32K Caramel Cake

*Pixie*'s Note:

Is it a carrot cake with a rich caramel flavour or a caramel cake with a carrot undertone? Either way, this layer cake has a caramel frosting topped with a butterscotch/chocolate glaze.

• Total Time: 50 mins
• Prep Time: 20 mins
• Cook Time: 30 mins

Ingredients:

Servings: 8

cake

• 2 cups flour
• 2 tablespoons baking powder
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup brown sugar (packed)
• ¾ cup butter
• 3 eggs
• 2 cups finely grated carrots (or ground)
• ½ cup finely chopped pecans
• 10 caramels

icing

• 3 cups icing sugar
• 3 tablespoons brown sugar (packed)
• 3 -4 tablespoons milk
• ¼ cup butter
• 15 caramels

glaze

• ¼ cup butterscotch chips
• ½ cup chocolate chips

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degres F.
2. Spray two 8" round pans throughly with cooking spray.
3. Sift the flour, baking powder and salt together and set aside.
4. Melt the 3/4 cup butter and 10 caramels, until liquid and integrated.
5. I usually do this in the microwave but it can be done stovetop.
6. Do not burn.
7. Mix the brown sugar and the caramel butter mixture with an electric mixer until well integrated.
8. Add the eggs one at a time and beat well, until smooth and lighter in colour.
9. Mix in the flour mixture until blended and then beat at high speed for three or four minutes until batter is smooth and light in colour.
10. Mix in the carrots and pecans until well blended and spread evenly between the two cake pans.
11. Bake for about 30 minutes until browned and just pulling away from the sides of the pan.
12. Cool cakes on racks.
13. Melt 1/4 cup butter, 3 tablespoons brown sugar and 15 caramels until smooth (about 2 minutes in microwave, don't forget to stir!) Mix the melted caramels with the icing sugar and 3 tablespoons milk with an electric mixer until smooth.
14. If required add an extra tablespoon milk to reach a good consistency for the icing.
15. Spread icing on top of one cake layer, top with the other layer and cover sides and top evenly with the remaining icing.
16. Melt the butterscotch and chocolate chips together (about 1 minute in microwave) stir well until smooth (heat longer if required).
17. Spread a thin layer of chocolate mixture over the top of the cake (if desired let a bit drip down the sides as decoration).

Reviews

[Terri F.]

I'm voting for a carrot cake with a rich caramel flavor... and it's just delicious!! I followed the recipe exactly. I was hoping the carrots would make the cake "healthy", but the only way to cut the calories is to slice the cake thinner... and you really don't want to do that!! :o) The cake also has a very nice presentation... fancy enough for a special birthday! I'll be using this one quite a bit. Thanks.

[Cindy Lynn]

I followed this recipe exactly as stated with one exception. I baked it in two mold cake pans that are equivalent to the size stated...this was a mistake as the mold was intended to stand upright after completion, but the cake is not firm enough to do this with. The flavor was rich and decadent, loved by my entire family! I will definitely make this again, but will first have to buy a second 8" round cake pan. Thank you for sharing!

[Brian14]

Moist to the point of being wet.