Yes, the cake is typically first in a recipe title, but really, this salted caramel buttercream is the star of the show.
Let me tell you about something astounding, momentous, and incredible that happened last week. My baby, our kiddo, turned 16.
It's still sinking in. (Ohmygosh...just found this post of his 10th birthday!)
He has his driver's licence and today drove to school for the first time. This is such an fun age...so exciting. Between this and his flight lessons, my prayer life had grown considerably.
I read Cold Tangerines by Shauna Niequist years ago. I don't remember quotes from movies or books, but this one has stuck with me...
"This is my new prayer, my mother-prayer: Dear God, please please please, and thank you thank you thank you."Yep. That's running through my brain in a loop.
Let's talk cake. Kiddo requested Devil's Food Cake with Salted Caramel Buttercream Frosting. Who am I to say no???
He chose the cake from the King Arthur Flour Baker's Companion. I made it straight from the book....no tinkering. The recipe online is just a bit different.
Here is the cake recipe. The one in the cookbook calls for natural cocoa and replaces the 2 teaspoons baking powder with 1 & 1/2 teaspoons baking soda. I followed the book recipe. The cake is mild in chocolate flavor with a beautiful crumb...we liked it quite a bit.
The frosting. Oh my word. The FROSTING.
I'm so happy that the birthday boy chose salted caramel. His mama raised him right. ;)
For the salted caramel buttercream, I used Sprinkle Bakes' recipe. Heather has some incredible Triple Salted Caramel Cupcakes on her blog, and in her book, so I used the frosting for the cake.
You start by making caramel. Don't be scared. If I can do it, you can do it. Then, you make frosting using that caramel. For the cake, I doubled this recipe. I also added in about a cup more powdered sugar. I always make notes in my cookbooks after making a recipe and by this one, I wrote, "exquisite."
Eat a salad for lunch on the day you make this because you'll be doing quite a bit of taste-testing of that frosting before it goes on the cake. Trust me.
A little trick I learned from My Cake School, is to pipe an edge of thicker frosting around the outer ring of each cake layer before filling with frosting between the layers. It keeps the frosting from oozing out when adding another layer. I just scooped some frosting into a separate bowl and added a bit more sifted powdered sugar to thicken it up. (Here's a better visual of what I mean, in case you're having trouble understanding my incoherent ramblings.)
Don't wait for a special birthday...you need this cake in your life!
Printing!!! Happy Birthday! I have a 16 year old "baby boy" too! He is going to love this cake!!!!! laura
ReplyDeleteThat cake is over the top and what a handsome young man he is!
ReplyDeleteI know what you mean. I dreamed forever about having a daughter of my own.
Now that I'm blessed with Daisy, I thank God every day!
16??? How did that happen?? He was just a little kiddo when I first started following your blog! He has great taste in dessert, that cake looks fabulous!
ReplyDeleteyum! Did he really request salted buttercream frosting?!?! Sign of a true foodie. I guess this shouldn't surprise me after the pork tenderloin request at 3, or was it 4?
ReplyDeleteYour son is so handsome:) And his cake is beautiful..I am going to Pin it..Thank you.
ReplyDeleteLove this so much Bridget!!!
ReplyDeleteI think that cake is perfect for a Sweet 16 Birthday! Oh who I am kidding that is a perfect cake RIGHT NOW! I will be dreaming about this cake tonight
ReplyDeleteBridget,
ReplyDeleteYour son has perfect taste. Happy Birthday to your little guy.
Annamaria
Just looked at the 2009 post...time sure does fly! Happy Birthday to your youngest. I can totally relate to increased prayer time especially when family members leave for college or move to various states for work. Happy Tuesday Bridget :)
ReplyDeletehttp://www.lovecompassionatelee.com/
And I DIE. Of happiness!! And of pure birthday joy.
ReplyDeleteYou have a handsome 16 year old there, can not imagine how it feels to see them turn 16!! Happy birthday to both of you! And this cake, can you bring it to me? It sounds and looks so incredible, I don't often crave cake but I have to say I am craving THIS one bad.
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday!! That cake looks nothing short of amazing. I'll take a slice or ten!!
ReplyDeleteI want that cake!!
ReplyDeleteI MUST say, the frosting DOES LOOK AMAZING! I am impressed with Kiddo's choice! Enjoy this time with your boy; it goes so incredibly fast! Sigh.
ReplyDeleteOMG yes. I have made a salted caramel frosted butter cake before but I would definitely love it on a chocolate cake!
ReplyDeleteThis cake looks amazing and the salted caramel frosting is what caught my eye! I have been wanting to try this forever and after seeing the way it looks and hearing how well it tastes, this is something that I will definitely try!
ReplyDeleteLove this chocolate cake. Just wished i could eat it ovet the net
ReplyDeleteHmmm Yummy, I Like Cake ??
ReplyDeleteGreat Post, Thanks For Sharing ??
ReplyDeleteHi. May I ask a question? You said you doubled the recipe for the cake. So that would be 4 sticks of butter with 3 cups of powdered sugar? And then all the other ingredients doubled too? Thanks. Kimberly
ReplyDeleteGood to know such things, sometimes they can be useful.
ReplyDeletewow,hhmm yummy,
ReplyDelete