• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
Cleverly Simple
  • Home
  • Recipes
    • Recipe Index (Search)
    • View ALL Recipes
    • Main Dishes
      • Beef
      • Chicken
      • Venison
      • Casseroles
      • Freezer Cooking
      • Pizza and Pasta
    • Appetizers and Snacks
    • Breakfast
    • Dessert
      • Cake
      • Cookies
      • Pies
    • Salad
    • Side Dishes
    • Slow Cooker
    • Soup
  • Farmhouse
    • Farmhouse Renovation
    • Farmhouse Living
  • About
    • Meet Lynette
    • Contact
    • Travel
  • Navigation Menu: Social Icons

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
menu icon
go to homepage
search icon
Homepage link
  • Home
  • Recipes
  • Farmhouse
  • About
×

Home » Recipes » Dessert Recipes » Cake Recipes » Caramel Cake

Caramel Cake

By Lynette on October 10, 2019 · Leave a Comment

Jump To Recipe Print Recipe
caramel cake with fork on white plate
caramel cake with fork on white plate

Easy caramel cake recipe using a box mix with a fluffy layer of homemade cream cheese frosting topped with a from-scratch caramel icing.  This old fashioned cake recipe is super simple to make for a crowd using a 9×13 pan.

caramel cake with fork on white plate

Who doesn’t like a caramel cake recipe that’s super easy to make?  I stumbled onto this recipe and thought to myself – this is so easy!  Made with a box mix like Lemon Lime Jello Poke Cake but topped with a homemade cream cheese icing and then made from scratch caramel, this recipe is quick to pull together because it’s semi-homemade.

caramel cake old fashioned recipe card

My grandma called it caramel dessert cake and it is simply that.  She made it for church dinners.  How do I know that?  On the back of the recipe card, she wrote when she served it.  I guess if it’s good enough for a church potluck you know it’s good enough for any event you need to bring a dessert to.

How to Make Caramel Cake

caramel cake box mix cake

Make the cake via box mix instructions and let cool.  I chose the butter pecan cake mix but next time I think I’ll go with the caramel cake mix.  Either way would be delicious.

Caramel Cake Frosting

caramel cake frosting on cake

The second layer is a homemade cream cheese frosting combining cool whip, cream cheese, and brown sugar.  Spread over the cooled cake.

Homemade Caramel Topping

homemade caramel cake sauce on top layer of cake

The third and final layer is a homemade caramel sauce created with butter, sour cream and brown sugar.  Bring the ingredients to a low boil stirring constantly and drizzle over the top of the cake.

caramel cake with cream cheese frosting and layer of caramel sauce

My grandma mentioned that this cake was delicious and she was right!  I placed the leftovers in the refrigerator and I liked this cake chilled as well as at room temperature.  Either way, you make this, caramel cake is a real crowd-pleaser.  Enjoy!

More Cake Recipes

  • Gooey Butter Cake Recipe
  • Homemade Chocolate Cake
  • Strawberry Angel Food Cake
Print
clock clock iconcutlery cutlery iconflag flag iconfolder folder iconinstagram instagram iconpinterest pinterest iconfacebook facebook iconprint print iconsquares squares iconheart heart iconheart solid heart solid icon

Caramel Cake

  • Author: Lynette
  • Prep Time: 10 minutes
  • Cook Time: 40 minutes
  • Total Time: 50 minutes
  • Yield: 18 1x
  • Category: Cake
  • Method: Bake
  • Cuisine: American
Print Recipe
Pin Recipe

Description

Easy caramel cake recipe using a box mix cake layered with a homemade cream cheese frosting and topped with a from scratch caramel sauce.


Ingredients

Scale

Caramel Cake Layer

  • 1 box cake mix (caramel or butter pecan cake mix)
  • vegetable oil, eggs and water according to box instructions

Caramel Cake Frosting Layer

  • 8 oz whipped topping (ex. Cool Whip)
  • 8 oz cream cheese, softened
  • ¾ Cup brown sugar

Homemade Caramel Sauce Layer

  • ¼ Cup butter
  • ½ Cup sour cream
  • ¾ Cup brown sugar

Instructions

Caramel Cake Layer: Make cake according to box instructions.  Bake in a 9×13 pan and let cool.

Caramel Cake Frosting Layer: Cream together the softened cream cheese and brown sugar.  Fold in the whipped topping.  Spread over cooled cake.

Homemade Caramel Sauce Layer: Bring ingredients to a low boil.  Remove from heat and drizzle over the top of cake.


Keywords: caramel cake, caramel cake frosting, homemade caramel cake

Did you make this recipe?

Tag @cleverlysimple on Instagram and hashtag it #cleverlysimple

« Turkey Tetrazzini Recipe
Easy Pizza Dough Recipe »

About Lynette

Lynette is the home cook, recipe tester and photographer for Cleverly Simple which she created in 2010.  Most of her recipes come from the treasured recipe box passed down from her great-grandma, grandmother, and mother.

Lynette’s recipes and projects have been featured in Country Living, Good Housekeeping, House Beautiful and others.

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe rating ★☆ ★☆ ★☆ ★☆ ★☆

Primary Sidebar

welcome image

Lynette Rice head shotHi, I’m Lynette. My desire is to help women who feel uninspired weave time honored recipes into their routines to create a sense of simplicity. Most of my recipes come from the treasured recipe box passed down from my great-grandma, grandmother and mother. And I want to share them with you.  Learn more.

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Join Me On Pinterest!

Visit Cleverly Simple 's profile on Pinterest.

Footer

Cleverly Simple logo

Copyright © 2010 – 2021, Cleverly Simple®. All Rights Reserved.

No content on this site may be reused in any fashion without written permission. By using this site, you are agreeing to the site’s terms of use. Cleverly Simple® is a registered trademark of Cleverly Simple, LLC.

  • About
  • Contact
  • PR/Media
  • Disclosure/Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use

Copyright © 2022 CLEVERLY SIMPLE