 2 ½ teaspoons baking powder
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 1 ½ cups (330 grams) brown sugar, packed
• 4 large eggs
• 1 cup (227 grams) unsalted butter, softened
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 cup (240 milliliters) whole milk
• ½ cup (120 milliliters) butterscotch sauce (store-bought or homemade)

Frosting Ingredients:

• 1 cup (227 grams) unsalted butter, softened
• 3 cups (360 grams) powdered sugar
• ½ cup (120 milliliters) salted caramel sauce (store-bought or homemade)
• 2 tablespoons (30 milliliters) heavy cream
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Decoration Ingredients:

• ½ cup (85 grams) butterscotch chips, melted
• ½ cup (120 milliliters) salted caramel sauce, for drizzling
• Flaky sea salt, for garnish

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Instructions

1. Prepare the baking workspace by warming the oven to 350F (175C). Carefully coat three 8-inch round cake pans with butter and line with parchment paper to prevent sticking.
2. Create a dry ingredient blend by whisking flour, baking powder, and salt together in a medium mixing bowl until thoroughly combined. Set the mixture aside for later incorporation.
3. Using an electric mixer, cream butter and brown sugar in a large bowl until the mixture becomes airy and pale, creating a smooth foundation for the cake batter.
4. Introduce eggs individually to the butter mixture, blending completely after each addition. Pour in vanilla extract and butterscotch sauce, mixing until the ingredients are seamlessly integrated.
5. Gently fold the dry ingredient mixture into the wet ingredients, alternating with milk. Pour in dry ingredients first and last, stirring carefully to maintain a smooth, consistent texture without overmixing.
6. Distribute the cake batter evenly across the prepared pans, ensuring equal volume in each pan. Transfer to the preheated oven and bake for 25-30 minutes, checking doneness by inserting a toothpick into the center – it should emerge clean and dry.
7. Remove cakes from the oven and allow them to cool completely on a wire rack before applying frosting, which will prevent melting and ensure a clean, professional finish.

Notes

• Use room temperature ingredients to ensure smooth, even mixing and optimal cake texture.
• Brown sugar adds deep caramel notes, creating a rich butterscotch flavor profile that enhances the overall sweetness.
• Avoid overmixing the batter to prevent a tough, dense cake – stop mixing as soon as ingredients are just combined.
• For gluten-free option, substitute all-purpose flour with a 1:1 gluten-free baking blend to maintain the cake’s delicate structure.

• Prep Time: 25 minutes
• Cook Time: 30 minutes
• Category: Desserts
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 12
• Calories: 560
• Sugar: 55 g
• Sodium: 290 mg
• Fat: 30 g
• Saturated Fat: 18 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 65 g
• Fiber: 1 g
• Protein: 5 g
• Cholesterol: 90 mg