Bar One Chocolate Caramel Cake

This Bar One Chocolate Caramel Cake is for serious chocolate lovers only. This delicious cake is made from two layers of chocolate sponge sandwiched with homemade caramel and covered in a decadent Bar One chocolate frosting.

If you love chocolate and caramel desserts, don't miss these Dulce de Leche Cupcakes!

Bar One chocolates are a South African staple! And if you'd like to try out more South African Desserts, you can't skip this Peppermint Crisp Caramel Tart or this Traditional Malva Pudding.

Key Ingredients

• Sunflower oil - This cake uses oil and butter for extra moistness! Use a neutral-tasting vegetable oil, like sunflower or canola.
• Self-raising flour - If you can't find self-raising flour, you can use cake flour or all-purpose flour mixed with baking powder.
• Unsalted butter - It is essential that you use room-temperature butter.
• Dark chocolate - The frosting uses a combination of Bar Ones and dark chocolate; the dark chocolate balances out the sweetness of the Bar Ones. I used 70% Lindt chocolate.
• Bar One - This is an essential ingredient in this recipe; it is used in the frosting and to decorate the top of the cake. If you can't find any, then Mars Bars will also work. 
• Whipping cream - I love adding cream to my frosting for extra fluffiness, but if you don't have any open, whole milk will also work.

See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.

Variations

Chocolate cake recipes don't get better than this one! But if you feel this recipe needs something extra, you can always add sliced Bar One bars on top of the caramel before adding the second layer of cake. The frosting can also be made with just Bar Ones if you prefer sweeter bakes. Instead of making the caramel, you could use Nestle caramel treat. 

I know you're going to fall in love with this chocolate cake recipe, so try out one of my many Buttercream Frosting Recipes and turn this cake into a flavour combination of your own! 

How to Make a Bar One Chocolate Caramel Cake

Make the Chocolate Cake Layers

1. Step 1: Preheat the oven to 180°C (350°F) and line 2 x 22cm (9 inches) round cake tins with oil and parchment paper. Add the oil, butter, and sugar to a bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment. Beat at medium to high speed until light and fluffy, for about 4 minutes.

2. Step 2: Add the eggs to the butter and sugar mixture one at a time. Beat well between each addition and scrape down the sides of the bowl often.

3. Step 3: Sift together the salt, cocoa, and self-raising flour, then add the flour mixture to the egg and sugar mixture. Beat at low speed until just combined.

4. Step 4: Add the sour cream, warm coffee, and vanilla extract to a jug and whisk to combine. Slowly pour this into the cake mixture while the mixer is running at low speed. Scrape down the sides of the bowl and mix again, making sure it is lump-free.

5. Step 5: Divide the cake batter between the two prepared cake pans and bake in a preheated oven for 35 minutes or until a cake tester inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean.

6. Step 6: Allow the cakes to cool in their tins for 20 minutes before turning them onto a wire rack to cool completely. 

Make the Caramel Filling

1. Step 1: Add the sugar to a medium-sized saucepan set over medium heat. Whisk continuously until the sugar has melted.

2. Step 2: Once melted, stop whisking and allow the sugar to turn a light amber caramel color. Be careful not to burn the sugar.

3. Step 3: When the mixture is amber, remove it from the heat and add the cream, whisking until incorporated.

4. Step 4: Slowly add the cubed butter to the caramel, one block at a time, whisking as you go. Once the butter has been added, continue whisking until it has fully melted. Add the salt to the caramel and whisk to combine. Pour the caramel into a glass jar and let it cool to room temperature.

Make the Bar One Frosting & Decorate

1. Step 1: In a heatproof bowl set over a pan of simmering water, melt the dark chocolate, Bar Ones, and butter. The Bar One bars will take time to melt; be careful not to burn them. Help the process along by using a rubber spatula to mix and press the lumps of nougat against the sides of the bowl to break them down. Set aside to cool slightly, then add the melted chocolate mixture to a bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a whisk attachment. Add the golden syrup and vanilla extract to the chocolate mixture and mix briefly.

2. Step 2: Sift half of the icing sugar over the frosting mixture and whisk to combine. 

3. Step 3: Add the sour cream and beat until the frosting is well combined and homogeneous. It will look lumpy at first, just continue beating. 

4. Step 4: Sift over the remaining icing sugar and beat at medium-high speed until the frosting is fluffy. With the mixer running at medium-high speed, add the cream 1 tablespoon at a time, beating until fluffy. Add the frosting to a piping bag.

5. Step 5: Secure the first cake layer to a cake plate with a thin layer of frosting. Pipe a layer of frosting over the cake surface, then smooth it with an offset spatula. Pipe a ring of frosting around the bottom cake layer's circumference, then fill it with the cooled caramel filling.

6. Step 6: Place the second layer of cake on top of the first layer, with the cut side facing down. Pipe the frosting over the top and sides of the cake, then use a knife to create swirls. Slice up the Bar One bars and arrange them on top of the cake. Slice, serve, and enjoy!

Storage

Store any leftover cake in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 4 days. If it is very hot, then store this cake in the fridge.

Bar One Chocolate Caramel Cake FAQs

More Easy Birthday Cake Recipe Ideas

As far as filling the brief of a chocolate birthday cake recipe, this one nails it! It has all the elements of a great cake. Moist chocolate cake layers, a surprise center, and a frosting so delicious you could eat it by the spoonful. If you are looking for more birthday treats to serve, take a look at my Easy Cookies and Biscuits Recipes and don't miss these Smarties Cookies!