Description
Gooey Coffee Caramel Cake featuring rich caramel, fragrant coffee, and decadent gooey texture. A comforting crowd-pleaser perfect for any occasion.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1½ cups granulated sugar
- ¼ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 cup whole milk
- 2 large eggs, room temperature
- ½ cup unsalted butter, melted
- 2 tablespoons instant espresso powder (or 3 tablespoons instant coffee)
- 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
- 1 cup brown sugar, packed
- ¾ cup heavy cream
- ¼ cup unsalted butter
- 1 tablespoon instant espresso powder
- ½ teaspoon sea salt
Instructions
- Step 1: Prepare Your Workspace Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and position a rack in the middle. Generously grease a 9×13-inch baking dish, paying special attention to the corners. Gather all ingredients on your counter, measured and ready to go—this makes the process smooth and prevents forgetting any components of your **Gooey Coffee Caramel Cake**.
- Step 2: Make the Cake Batter In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, granulated sugar, cocoa powder, baking powder, and salt until well combined. In a separate bowl, dissolve the espresso powder in 2 tablespoons of hot water, then add milk, eggs, melted butter, and vanilla extract. Whisk the wet mixture until smooth. Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and stir just until combined—about 40-50 strokes with your spatula. Don’t overmix; a few small lumps are perfectly fine.
- Step 3: Prepare the Caramel In a medium saucepan, combine the brown sugar, heavy cream, butter, espresso powder, and salt. Heat over medium-low, stirring constantly until the butter melts and sugar dissolves completely. Once the mixture begins to simmer around the edges, remove from heat immediately. It should coat the back of a spoon but still be pourable.
- Step 4: Assemble and Bake Pour the cake batter into your prepared baking dish, spreading it evenly with a spatula. Slowly pour the warm caramel mixture over the batter. Don’t stir—the magic of this **Gooey Coffee Caramel Cake** happens as it bakes! The caramel will partially sink and create pockets of gooey goodness. Bake for 35-40 minutes, until the cake’s center is set but still slightly jiggly and a toothpick inserted 2 inches from the edge comes out with moist crumbs.
- Step 5: Cool and Serve Allow your cake to cool for at least 15 minutes before serving—the caramel is extremely hot right out of the oven. As it cools, the **Gooey Coffee Caramel Cake** will settle, with the caramel creating that signature luscious layer. Serve warm for maximum gooeyness, with a scoop of vanilla ice cream if you’re feeling indulgent.
Notes
Fresh ingredients will always yield the best flavor results.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 380 calories per serving
- Sugar: 30 grams
- Sodium: 300 mg
- Fat: 15 grams
- Saturated Fat: 9 grams
- Unsaturated Fat: 5 grams
- Trans Fat: 0 grams
- Carbohydrates: 55 grams
- Fiber: 1 gram
- Protein: 5 grams
- Cholesterol: 80 mg