Southern Caramel Cake
This Southern Caramel Cake is a true classic for a reason. A homemade soft and moist vanilla cake with a delicious caramel frosting!
An Old-Fashioned Southern Cake
When you grow up in the south, you are probably very familiar with caramel cake. The cake is moist and fluffy with a light vanilla taste and the caramel frosting is thick, smooth and absolutely flavorful! If you have never tried a Caramel Cake before, now is the time. This is one recipe that gets asked to be brought to all the gatherings!
Let me tell you I don’t have enough time to express how delicious this recipe was. I made it last night and it was absolutely the best caramel cake recipe I have ever had and I saved it and I will share it forever. Thank you so much for your delicious recipe. It was moist. It wasn’t too sweet. I followed the recipe to the “T” and it did not disappoint!!
– Sherry
Frequently Asked Questions:
This helps create an emulsion that allows air to be released while baking which results in a light, fluffy and tender cake.
Buttermilk is key in this cake. The fat in the buttermilk helps this cake become very moist. So to replace that you would need to use heavy cream (the amount called for in the recipe) and one teaspoon of lemon juice or vinegar. Mix well and allow to sit for about 5 minutes before using. Regular milk is far too thin and doesn’t have enough fat.
No, this just creates a more rich and deeper caramel flavor. If you do not have dark brown sugar on hand you can just use light brown sugar in its place. This combination of brown sugars really sets this recipe apart from others.
The texture of the cake itself is light and fluffy with a silky but firm caramel frosting. This is a sweet cake because of the sugars but not overly sweet that it is not enjoyable.
If you do not feel like making your own homemade cake you can use a yellow cake mix in its place but the frosting is a must!
This can be stored in a cake saver or in an airtight container at room temperature where it will keep for up to 5 days. You can extend the life to 1 week by putting it into the refrigerator. This can also be frozen. Place cooled cake wrapped in plastic wrap and then foil (or in a freezer container) where it will keep for up to 3 months. To defrost, remove cake to the countertop until defrosted.
How To Make Southern Caramel Cake:
Preheat the oven 350°F. Lightly spray (2) 9-inch cake pans with baking spray. Place parchment paper in the bottom of the pans. Spray the top of the paper with baking spray. Set aside. In a medium-sized bowl, stir together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
In the body of a stand mixer with the paddle attachment mix the butter with the oil until combined.
Add the granulated sugar and brown sugar. Beat them together on medium speed for 3 minutes.
Then, add the eggs one at a time until fully mixed in. Stir in the vanilla.
Add half of the dry ingredients and stir it in until combined.
Next, add half of the buttermilk, stir until combined.
Repeat with the remaining dry ingredients and buttermilk, scraping down the sides as needed.
Divide the batter between the two cake pans. Take a spatula and smooth out the top, this will ensure the cakes bake evenly.
Bake for 22-28 minutes, until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Let cool completely in the pan. When the cakes are cool and you are ready to assemble, cut any doming or uneven parts off the cake if there are any, and then make the frosting.
Place the light brown sugar, dark brown sugar, butter, and salt into a medium-sized saucepan. Place the pot over medium heat and whisk constantly until the butter and the sugars are melted.
Pour in the evaporated milk then the heavy cream, whisk to combine. Bring to a simmer and simmer for 4 minutes, it will start to thicken. Immediately pour into a heatproof bowl.
Using an electric hand mixer, add the powdered sugar a little at a time until fully mixed in. Then mix in the vanilla.
When the frosting is done, we need to work fast to frost the cake while it is still spreadable. Place one of the cakes top side up onto your serving platter. Add ¾ cup of the frosting and using an offset spatula or something similar, spread it out over the top of the cake.
Place the other cake top side down on top.
Frost the sides and top of the cake as fast as you can before the frosting hardens.
Let the cake sit until the frosting completely hardens, about 2 hours before slicing to serve.
Craving More Recipes?
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- Grandma’s Texas Sheet Cake
- Sweet Potato Cake
- Starbuck’s Lemon Loaf
- Cinnamon Roll Cake
- Italian Love Cake
- Italian Cream Cake
- Chocolate Sheet Cake
- White Texas Sheet Cake
- Homemade Yellow Cake Mix
Southern Caramel Cake
Ingredients
- 2 ⅔ cup all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ cup unsalted butter, softened to room temperature
- ½ cup vegetable oil
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- ¾ cup light brown sugar, packed
- 4 large eggs, room temperature
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- 1 ¼ cup buttermilk, room temperature (divided use)
For the frosting:
- 1 cup light brown sugar, packed
- 1 cup dark brown sugar, packed
- 1 cup unsalted butter (cut into Tablespoons)
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ⅓ cup evaporated milk
- ⅓ cup heavy cream
- 2 cups powdered sugar, sifted
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Preheat the oven 350°F. Lightly spray (2) 9-inch cake pans with baking spray (I like the kind with flour in it). Place parchment paper in the bottom of the pans. Spray the top of the paper with baking spray. Set aside.
- In a medium-sized bowl, stir together 2 ⅔ cup all-purpose flour, 2 teaspoon baking powder, ½ teaspoon baking soda and ½ teaspoon salt. Set aside.
- In the body of a stand mixer with the paddle attachment (or in a bowl with an electric hand mixer) mix ½ cup unsalted butter, softened to room temperature and ½ cup vegetable oil until combined.
- Add in 1 cup granulated sugar and ¾ cup light brown sugar, packed. Beat them together on medium speed for about 3 minutes.
- Then, add 4 large eggs, room temperature, one at a time, until fully mixed in. Stir in 1 tablespoon vanilla extract.
- Add half of the dry ingredients and stir it in until combined.
- Next, add 3/4 cup buttermilk, stir until combined.
- Repeat with the remaining dry ingredients and 3/4 cup buttermilk, scraping down the sides as needed.
- Divide the batter between the two cake pans. Take a spatula and smooth out the top, this will ensure the cakes bake evenly.
- Bake on the middle rack for about 22-28 minutes, until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Let cool completely in the pan.NOTE: Oven times can vary. Please go by doneness, not just by time.
- When the cakes are cool and you are ready to assemble, cut any doming or uneven parts off the top of the cake if there are any, and then make the frosting.
- Place the 1 cup light brown sugar, packed, 1 cup dark brown sugar, packed and 1 cup unsalted butter (cut into Tablespoons) and ½ teaspoon salt into a medium-sized saucepan.
- Place the pot over medium heat and whisk constantly until the butter and the sugars are melted.
- Pour in ⅓ cup evaporated milk and ⅓ cup heavy cream, whisk to combine.
- Bring to a simmer and simmer for about 4 minutes, it will start to thicken. Immediately pour into a heatproof mixing bowl.
- Using an electric hand mixer, add 2 cups powdered sugar, sifted, a little at a time, until fully mixed in. Then mix in 1 teaspoon vanilla extract.
- When the frosting is done, you need to work fast to frost the cake while it is still spreadable.
- Place one of the cakes top side up onto your serving platter. Add ¾ cup of the frosting and using an offset spatula or something similar, spread it out over the top of the cake.
- Place the other cake top on top (you want the flattest side facing up).
- Frost the sides and top of the cake as fast as you can before the frosting hardens.
- Let the cake sit until the frosting completely hardens (about 2 hours) before slicing to serve.
Video
Notes
- You can use a yellow box cake mix if you do not feel like making homemade.
- If you cannot find or do not have buttermilk, you can make your own. See above on how to do that.
- This can be frozen, see above on how to freeze.
- Other toppings can be added, see some of my suggestions at the top.
- This is best served at room temperature.
Nutrition
Nutritional Disclaimer
“The Country Cook” is not a dietician or nutritionist, and any nutritional information shared is an estimate. If calorie count and other nutritional values are important to you, we recommend running the ingredients through whichever online nutritional calculator you prefer. Calories and other nutritional values can vary quite a bit depending on which brands were used.
Originally published: September 2022
Updated photos and republished: March 2026
Excellent recipe! Tastes just like my Grandmas did! I am not the best baker but this was very easy to follow. Thank you so much for the video as well. It really helped me to watch that before baking. Everyone absolutely loved it!! Love your site!
Just made this cake yesterday for St Patricks Day and it was amazing, icing was a little tricky but managed to make it smooth but agree you have to work fast. Just ate a piece of it today and cake was very moist with delicious icing.
Thanks for the recipe will make again!
It took much longer than 22-28 minutes to bake in my oven in Napa, CA. My oven is a very accurate baker’s oven. I initially put it in at 24 minutes and it was still visibly loose in the middle. I added 5 minutes to that and the toothpick still came out wet. I added another 3 minutes and still not quite done then added 2 more and it was perfect. So, a total of 34 minutes.
Huh, interesting! Turned out perfect in my Bosch oven. I did not need to add time. Ovens really do vary and it can depend on the type of pans you use and the location of the rack that you put them on in your oven. So for anyone reading this, the timing was perfect for me. I have found (over the many years I have been baking) that baking times can absolutely vary from oven to oven (and different elevations can affect it as well) so I keep a separate oven thermometer in mine to make sure it is preheating to the proper temperature.
So I would say start with the time given and add on as needed.
The taste was phenomenal!! This will definitely be my go-to recipe! Thank you Brandie!
What if I just have light brown sugar?Will it make a big difference
I answer that above in more detail in the frequently asked questions section 🙂
I’ve been baking for a long time and this is definitely one of the best cakes I’ve ever made. Thank you!!
if I don’t have a stand mixer can I use a hand one instead?
Yep! Anything that can be done in a stand mixer can always be done with a hand mixer (unless they’re showing you how to make bread with a special attachment or something similar 🙂
Have you by chance made this in loaf pans before, curious if you had luck with this? I think I’m going to give these out for Christmas instead of cookies this year!
Hi Lisa! No I’m sorry I haven’t! If you decide to experiment, I’d love to know how it goes for you!
Let me tell you I don’t have enough time to express how delicious this recipe was. I made it last night and it was absolutely the best caramel cake recipe I have ever had and I saved it and I will share it forever. Thank you so much for your delicious recipe. It was moist. It wasn’t too sweet. I followed the recipe to the “T” and it did not disappoint!!
Thank you so very much Sherry! It really is so wonderful to hear when someone loves a recipe – makes my day!
Absolutely delicious! I used a full fat buttermilk instead of the 1% and I think it makes all the difference. Thank you!
My 12 year old daughter made this for a local baking contest and won! This has become a family favorite of ours. Thank you for sharing. This recipe is amazing!
What?!?! Really? Oh wow – this made my day!! Thanks so much for coming back to comment Dawn. I am so happy it was such a hit!!
This was the best cake I have ever made! Thank you so much for sharing!
Thanks so very much Edie! I appreciate you taking the time to come back and comment!
I love your recipe!
The cake is amazing however I struggle with the actual cake part. It tastes wonderful but remains so soft it falls apart. Any idea what I may be doing wrong. I even cooked it 10 min longer
for the icing: while it’s simmering for 4 minutes, do you constantly stir it?
thank you for sharing this recipe!
I have gone up and down and for the life of me can NOT find this: “If you cannot find or do not have buttermilk, you can make your own. See above on how to do that”. I am sure I am just overlooking it. Can you direct me on where on this page it is located? Thank you. .
Sorry about that! You mix heavy cream with lemon juice or vinegar. So for this recipe it’s 1 1/4 cup heavy cream with a teaspoon of lemon juice or vinegar. It can’t be just regular milk because it’s not thick enough or fatty enough like real buttermilk is.
Could this delicious locking cakes recipe be baked in a 9×13 pan and if so, what would the baking time be. Thanks so much….Jeri
Good question! I have never made it in a 9×13 believe it or not. You could certainly do that but I honestly couldn’t give you a time. It would be something you’d have to play by ear. My best guess would be about 28-30 minutes since that is the usual time to bake for most 9×13 cake recipes. 🙂 The frosting makes a lot since it was created for a layer cake.