Caramel Macchiato Cake
You guys I am on cloud 9 today!! My mother is here. My mother is here!! I haven’t seen her in over three years (since our wedding in Sept 2012) so excuse me if I am super super excited to have her around for the next three months. She lives in Sierra Leone (Africa) with the rest of my siblings and family and she only comes to visit every now and then for big life events (my college graduation, wedding and now the arrival of her first grandkid). I picked her up yesterday morning and we are still catching up 24 hours later. Although she seems way too interested in Elliott than me 🙁 but I guess his cuteness prevails.
Anyway, let’s get to this beauty of a cake in front of us before I log off to enjoy my mother’s cooking. I’ve been making this caramel macchiato cake in my head for at least a year now. Last fall, I bought some caramel brûlé chocolate bites at Starbucks and thought to myself “Wouldn’t these be cute on top of a cake?” A caramel macchiato cake to be exact since that was what I ordered that day. Of course I never got around to it and I am sure I lost the chocolate bites somewhere in the move.
Fast forward to last week when I went again to Starbucks for a coconut pumpkin spice latte (<<< My NEW obsession) and saw them again so of course I bought them and this time I did make the cake and topped it with the bites.
Caramel macchiato (for those who have no idea what I am talking about) is one of my favorite lattes at Starbucks and it’s a blend of caramel and coffee. A lovely blend that always brightens up my day. It is sold all year round (unlike the peppermint and pumpkin alternatives) but for some reason I only get it in the fall. Must be something about that brown sugar/caramel taste that is all around during the fall.
This cake embodies everything the latte boasts. A rich brown sugar coffee cake is layered with smooth and silky caramel swiss meringue buttercream and finished with drizzles of caramel. The cake has a bold coffee flavor that is well balanced with the sweet caramel frosting. I was thinking of adding a coffee glaze to the cake but left that out not to overpower the coffee flavor but you can definitely add this step if you are a huge coffee fan.
I hope you keep this cake in your arsenal for the next time you need a celebration cake. Till then, excuse me while I go cozy up with my mama.
xo
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Caramel Macchiato Cake
Ingredients
For Cake
- 3 ½ cups all purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 cup boiling water
- ¼ cup espresso powder
- 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, at room temperature
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 cup light brown sugar, packed
- 3 large eggs
- ½ cup milk, room temperature
Caramel Sauce
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 6 tablespoons unsalted butter (cut up into cubes)
- ½ cup heavy cream
Caramel Swiss Meringue Buttercream
- 5 large egg whites, room temperature
- 1¼ cup granulated sugar
- 1 ½ cup (3 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature
- ½ cup homemade caramel sauce (above)
- 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon coffee extract (or 1 teaspoon espresso powder)
Instructions
For Cakes:
- Heat oven to 350 degrees F. Butter and flour three 8-inch round cake pans. Line with parchment and grease parchment.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
- In a small cup, combine the boiling water and espresso. Let cool while you continue.
- In the bowl of an electric mixer, beat butter and sugars on medium speed until light and fluffy, about 3-5 minutes. Add in eggs, one at a time, and mix until combined. Scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed. Combine the espresso mixture with milk. Alternatively add the flour mixture and espresso-milk mixture to the batter, starting and ending with flour and beating well after each addition.
- Divide the batter into the prepared baking pans. Bake cakes until the center springs back when touched and a tester comes out clean, about 30-35 minutes. Let cakes cool in pan for at least 10 minutes before turning out onto a cooling rack. Let cool completely before frosting.
To make caramel sauce:
- In a medium saucepan, melt sugar over medium high heat. When sugar starts melting, whisk until all the sugar melts. Sugar will clump in whisk but keep whisking.
- Once all the sugar is melted, stop whisking and let sugar get to a deep amber color. You can swirl the pan to mix. Keep your eye on the caramel, as it will easily burn at this stage.
- Whisk in the butter and mix until completely melted. Remove pan from heat and gradually add in the heavy cream. Whisk until smooth.
- Transfer caramel immediately into a glass jar and let cool.
For Caramel Swiss Meringue Buttercream:
- Whisk together sugar and egg whites in a heatproof mixing bowl set over (not in) a pan of simmering water. Whisk until warm and sugar is dissolved (mixture should feel completely smooth when rubbed between your fingers), 2 to 3 minutes. Remove from heat.
- With an electric mixer on medium speed, whisk egg white mixture 5 minutes (using the whisk attachment). Increase speed to medium-high, and whisk until stiff, glossy peaks form and meringue has cooled (test by feeling bottom of bowl), about 6 minutes.
- Reduce speed to medium and switch to the paddle attachment. Add butter, one piece at a time, beating well after each addition. Keep beating until the buttercream comes together (IT WILL). Beat in vanilla and coffee extract and caramel until smooth and silky.
- Use immediately or store in an airtight container in fridge for up to a week.
Assembly:
- Place one layer of cake on a cake stand or serving platter. Spread about ½ cup of frosting over the top using an offset spatula. Top with another layer of cake and repeat with another layer of frosting. Smooth with offset spatula. Top with final layer of cake.
- Frost cake with a crumb coat of buttercream and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes. Finish frosting cake and decorate as desired.
Notes
Inspired by Flour-child
Oh I can’t imagine not seeing my mother for such a long time. It must be hard sometimes, I can totally understand your enthusiasm.
I love this cake, just love. I really have to find an occasion to make it. It looks so beautiful.
You should find an occasion, I love this cake!
What a gorgeous cake! Caramel and coffee.. sounds like a dream!
It’s a dream combination!
I can just tell how happy you are. I literally dance with joy when my mum comes to visit, she lives in Ghana so I don’t see her often. That cake looks absolutely beautiful and delicious.
me too!! It is always a great time. Mine lives just next door to yours in Sierra Leone 🙂
Z, this cake is stunning!! and love the flavor combo! Hope you saved a huge slice for your mom!!! SO happy that she is here to help you and meet her grandson!!!
the cake was long gone!
I am seriously so so excited that your mom is there! I cannot wait to see all the beautiful pictures with Elliott and see all the new memories being made. I am seriously so so in love with this cake. It is a masterpiece.
Thanks Jocelyn! I will try to get pictures for sure!
This cake is gorgeous, Z! Love the flavors! Aaw yay! So happy your mom is visiting 🙂 Have an amazing time!!
Thanks Kelly!!
Oh this makes my heart happy. I’m so glad your mom could come for a visit. I’m sure you have tons of catching up to do! Enjoy it! XO
We do and working on it. Thanks Liz!
I hope that you enjoy every minute of your mom’s visit! I can’t imagine how excited you were for her to get here and meet Elliot!!! And this cake… omg! I’m so impressed that you made this gorgeous amazing looking dessert with the little guy.
I know!! She is in love with him lol!
3 years is a long time! I haven’t seen my mom in 5 weeks and I cannot WAIT to go home on break and see her 🙂 This cake looks beyond delicious!
Hhaha yeah it is long!!
All the layers in this cake are SO pretty! I seriously wish I could just eat a few slices for dinner! Pinned!
Thanks Taylor!! Dinner is appropriate indeed 🙂
WOW! Just wow! This cake is pure perfection! Those perfection lovely layers and the frosting – my mouth is watering! Pinned!
Thanks for sharing Jessica!
I am so happy you get to spend some time with your mom!! 3 years is such a long time, enjoy all your time with her!
And this cake? Seriously gorgeous!
Me too Jennifer!!
Girl, this cake is an absolute masterpiece! I’m in love with the flavors, all those glorious layers, the frosting, the swirls, and those adorable little candies! Such a great way to welcome your mom. Hope you are both enjoying 🙂
Thank you dear!!
I am so happy your mama is here. How wonderful to see the lady you love with the tiny little boy you love. This cake is filled with my favorites. Can’t wait to make it!
I know!! It’s been great!
Love that Starbucks drink, although I have to say their fall drinks are my new favorite until the season is over!
Yes the fall drinks always creep up my list at this time of the year!!
What a beautiful cake, Zainab. And I’m so happy for you!
Thanks Matt!
Omg that is one amazing cake! love the little candies on top, they are perfect on top of a cake indeed 🙂 Wish I had a slice right now!
The candies got me in trouble lol!
This cake is so gorgeous, Zainab. Have the best time with your mama!!
Thanks Tessa!!
Wow Zainab, what an incredible cake! It really is just gorgeous. I can tell how much time and effort went into this one! I am so excited for you that your Mom is there to visit and meet little Elliott!! Enjoy your time together!
Thank you Mary Ann!
What a beautiful cake! Enjoy your time with your mom!
Thanks Jessica!!
This cake is absolutely stunning!! Since it’s got coffee in, does that mean I can have it for breakfast? 😉
Oh gosh! This cake is a show stopper, Zainab. So beautiful and so delicious. I wish, I could have a BIG slice right away!
1-AWWWW YAYYYYYY FOR MAMAS! That’s so wonderful that your mom is in town and getting to soak up you and your lil man!
2-Michael got very jealous when he saw this cake and asked why it wasn’t here right now for him to eat 😛 It is sooo gorgeous and looks INCREDIBLE
You need to make this for him!!
You have some of the best cake decorating skills, Zainab, and they shine here. This cake is a stunner! I do have a thing for coffee and caramel, too. 🙂 And have a wonderful visit with your mother — that’s so nice she’s meeting her new grandson!
Thanks Marcie!
Hope you are having a wonderful time with your mom! I love a cake with layers because it means more frosting 🙂
So true!!!
So beautifully crafted and the flavor -yesss!!!
Thanks 🙂
This is incredible, Z! Love the flavors.
Thanks Jen!
You make some of the most beautiful cakes! I love anything with caramel in it. That caramel is calling my name.
Thanks dear!!
Yay for your mama visiting!!! This cake is perfection, what a great idea! The frosting also looks to die for!!!
Thanks Renee!
I’m drooling over this cake, Zainab! I hope you enjoy your time with you mama!
Thanks dear! Coming from you my cake hero..it means a lot 🙂
Oh dear, I know how exciting you must be to have your mom with you. I remembered those days when my parents lived so far away and we only saw each other every Christmas…if we’re lucky. So glad to have Mom with us these days. She’s currently on a vacay and coming back this Thursday. I think this cake is the best reason to welcome her back. Yum!
I will take just Christmas but it’s so hard!!
I stumbled across your blog recently and love it! Your recipes and photography are amazing! Thanks for sharing – my boyfriend would die for this cake 🙂
How long does it take for the buttercream to form? 🙁
Hi Kimberley, it usually takes about 5-7 minutes. I hope you were able to get it to work.
This looks delicious!
Quick question… finished cake shows 4 layers, directions say 3 pans and instructions speak to 3 layers when assembling….
I assume 3 – 8″ cakes would make 6 layers, but we could use 2 – 9″ to make 4 layers?
Thanks Carol, it’s a great cake. Yes, you can bake them in 2 9-inch pans or 3 8-inch pans as the directions suggest. I prefer to bake in 8-inch pans because you don’t have to slice the cakes which is what I did in the pictures. Just make sure you adjust the baking time (add 5-10 minutes) for 9-inch pans.
What kind of conversion would be needed for a 12 inch round cake pan? I’m making a 3 tiered wedding cake for a friend with this recipe layered with a generational family recipe for chocolate cake. The bottom tier is 12” and I have the pans but I want make sure I’m converting this properly. She’s my very best friend of 10 years so I’m very concerned about not messing it up lol
Hi Annie, what a sweet friend you are! I would triple the recipe and go from there. However, depending on the size of your mixer you might want to do a double batch which would bake at least two of the 12-inch round pans. Let me know how it turns out! Don’t forget to adjust your baking time, you will need more time for the bigger cake pan.
THIs cake looks very delicious. I made the cake itself last night and need to serve it tomorrow. Can I assemble it in advance and leave the extra caramel on the side? If so, should the cake be stored at room temperature or fridge? And same question for the extra caramel?
thanks!
Hi Sammi. I apologize for the late reply. I am sure it is too late now but yes you can assemble it the night before or even up to two days before and keep refrigerated. Just bring the cake back to room temperature when ready to serve. The same for the extra caramel too.
I can’t believe I only just stumbled across this recipe! Caramel macchiatos are my favorite thing and this cake looks AMAZING! I love the idea of using the brule bites as part of the decoration. Making this soon!
Oh yeah, this is one of my favorite cake recipes!!
This cake is perfect for my mom and grandma who love coffee! Is there any way to reduce the amount of coffee/caffeine in it? My grandma usually drinks decaf to control her blood pressure. I was thinking of taking away the espresso powder, but I noticed it’s baked in the cake. Does the powder affect the bake at all, or is it just for flavor?
You can skip the espresso and use just hot water. Or you can also just use decaf coffee as well.
We made this for our coffee-loving friend’s birthday party. It was a huge hit. All in all, this recipe is pretty good, although we did have a few issues with the caramel and the meringue frosting. The caramel wasn’t browning properly, but it did work out in the end. The meringue frosting did not work at all; stiff peaks were not forming, possibly due to leaving the mixture over simmering water. We ended up substituting with a simple buttercream (highly recommend) and it was delicious. Other than that, we would definitely recommend this recipe, the cake wasn’t overly dry, and the flavor combos were excellent. We thought it tasted even more like a caramel macchiato than the actual drink!
Thank you for the review. I appreciate hearing how these recipes turn out for people. Very happy to hear everyone enjoyed it.