• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Home
  • Recipes
    • Search All Recipes
    • Recipe Round-Ups
  • More
    • About
    • Work With Me!
    • Lifestyle
    • Outside the Kitchen
    • Kitchen Tips & Gifts
    • Contact

Framed Cooks

menu icon
go to homepage
  • Memorial Day Recipes!
  • Recipes
  • About
  • Contact
  • Subscribe
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • Memorial Day Recipes!
    • Recipes
    • About
    • Contact
    • Subscribe
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
  • ร—
    Framed Cooks ยป Recipes ยป Recipes

    Chocolate Caramel Cake

    Published: Sep 12, 2021 ยท Modified: Mar 10, 2023 by Kate Morgan Jackson ยท This post may contain affiliate links ยท Leave a Comment

    Jump to Recipe

    This delectable recipe for easy chocolate caramel cake blends candy bar flavors into a decadent cake that everyone will love!

    Easy Chocolate Caramel Cake

    PIN this recipe for Chocolate Caramel Cake now… So you can make it later!

    Sometimes you want a good old chocolate cake, and nothing else will do.

    And while I have been known to reach for the cake mix box here and there, whenever I make this delectable chocolate caramel number I realize what a difference it makes when you bake it up from scratch.

    This is one of those easy cakes that bakes up in a 9 x 13 inch pan, which means not only is there lots of chocolate cake to go around, it also makes a great portable dessert if you are heading to any festivities where you are in charge of dessert.

    And in the case of this particular chocolate cake, there is a significant caramel drizzle involved, which is going to lend a decadent candy bar flavor to the whole thing. Hurray!

    How to make Chocolate Caramel Cake!

    Preheat oven to 350 and spray a 13/9 inch pan with cooking spray

    Melt a cup of butter in a medium pot over medium heat. Add a cup of chocolate chips and a half cup of cocoa powder and whisk it up until it is nice and smooth.  Set it aside while you go on to the next step.

    Put 3 eggs, 2 teaspoons of vanilla and 1 ¾ cups of sugar into a mixing bowl and beat them up until it is all airy and fluffy, about 2 minutes.

    While the mixer is still going, pour in 1 ¼ cups of buttermilk, and then the melted chocolate and mix it all up until it is smooth.

    Next! Mix 2 cups of flour, 1 ½ teaspoons of baking powder, ½ a teaspoon of baking soda and ½ a teaspoon of sea salt together and add it to the chocolate mixture.  Mix it in until it is all combined – it’s okay if there are lumps here and there.

    Scrape it into your baking pan and bake it up until a toothpick stuck into the center comes out clean, about 40 minutes.  Let it cool completely before you frost it.  (I know!  So hard!)

    Ready to make the frosting?  Beat a cup of softened butter with your mixer until it is nice and fluffy, about 2 minutes.

    Add 3 ½ cups of  powdered sugar, ½ cup of cocoa powder, 4 tablespoons of milk, ¼ teaspoon of sea salt and 2 teaspoons of vanilla and mix it on low speed for 30 seconds, then increase to high speed and mix it for another minute.

    If you want it a little thicker add ¼ cup of powdered sugar, and if you want it a little thinner add a tablespoon of milk.

    Scrape the frosting out the bowl onto your cooked cake and spread it to the edges (an offset spatula works great for this). 

    Now for the finishing touch!  Drizzle on some of your favorite caramel sauce, cut into squares and serve! 

    More tips for making Chocolate Caramel Cake!

    What does the buttermilk do?

    Great question! Buttermilk is basically fermented milk (stay with me here!) which actually adds a lovely softness to the texture. Not to get all science teacher-ish with you, but the acidic quality of the buttermilk helps break down the gluten in the flour, giving you a gorgeous fluffy cake. Or in other words, don’t leave out the buttermilk! I promise you will not taste it one little bit.

    Can I use milk chocolate chips instead of semi-sweet?

    Yep! Your cake will be a little sweeter, but there’s nothing wrong with THAT. :)

    Can I make this cake ahead?

    You sure can! If possible, save the caramel drizzling until just before you serve it so that the caramel doesn’t melt into the frosting too much.

    (And if you want to add whipped cream and a little extra caramel, I won’t tell!).

    Let’s hear it for chocolate cake!

    OTHER CHOCOLATE CAKE RECIPES WE LOVE!

    Chocolate Believe Cake
    Sometimes wishes do come true and the sort behind this recipe for Chocolate Believe Cake is the proof. A rich cake with an easy fudge topping is the perfect dessert.
    Chocolate Believe Cake
    Sometimes wishes do come true and the sort behind this recipe for Chocolate Believe Cake is the proof. A rich cake with an easy fudge topping is the perfect dessert.
    Heath Bar Birthday Cake
    This easy recipe for Heath Bar Birthday Cake takes just five ingredients and no baking, and makes a delicious and dramatic dessert.
    Heath Bar Birthday Cake
    This easy recipe for Heath Bar Birthday Cake takes just five ingredients and no baking, and makes a delicious and dramatic dessert.
    Chocolate Dinner Mint Cake
    This recipe for a show-stopper chocolate dinner mint cake is not only fabulously festive, it’s also a snap to make!
    Chocolate Dinner Mint Cake
    This recipe for a show-stopper chocolate dinner mint cake is not only fabulously festive, it’s also a snap to make!

    Print

    Chocolate Caramel Cake

    Easy Chocolate Caramel Cake
    Print Recipe
    Pin Recipe

    5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

    No reviews

    This delectable recipe for easy chocolate caramel cake blends candy bar flavors into a decadent cake that everyone will love!

    • Author: Kate Morgan Jackson
    • Prep Time: 30 minutes
    • Cook Time: 40 minutes
    • Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
    • Yield: 16 1x
    • Category: Dessert
    • Method: Oven
    • Cuisine: American
    • Diet: Vegetarian

    Ingredients

    Scale

    For the cake!

    • 1 cup butter
    • 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
    • 1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
    • 3 eggs
    • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
    • 1 3/4 cups sugar
    • 1 1/4 cups buttermilk
    • 2 cups flour
    • 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
    • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
    • 1/2 teaspoon sea salt

    For the frosting!

    • 1 cup butter, room temperature
    • 3 ½ cups powdered sugar
    • 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
    • 4 Tablespoons milk 
    • 1/4 teaspoon sea salt
    • 2 teaspoons vanilla
    • ½ cup of your favorite caramel sauce (heated for 30 seconds in the microwave if you need to)

    Instructions

    1. Preheat oven to 350 and spray a 13/9 inch pan with cooking spray
    2. Melt the butter in a medium pot over medium heat. Add the chocolate chips and the cocoa powder and whisk it up until it is nice and smooth. Set it aside while you go on to the next step.
    3. Put the eggs, vanilla and sugar into a mixing bowl and beat them up until it is airy and fluffy, about 2 minutes.
    4. Turn the mixer to low and pour in the buttermilk, and then the melted chocolate and mix it all up until it is smooth.
    5. Mix the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt together and add it to the chocolate mixture. Mix it in until it is all combined – it’s okay if there are lumps here and there.
    6. Scrape it into your baking pan and bake it up until a toothpick stuck into the center comes out clean, about 40 minutes. Let it cool completely before you frost it.
    7. Ready to make the frosting? Beat a cup of softened butter with your mixer until it is nice and fluffy, about 2 minutes.
    8. Add the powdered sugar, the cocoa powder, milk, salt, and vanilla and mix it on low speed for 30 seconds, then increase to high speed and mix it for another minute.
    9. If you want it a little thicker add ¼ cup of powdered sugar, and if you want it a little thinner add a tablespoon of milk.
    10. Scrape the frosting out the bowl onto your cooked cake and spread it to the edges (an offset spatula works great for this).
    11. Now for the finishing touch! Drizzle on the caramel sauce, cut into squares and serve!  (And if you want to add whipped cream and a little extra caramel, I won’t tell!).

    Equipment We Used to Make This Recipe

    Image of 9 x 13 Casserole

    9 x 13 Casserole

    Buy Now →
    Image of Hand Mixer

    Hand Mixer

    Buy Now →
    Image of Mixing Bowls

    Mixing Bowls

    Buy Now →
    Image of Measuring Cup

    Measuring Cup

    Buy Now →
    Image of Offset Spatula

    Offset Spatula

    Buy Now →
    Image of Caramel Sauce

    Caramel Sauce

    Buy Now →

    Notes

    Need to add something to your kitchen equipment to make this recipe? Below are some of the items we used in the Framed Cooks kitchen to help cook this up. These are affiliate links to things we use and love, which helps to pay for all that bacon I keep buying (without any extra cost to you)!  Thanks for using them to keep our kitchen cooking…xoxo!

    Did you make this recipe?

    Share a photo and tag @FramedCooks on Facebook or Instagram…we want to see it!

    151 shares
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • Yummly

    Want every new recipe delivered right to your email inbox?

    Reader Interactions

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe rating 5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

    Primary Sidebar

    Kate from Framed Cooks

    Hi, Iโ€™m Kate! Iโ€™m a recipe writer, food photographer and devoted bacon lover. Iโ€™m so glad youโ€™re here!

    More about me โ†’

    Memorial Day Recipes!

    • Strawberry slab pie on a white platter.
      Easy Strawberry Cheesecake Tart
    • easy avocado chicken salad
      Avocado Chicken Salad
    • Sliced strawberry bread on a plate.
      Glazed Strawberry Bread
    • Mediterranean Chicken Salad on a plate.
      Mediterranean Chicken Salad
    • Strawberry Peach Sorbet in an ice cream glass.
      Easy Strawberry Peach Sorbet
    • Prosciutto Caprese Salad on a plate.
      Prosciutto Caprese Salad

    Reader Favorites

    • Pastina with egg and cheese in a bowl.
      Pastina with Egg and Cheese, Otherwise Known As Comfort Food
    • Lemon Garlic Lobster Pasta in a bowl with a fork.
      Pasta with Lobster Sauce
    • Grandpa's Coca-Cola Ribs on a cutting board.
      Grandpa’s Coca-Cola Ribs
    • Pasta with Buttered Egg Sauce on a plate with a fork.
      Pasta with Egg Sauce
    • Soft scrambled eggs with ricotta on a plate.
      Ricotta Scrambled Eggs
    • Cheese Fries in a bowl on a wooden counter.
      Easy Cheese Fries

    Want every new recipe delivered right to your email inbox?

    Sign Me Up!

    Footer

    โ†‘ back to top

    About

    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms of Use

    Newsletter

    • Sign Up!

    Get in Touch

    • Contact

    Copyright ยฉ 2025 Framed Cooks

    All photographs ยฉ FramedCooks and may not be used for any purpose without written permission. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    151 shares
    151 shares
    • 120