🍫🍓 Chocolate Layer Cake with Caramel & Strawberries
📝 Intro
This cake is where luxury meets comfort — moist layers of rich chocolate cake, smooth homemade caramel, and juicy fresh strawberries come together in perfect harmony. It’s the ultimate centerpiece for birthdays, holidays, or romantic occasions.
Every bite is a beautiful contrast of flavor and texture: soft, sweet, rich, and just a little bit tart. 😍
🍽️ Ingredients
🧁 For the Chocolate Cake (2 or 3 layers – 8 or 9-inch pans):
• 200 g (1 cup) granulated sugar
• 150 g (¾ cup) brown sugar
• 180 g (1½ cups) all-purpose flour
• 75 g (⅔ cup) unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1½ tsp baking powder
• 1½ tsp baking soda
• ½ tsp salt
• 2 large eggs
• 240 ml (1 cup) buttermilk (or milk + 1 tbsp lemon juice)
• 120 ml (½ cup) vegetable oil
• 2 tsp vanilla extract
• 240 ml (1 cup) hot coffee or hot water (enhances chocolate flavor)
🍯 For the Caramel Sauce:
• 200 g (1 cup) granulated sugar
• 60 ml (¼ cup) water
• 120 ml (½ cup) heavy cream (warm)
• 2 tbsp unsalted butter
• Pinch of salt (for salted caramel)
🍓 For the Filling & Topping:
• 300 ml (1¼ cups) heavy whipping cream (cold)
• 2 tbsp powdered sugar
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 200–300 g (1½ cups) fresh strawberries, sliced
• Extra strawberries for decoration
• Optional: Crushed nuts or chocolate shavings
👩🍳 Instructions
1. Make the Chocolate Cake
1 Preheat oven to 175°C / 350°F. Grease and line your cake pans.
2 In a large bowl, whisk together dry ingredients: flour, cocoa, sugars, baking powder, baking soda, salt.
3 Add eggs, buttermilk, oil, and vanilla. Mix until smooth.
4 Stir in hot coffee or water — batter will be thin.
5 Pour evenly into pans. Bake for 25–30 minutes.
6 Cool completely, then slice into layers if needed.
2. Make the Caramel Sauce
1 In a saucepan, combine sugar and water over medium heat. Stir until sugar dissolves.
2 Stop stirring and let it boil until it turns amber.
3 Remove from heat and slowly whisk in warm cream (careful: it will bubble).
4 Add butter and a pinch of salt. Let cool.
3. Make Whipped Cream
1 Beat cold cream with powdered sugar and vanilla until stiff peaks form.
2 Keep chilled until assembly.
4. Assemble the Cake
1 Place first cake layer on a plate.
2 Spread whipped cream evenly, drizzle caramel over it, and add sliced strawberries.
3 Repeat with the next layers.
4 Top with whipped cream, drizzle more caramel, and pile on fresh strawberries.
5 Chill for at least 1 hour before serving.
❄️ Serving Tip
Cut with a hot knife for clean slices. Serve with a little extra caramel on the side. 🍮