Sumptuous Salted Caramel Butterscotch Cake Recipe

Indulgent Salted Caramel Butterscotch Cake Recipe to Sweeten Days

Caramel lovers unite around this decadent salted caramel butterscotch cake that promises pure indulgence.

Sweet memories of childhood desserts dance with sophisticated flavor notes in every single slice.

This recipe blends rich butterscotch undertones with a delicate salty-sweet caramel essence that melts effortlessly on your tongue.

Creamy layers promise a luxurious texture that celebrates simple yet elegant baking techniques.

Each ingredient has been carefully selected to create a harmonious balance of flavors that sings with every bite.

Smooth frosting and delicate crumb combine to deliver a dessert that transforms an ordinary afternoon into a gourmet experience.

Prepare to fall in love with a cake that redefines comfort and elegance in one stunning creation.

Quick Recipe Overview

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Cook Time: 35 minutes

Total Time: 55 minutes

Calories: 250 kcal

Servings: 13

Salted Caramel Butterscotch Cake Ingredient Checklist

For Cake Base:
  • All-Purpose Flour: Provides structure and soft texture, choose unbleached for richer flavor.
  • Baking Powder: Helps cake rise evenly, ensure it's fresh for maximum lift.
  • Salt: Enhances overall cake flavor and balances sweetness.
For Wet Ingredients:
  • Butter: Creates rich, tender crumb, use high-quality unsalted butter at room temperature.
  • Brown Sugar: Adds deep caramel notes and moisture, opt for dark brown sugar for intense flavor.
  • Eggs: Bind ingredients and provide structure, use room temperature eggs for smooth mixing.
  • Vanilla Extract: Adds warm, complex flavor, choose pure extract over artificial.
  • Milk: Keeps cake moist and tender, whole milk works best for richness.
  • Butterscotch Sauce: Introduces signature sweet-salty flavor, homemade or high-quality store-bought recommended.
For Flavor Enhancers:
  • Vanilla Extract: Rounds out cake's overall taste profile, pure extract preferred.
  • Butterscotch Sauce: Infuses deep caramel undertones, can be drizzled between layers for extra flavor.

Bakeware and Tools for Salted Caramel Butterscotch Cake

  • Stand Mixer or Electric Handheld Mixer: Essential for creaming butter and sugar, and mixing cake batter smoothly.
  • Large Mixing Bowls: Needed for combining dry ingredients, mixing batter, and preparing cake components.
  • 8-inch Round Cake Pans (3): Critical for creating layer cake structure.
  • Parchment Paper: Ensures easy cake removal and prevents sticking.
  • Whisk: Perfect for blending dry ingredients evenly.
  • Rubber Spatula: Helps scrape batter from sides of bowl and fold ingredients gently.
  • Toothpick or Cake Tester: Checks cake doneness by inserting into cake center.
  • Cooling Rack: Allows cakes to cool completely and prevents soggy bottoms.

How to Layer and Finish a Butterscotch Cake Like a Pro

  • Fire Up the Oven

Crank the oven to a toasty 350°F and lovingly prepare your cake pans with a quick grease and parchment paper lining.

  • Create Dry Mixture

Whisk flour, baking powder, and salt in a bowl until they’re perfectly blended and ready for action.

  • Whip Butter and Sugar

Grab your mixer and beat butter and brown sugar until they transform into a cloud-like, fluffy masterpiece.

  • Introduce Liquid Magic

Gently fold in eggs one by one, then splash in vanilla extract and butterscotch sauce for a flavor explosion.

  • Merge Ingredients Smoothly

Slowly combine dry ingredients with milk, alternating between the two. Mix just until everything comes together – no overmixing allowed!

  • Bake to Perfection

Pour batter evenly into prepared pans and slide into the oven. Bake for 25-30 minutes until a toothpick emerges clean. Let the cake cool completely before dressing it up with frosting.

Tips to Get That Salty-Sweet Balance Just Right

  • Bake cake layers in advance and wrap tightly in plastic wrap, storing at room temperature for up to 2 days or freezing for 1 month to save time.
  • Ensure butter and cream cheese are at room temperature for smoother, lump-free buttercream that spreads like a dream.
  • Swap all-purpose flour with a gluten-free blend, adding xanthan gum for better structure and texture.
  • Replace regular milk with almond or oat milk, and use dairy-free butter alternatives for a lactose-free version of this decadent cake.
  • Drizzle extra butterscotch sauce between cake layers for an intensified flavor profile that will wow your guests.

Serving This Cake at Parties or Celebrations

  • Caramel Drizzle Delight: Generously pour extra butterscotch sauce over each cake layer, creating beautiful golden streams that cascade down the sides for a luxurious look.
  • Sweet Companion Pairing: Serve alongside a scoop of vanilla bean ice cream or whipped cream to complement the rich butterscotch and caramel flavors.
  • Nutty Crunch Topping: Sprinkle chopped pecans or toasted almonds around the cake's edges and on top for a delightful textural contrast and additional depth of flavor.
  • Elegant Presentation Twist: Dust the cake with powdered sugar or garnish with small caramel shards for a sophisticated and Instagram-worthy dessert that looks as amazing as it tastes.

How to Store Salted Caramel Butterscotch Cake to Keep It Soft

  • Store the fully cooled cake in an airtight container at room temperature for 3-4 days, ensuring minimal moisture loss and maintaining delectable taste.
  • When topped with buttercream or caramel frosting, refrigerate the cake and consume within 5-6 days. Let it sit at room temperature for 30 minutes before serving to restore softness.
  • Wrap individual cake layers tightly in plastic wrap, then aluminum foil. Freeze up to 2 months. Thaw overnight in refrigerator and bring to room temperature before assembling and decorating.
  • Prepare cake layers and butterscotch sauce 2 days in advance. Store layers wrapped at room temperature and sauce in sealed container in refrigerator. Assemble just before serving for maximum freshness and flavor explosion.
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Sumptuous Salted Caramel Butterscotch Cake Recipe

Sumptuous Salted Caramel Butterscotch Cake Recipe


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4.6 from 11 reviews

  • Total Time: 55 minutes
  • Yield: 13 1x

Description

Rich layers of salted caramel butterscotch cake promise a symphony of sweet and salty indulgence. Silky frosting and golden crumb invite dessert enthusiasts to savor each luxurious bite, delivering pure culinary bliss.


Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 ½ cups brown sugar, packed
  • 1 cup whole milk
  • 1 cup unsalted butter, softened (for cake)
  • 4 large eggs
  • 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 cup unsalted butter, softened (for frosting)
  • 3 cups powdered sugar
  • ½ cup butterscotch sauce (store-bought or homemade)
  • ½ cup salted caramel sauce (store-bought or homemade)
  • 2 ½ teaspoons baking powder
  • 2 tbsps heavy cream
  • ½ cup butterscotch chips, melted
  • ½ cup salted caramel sauce, for drizzling
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract (for cake)
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract (for frosting)
  • ½ tsp salt (for cake)
  • ½ tsp salt (for frosting)
  • Flaky sea salt, for garnish

Instructions

  1. Preparation: Warm the oven to 350F (175C). Coat three 8-inch round cake pans with butter, then line with parchment paper.
  2. Dry Ingredient Blend: Thoroughly combine flour, baking powder, and salt in a mixing vessel. Reserve to the side.
  3. Butter Creaming: Whip butter and brown sugar in a spacious mixing bowl until achieving a pillowy, aerated texture with soft peaks.
  4. Liquid Integration: Gently incorporate eggs individually, then introduce vanilla extract and butterscotch sauce, ensuring smooth incorporation.
  5. Batter Composition: Methodically fold dry ingredients into wet mixture, alternating with milk. Blend until ingredients are just harmonized, avoiding over-mixing.
  6. Baking Process: Distribute batter evenly across prepared pans. Slide into preheated oven and bake for 25-30 minutes, checking doneness with a slim wooden pick that should emerge clean when inserted. Allow cake layers to cool completely before embellishing with frosting.

Notes

  • Check cake doneness by inserting a toothpick in the center – it should come out with just a few moist crumbs, ensuring a tender, not dry, cake texture.
  • Gently fold butterscotch sauce to prevent overmixing, which can deflate the batter and create a dense cake instead of a light, airy crumb.
  • Let ingredients like eggs and milk reach room temperature before mixing to help them blend smoothly and create a more consistent batter.
  • Chill cake layers completely before frosting to prevent butterscotch sauce from making the frosting runny and ensure clean, sharp cake edges.
  • Prep Time: 20 minutes
  • Cook Time: 35 minutes
  • Category: Desserts
  • Method: Baking
  • Cuisine: American

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 13
  • Calories: 250
  • Sugar: 18 g
  • Sodium: 200 mg
  • Fat: 10 g
  • Saturated Fat: 6 g
  • Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
  • Trans Fat: 0 g
  • Carbohydrates: 34 g
  • Fiber: 1 g
  • Protein: 3 g
  • Cholesterol: 50 mg
Michael Thompson

Michael Thompson

Founder & Culinary Director

Expertise

Classical & Contemporary Cooking Techniques, Global Cuisine Appreciation, Nutrition & Menu Engineering, Sustainable Cooking Practices, Farm-to-Table Cuisine

Education

Southwestern Oregon Community College

  • Program: Culinary Arts, Associate of Applied Science
  • Focus: Emphasis on mastering core culinary competencies, like safety and sanitation, hot, cold, and pastry techniques, while cultivating appreciation of global cuisines and developing operational skills in nutrition, menu design, costing, purchasing, and supervisory management.

Michael grew up in Oregon, where he learned early that food tastes better when it’s fresh, local, and made with care. 

After earning his degree from the Southwestern Oregon Community College, he focused his career on teaching others how to cook with the seasons, reduce food waste, and reconnect with what’s on their plate.

Michael keeps his cooking simple, sustainable, and full of flavor. His favorite part of the process? Watching people realize how easy and satisfying it can be to cook a single great meal from scratch.

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