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Dulce de Leche Cake with Creamy Frosting and Salted Topping Recipe

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4 from 8 reviews

This Dulce de Leche Cake combines moist vanilla layers with luscious dulce de leche infused in both the batter and the frosting. Rich but balanced, this layered cake is topped with a smooth buttercream frosting and finished with a sweet-salty sprinkle of flake salt, delivering creamy caramel flavors perfect for any celebration.

Ingredients

Cake Batter

  • 2/3 cup unsalted butter (151g), room temperature
  • 1 cup granulated sugar (200g)
  • 3 large eggs, room temperature
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour (250g)
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 2/3 teaspoon salt
  • 3/4 cup whole milk (187g), at room temperature
  • 1 (14 oz) can dulce de leche, divided (half for batter, half for between layers)
  • 2 tablespoons sour cream

Dulce de Leche Buttercream Frosting

  • 1 1/2 cups unsalted butter (340g), slightly cold
  • 4 cups powdered sugar (480g)
  • 1 (14 oz) can dulce de leche, divided (half for frosting, half reserved as topping)
  • Milk (a little, if needed, to thin frosting)

Topping

  • Flake salt (optional)

Instructions

  1. Preheat and prepare pans: Preheat oven to 350°F. Line the bottoms of two 8-inch cake pans with parchment paper rounds and spray sides with nonstick spray. Set aside.
  2. Make cake batter: In a large mixing bowl or stand mixer with paddle attachment, cream together the butter and granulated sugar on medium-high speed for about 3 minutes until light and fluffy. Add vanilla extract. Then add eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition.
  3. Add sour cream and dulce de leche: With the mixer running on low, add sour cream and slowly add half the can of dulce de leche. Beat until the batter lightens in color and is thoroughly combined.
  4. Combine dry ingredients and wet alternately: In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Reduce mixer speed to low, alternately add dry mixture and milk to the batter beginning and ending with dry ingredients. Mix until just combined; avoid overmixing.
  5. Bake: Divide batter evenly between prepared pans. Bake for 23-25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean or with a few moist crumbs. Do not overbake to keep cake moist. Allow cakes to cool in pans for a few minutes, then invert onto wire racks to cool completely.
  6. Prepare frosting: In a stand mixer with paddle attachment, beat slightly cold butter until smooth. Gradually add powdered sugar and the remaining half can of dulce de leche. Beat for several minutes until frosting is very fluffy and smooth. Add a small amount of milk if frosting is too thick to spread easily.
  7. Assemble layers: Place one cake round on serving plate. Spread a thin layer of frosting on top. Warm half the second can of dulce de leche in microwave for a few seconds until slightly softened. Spread dulce de leche over the frosting layer, leaving a 1-inch border around edges. Top with the second cake round. Pipe frosting into the crack between the layers for stability.
  8. Crumb coat and chill: Frost the entire cake with a thin layer of frosting to seal in crumbs (crumb coat). Refrigerate cake for 20 minutes or freeze for 10 minutes to set the crumb coat.
  9. Finish frosting and decorate: Apply a final thicker layer of frosting over chilled crumb coat. Warm remaining dulce de leche in microwave briefly to soften. Smooth dulce de leche over the top of the cake leaving a 1-inch border. Pipe decorative frosting swirls around the top edge of the cake.
  10. Add finishing touch: Optionally, sprinkle a pinch of flake salt atop the dulce de leche finish for a gourmet sweet-salty contrast.

Notes

  • Do not overbake the cake to keep it moist and tender.
  • Use room temperature ingredients where specified to ensure smooth batter and frosting.
  • Heating the dulce de leche slightly makes it easier to spread evenly.
  • A crumb coat helps achieve a smooth final frosting finish with no crumbs.
  • Flake salt topping adds a sophisticated salty contrast but is optional.

Find it online: https://dishcooks.com/dulce-de-leche-cake-with-creamy-frosting-and-salted-topping-recipe/