Caramel mud layer cake
Decorated with an easy 'naked' butter cream frosting, vienna almonds and a sprinkle of edible flowers, this four-layer caramel mud cake will make an eye-catching centrepiece at any event. Simply stunning!
- 25 mins preparation
- 1 hr 45 mins cooking
- Serves 12
Ingredients
- 500 gram unsalted butter, softened
- 500 gram white eating chocolate
- 2 1/2 cup firmly packed dark brown sugar
- 2 cup hot water
- 1/4 cup golden syrup
- 6 eggs
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- 2 1/2 cup plain flour
- 2 1/2 cup self-raising flour
- vienna almonds, edible flowers, to serve
- 250 gram unsalted butter, softened
- 3 cup icing sugar mixture, sifted
- 1/4 cup milk
- 2 drops pink food colouring
Method
- 1Preheat oven to 150°C. Lightly grease 2 x deep 20cm round cake pans. Line bases and sides with baking paper.
- 2In a large, heavy-based saucepan combine butter, chocolate, sugar, water and syrup. Stir over a low heat until smooth and combined (do not boil). Transfer to a bowl. Allow to cool.
- 3Using an electric mixer, beat eggs and vanilla into mixture. Fold in combined sifted flours. Divide mixture between pans.
- 4Bake for 1 hour and 30 minutes until a skewer inserted comes out clean. Cool in pan for 10 minutes before turning onto a wire rack to cool completely.
- 5Use a serrated knife to level the cakes. Halve each cake horizontally.
- 6Meanwhile, to make buttercream; in a bowl, using an electric mixer, beat butter until pale. Gradually add half icing sugar until combined. Beat in milk and remaining icing sugar until smooth. Transfer half icing to a bowl and tint pale pink with a little food colouring.
- 7Fill cakes with un-tinted buttercream. Using pink butter cream roughly ice around top and sides of cake.
- 8Serve cake topped with vienna almonds and edible flowers.
Notes
To make vienna almonds preheat oven to 180°C. Line an oven tray with baking paper. Arrange 250g whole blanched almonds on baking tray. Bake for 10-15 minutes, until light golden. In a medium, heavy-based saucepan, combine 1/2 cup sugar, 1/4 water and 1 teaspoon vanilla bean paste. Stir over medium heat until sugar dissolves. Bring to boil. Cook, without stirring, for 8-12 minutes, until just golden around the edges. Add almonds to toffee with 2 teaspoons butter, gently stirring to coat. Pour onto tray. Use a wooden spoon to spread into a single layer. Set aside for at least 30 minutes. Break up toffee-coated nuts and store in an airtight container.