Pattis Caramel Cake Recipes

CARAMEL CAKE (SALTED CARAMEL CAKE)

Steps:

• Place sugar and water into a medium pot, stir to combine, but to not stir from this point forward. Cook over high heat, washing down the sides of the pot with a pastry brush dipped in water as needed to prevent crystals.
• Cook until desired color of caramel is reached (amber) and immediately remove from heat. Very slowly pour in (room temperature) heavy cream while whisking quickly. The mixture will bubble up (a lot) and boil. Add (room temperature) butter, return to heat, and bring back to a boil. Simmer for 2 minutes whisking constantly.
• If you want to make this a salted caramel, add your salt at this point. Whisk it in (start with less than you think you'll need), dip a spoon into the caramel, let it cool, taste it, add more salt as needed.
• Remove from heat and let cool to room temperature (about 2 hours). Transfer to a container and place in fridge to thicken.*
• Preheat oven to 350F. Grease and flour three 6" cake rounds, line with parchment.
• In a medium bowl, combine flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
• In the bowl of a stand mixer combine butter and sugar. Beat on med-high until pale and fluffy (2-3 mins). Add eggs one at a time, fully incorporating after each addition. Add vanilla and caramel and mix until incorporated.
• Alternate adding flour mixture and milk, beginning and ending with flour (3 additions of flour and 2 of milk). Fully incorporating after each addition.
• Spread batter evenly into prepared pans and bake for 35-40 mins or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out mostly clean.
• Place cakes on wire rack to cool for 10mins then turn out onto wire rack to cool completely.
• Place egg whites and sugar into the bowl of a stand mixer, whisk until combined.**
• Place bowl over a pot with 1-2" of simmering water and whisk constantly until the mixture is hot and no longer grainy to the touch or reads 160F on a candy thermometer (about 3mins)
• Place bowl on your stand mixer and whip on med-high until the meringue is stiff and cooled (the bowl is no longer warm to the touch (approx. 5-10mins)).
• Switch to paddle attachment. Slowly add cubed butter and mix until smooth.
• Add cooled caramel and whip until smooth.*** Add additional salt if desired if making a salted caramel buttercream.
• Trim cake layers slightly. Place one layer of cake on a cake stand or serving plate. Top with 1-2 Tbsp cooled caramel. Spread evenly pressing into the cake layers so the cake absorbs the sauce. Top with 2/3 cup of frosting, spread evenly. Repeat with remaining layers.
• Frost and smooth the outside with a thin crumb coat. Chill for 20mins.
• Frost and smooth the outside of the cake, generously frosting the sides specifically. Smooth with an icing smoother. Use a cake comb on the sides of the cake. Repeat, scraping off more frosting each time, until smooth.
• Using a small spoon, place dollops of caramel around the top edges of the cooled cake, allowing some to drip down.****
• Fill in the top of the cake with more caramel and spread evenly with an offset spatula. Pipe rosette dollops using a 1M tip with remainder of frosting.

PATTY'S CAKE WITH ESPRESSO-CARAMEL SAUCE

Steps:

• Grease and flour 2 81/2 by 41/2 inch loaf pans.
• Put the chocolate, butter and coffee in a large heavy saucepan.
• Place over low heat, stirring constantly until chocolate is melted, then stir vigorously until mixture is smooth and blended.
• Set aside to cool for 10 mins, then beat in the bourbon eggs and vanilla.
• Sift dry ingredients and beat into the chocolate mixture until well blended.
• Divide batter between pans and bake in a 275* oven for 50 mins, until a wooden skewer comes out clean.
• Cool in pans for 15 mins, then turn out onto racks to cool completely. Serve with whipped cream, creme fraiche or Expresso Caramel Sauce.
• "Espresso caramel sauce.".
• Whisk the sugar into water and pour into heavy bottom saucepan.
• Stir over med heat until sugar is dissolved, increase heat and bring to a boil. Do not stir, but wash down sides of pan frequently with a brush dipped in water.
• Meanwhile heat the cream to a simmer in another pan.
• When sugar begins to caramelize, lift pan carefully and swirl mixture to even caramelization.
• Boil until syrup is a beautiful brown color, about 3-4 mins.Remove from heat and set pan in sink.
• Slowly pour cream into the syrup , whisking to combine. Be Careful as it may splatter.!
• Stir in espresso and stir until smooth.
• If mixture starts to harden, return to low heat and whisk until dissolved.

EASY CARAMEL CAKE

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. Butter two 20cm springform tins and line the bases with baking parchment.
• Beat the butter and both sugars in a bowl with an electric whisk for a few mins until lighter in colour and fluffy. Add the vanilla and the eggs, one at a time, adding a spoonful of flour and beating in between each egg. Add the remaining flour and milk. Divide between the cake tins and bake for 25-30 mins until they're golden, spring back when pressed, and a skewer comes out clean when inserted into the middle. Cool in the tins for a few mins, then tip out and leave to cool completely on a wire rack.
• Meanwhile, for the icing, put the butter and icing sugar in a bowl and whisk for a few mins until light and airy. Whisk in the caramel briefly, adding 1 tbsp of boiling water to loosen, if needed. Set aside until the sponges are completely cool before assembling, or the icing will melt.
• Use half the icing to sandwich the cakes together, then spread the remainder over the top, smoothing it out with a knife or the back of a spoon. Leave in a cool place until ready to serve. Drizzle with the 3 tbsp extra sauce (warm briefly in the microwave if it's a little stiff), allowing some to drip down the sides if you like, and scatter over the toffee, chocolate or caramel pieces to serve. Edible glitter, birthday candles or sparklers, optional.

PATTI'S CARAMEL CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease a 9x13-inch baking pan.
• Blend cake mix, 1 cup milk, 1/2 cup butter, eggs, and 2 tablespoons vanilla extract in a blender until batter is smooth, about 3 minutes. Pour batter into the prepared pan.
• Bake in the preheated oven until a toothpick inserted in the center of the cake comes out clean, about 30 minutes.
• Heat 1/2 cup butter, light brown sugar, and dark brown sugar in a saucepan; bring to a boil. Add 1/4 cup milk and 1 teaspoon vanilla extract and return to a boil. Remove saucepan from heat and spoon confectioners' sugar, about 2 tablespoons at a time, into mixture using a wooden spoon, stirring after each addition until frosting is smooth. Spread frosting over cake.