This chocolate cake with a salted caramel filling and frosted with chocolate ganache is perfect for special occasions or whenever you want a decadent dessert.
- Prep Time:
40 mins - Cook Time:
55 mins - Total Time:
1 hr 35 mins
When my kids were young and it came time to choose their birthday cakes, they cared less about the flavor and more about what shape the cake was going to be.
I have made cakes that looked like snakes to go with a rainforest birthday party and a cake that looked like a treasure chest for a pirate themed party. Now that my kids are older, they have move beyond “themed” inspired cakes and I could not be happier. Because now I get to make cakes like this – chocolate cake with a salted caramel filling.
When my daughter said she wanted a “really good fancy chocolate cake” for her birthday, I knew this was the cake she wanted. I had made this cake several years ago and the memory of it still lingered in my mind. How could one ever forget the oh so moist cake layers laced with chocolate ganache and a thin layer of buttery caramel? The fleur de sel adding just the perfect finish.
The original recipe calls for sprinkling chopped almonds in the filling and pressing more almonds on the side of the cake. I prefer cakes without nuts so I don’t use the almonds. That way nothing gets in the way of all that wonderful chocolate (and caramel).
The cake was a big hit at the party. There was just enough cake left for me to photograph a couple of slices the next day. Then, those slices were quickly devoured too.
Chocolate Cake with Fleur de Sel Caramel Filling
- Prep Time: 40 minutes
- Cook Time: 55 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 35 minutes
- Yield: 10–12 servings 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Description
This chocolate cake with a salted caramel filling and frosted with chocolate ganache is perfect for special occasions or whenever you want a decadent dessert.
Ingredients
For the caramel filling
- 1 cup sugar
- 1/4 cup water
- 2 tablespoons light corn syrup
- 1/2 cup heavy whipping cream
- 1/4 cup (1/2 stick) unsalted butter, diced
- 1/4 cup sour cream
- 1/2 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
- Large pinch of fine fleur de sel plus additional for assembly
For the ganache filling and frosting
- 1 1/2 pounds semi-sweet chocolate, chopped
- 3 cups heavy whipping cream
For the cake
- 2 cups sugar
- 1 3/4 cups all purpose flour
- 3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup milk
- 2 large eggs
- 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, melted
- 1 cup hot water
- 1 tablespoon instant espresso powder or instant coffee
Instructions
For the caramel filling
- Whisk together sugar, 1/4 cup water, and corn syrup in a deep medium saucepan over low heat until sugar dissolves. Increase heat to medium; cover pan and cook 4 minutes. Uncover; increase heat to high. Boil without stirring until syrup is golden brown to deep amber in color, about 6 minutes. Remove from heat. Slowly add cream (mixture will bubble but will settle as you whisk it). Whisk in butter, then sour cream, lemon juice, and pinch of fleur de sel. Cool completely.
- The caramel can be made 3 days ahead. Cover and chill. Bring to room temperature before using.
For the ganache filling and frosting
- Place chocolate in large bowl. Bring cream to simmer in medium saucepan. Pour hot cream over chocolate; let soften 1 minute. Whisk until chocolate is smooth. Cool, then cover and chill overnight.
- The ganache can be made 3 days ahead. Keep chilled. Bring to room temperature before using.
For the cake
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Butter two 9-inch-diameter cake pans with 2-inch-high sides. Line bottom of each with parchment paper; butter paper and dust pan with flour. Set aside.
- Combine sugar, flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a large bowl. Add milk, eggs, and melted butter. Using electric mixer, beat at low speed until blended. Increase speed and beat 2 minutes more. Stir 1 cup hot water and espresso powder in a small bowl to dissolve. Add to batter; beat until blended (batter will be thin). Divide batter between pans (about 3 – 3 1/2 cups each).
- Bake cakes until tester inserted into center comes out clean, about 30-35 minutes. Cool cakes in pans on racks for 10 minutes. Cut around cakes; turn out onto racks. Peel off parchment and cool completely.
To assemble the cake
- Using a long serrated knife, cut each cake horizontally in half. Place 1 layer on platter; spread with 1/2 cup room-temperature ganache. Spoon 3/4 cup ganache into a pastry bag fitted with 1/4-inch plain round tip (I used a disposable pastry bag with the tip cut off). Pipe ring of ganache around outside edge of cake layer. Spread 1/4 cup + 1 tablespoon room-temperature caramel filling evenly inside ring. Sprinkle caramel with large pinch of fleur de sel.
- Top with second cake layer, repeat with ganache, ganache ring, caramel filling, and fleur de sel. Repeat again with third cake layer.
- Top with fourth cake layer, cut side down. Spread remaining ganache over top and sides of cake.
- Entire cake can be made 2 days ahead. Cover with cake dome and chill. Let cake stand at room temperature 1 hour before serving.
Notes
- Recipe from Bon Appetit, Sept 2008
madison Shorthill says
Is there anyway I can make this recipe with three 6inch cake tins instead of the 9 inch ones ?
Nguyet says
So, I am assuming you are wanting to make a 3-layer cake with each layer being 6-inches in diameter instead of a 4-layer cake with each layer being 9-inches in diameter. I think you could make the cake part with the quantities listed then use a scale to evenly divide the batter across 3 cake pans. I would increase the bake time by a few minutes. For the caramel, I think you’ll end up with a lot of leftover caramel with the quantities listed. You could always save the extra caramel for another use or you could make about a half recipe of the caramel. For the ganache, I think I would do about 75% of the recipe. Hope that helps. Good luck!
Tammy roberts says
Made this cake for my daughter Caitlin’s birthday. She requested a chocolate cake with caramel filling and chocolate frosting. This cake was absolutely delicious and she loved it! In fact, everyone loved it! Such a beautiful blend of flavors…not too sweet, just perfect! Thank you for this wonderful recipe! I definitely will be making this again, and I won’t wait for a birthday!
Taming of the Spoon says
Thank you so much for your very kind comment. It made my whole day! I’m so happy when a recipe works out so well. This cake is awesome for birthdays but, you’re right, why wait for a birthday. It’s perfect anytime!