After making a few previous versions of “surprise cake,” I settled upon a salted caramel version to celebrate a good friend’s birthday. She LOVES chocolate – I mean, really loves chocolate, and she likes caramel too – it’s a win-win for everyone. Really, how can it not be? Dark Chocolate Cake + Homemade Salted Caramel + Salted Caramel Cream Frosting + Caramel M&M’s = all around goodness.
Dark Chocolate Salted Caramel Cream Surprise Cake
Dark Chocolate Salted Caramel Cream Surprise Cake
Chocolate Cake:
2 cups sugar
1¾ cups all-purpose flour
¾ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1½ tsp. baking powder
1½ tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. sea salt
2 large eggs
1 cup whole milk
½ cup vegetable oil
1½ tsp. vanilla extract
*Salted Caramel Cream Frosting (recipe below)
**Homemade Salted Caramel Sauce
1 lb. Caramel M&Ms
Preheat oven to 350. Grease and flour three 6-inch pans.
Stir together all dry ingredients to a large bowl.
Add eggs, milk, oil, and vanilla and beat on medium speed until well incorporated.
Pour batter into prepared pans.
Bake for 30 to 35 minutes or until wooden pick inserted in centre comes out clean.
Cool in pans for 10 minutes. Remove cakes from pans to a wire racks and let to cool completely.
Using a biscuit cutter, create holes in the center of two of the tiers. Reserve the “hole” cake for another use or frost as cupcakes.
Slather a layer of Salted Caramel Cream Frosting over one tier, top with another, frost, and then fill the cake with Caramel M&Ms. Top with the final tier (the one without the hole) and frost the cake entirely with the Salted Caramel Cream Frosting. Finally drizzle with any last Homemade Salted Caramel Sauce. Chill and let set for several hours before slicing open and serving the surprise!
*Salted Caramel Cream Frosting:
1 cup salted butter, room temperature (2 full sticks)
8 oz. cream cheese, room temperature
6 oz. Homemade Salted Caramel Sauce
Using a stand or hand mixer, beat the butter until soft. Add the cream cheese and Salted Caramel Sauce.
