Salty Caramel Drenched Double Chocolate Loaf Cake.
Do you know what it’s like to stand barefoot in your kitchen and eat freshly bubbling caramel sauce off of a spoon?
Neither do I. Because I wore socks.
But I do have taste buds so burnt that even a whole jalapeno couldn’t bring me to shed a tear.
Back in the day of purple silk shirts and paisley vests, after I’d spend 3 hours hopping over my Skip It in my glittery pink jelly shoes, my mom and I used to make this cake that we called turtle cake. Now that I’m an immature 28 year old, it has dawned on me that this cake is probably what some refer to as better-than-sex cake. Back then, the only thing that I assumed was better than sex was the new Lisa Frank folder I bought at Ames.
It was evident that I spent a little too much time eating this turtle cake – with the fluffy chocolate cloud that we poked holes in with the end of a wooden spoon, covering it in jarred caramel sauce that sunk into the cake crevices and topping it with a fluffy whipped cream and a sprinkling of crushed Heath bars – as my favorite rolled jean shorts began to fray and I’d start to resemble a cased sausage. The cake was best chilled, and long after I’d changed into my New Kids on the Block nightgown I’d find myself creeping towards the fridge, opening the door and plunging my fork into the cool, gooey treat.
Clearly times haven’t changed much.
Except I finally made my own caramel. It was easy. And creamy. And holy heavens was it hot. I used it to drench a chocolate cake that I’ve made before and devoured in a matter of hours. Not helpful to that whole cased sausage look.
Double Chocolate Loaf Cake
from Nigella’s chocolate loaf cake
1 2/3 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 cup cocoa
1 1/3 cups sugar
1 1/2 sticks soft unsalted butter
2 eggs
1 tablespoon good-quality vanilla extract
1/3 cup sour cream
1/2 cup boiling water
1 cup chocolate chips
Preheat the oven to 325 degrees, putting in a baking sheet as you do so.
Add the flour, baking soda, cocoa, sugar, butter, eggs, vanilla, and sour cream into the processor and blend until smooth. Scrape down the sides and process again while streaming in boiling water.. Remove lid and fold in chocolate chips.
Scrape and pour the batter into a buttered and floured loaf pan and put into the oven. Bake for 50-55 minutes. When ready, the loaf will be risen and split down the middle. Let cake cool, then poke holes throughout the top with a fork or knife. Press all the way down into the cake so the caramel sauce can sink in.
Salty Caramel Sauce
caramel from Ina Garten
1 1/2 cups sugar
1/3 cup water
1 1/4 cups heavy cream
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon sea salt, crushed until fine
Mix water and sugar in a saucepan and heat over low heat without stirring until sugar dissolves. Increase the heat to medium-high, allowing the mixture to come to a boil. This will take about 5-7 minutes, and you can occasionally swirl the pan to stir. Once a golden amber color, remove heat and add cream, vanilla and salt – it will bubble up. Turn heat back down to low and stir continuously until mixture is smooth. Remove from heat and let sit at room temperature for 2-4 hours where it will thicken.
Once cool, drizzle over chocolate cake, making sure to hit all of the poked holes so the caramel sinks down in. Serve with additional caramel.
It.is.good. Almost better than a Lisa Frank folder, if you know what I mean.
140 Comments on “Salty Caramel Drenched Double Chocolate Loaf Cake.”
Wow! This looks amazing…. I’ve been searching for the perfect salted caramel sauce forever, thank you for posting this one – can’t wait to try it out :)
I want this. now.
i think i need to stop reading your blog this week while i do my no sugar thing.
I have made that chocolate loaf cake a few different times and it was awesome. Girl, this takes it over the top! I can’t wait to try it!
Oh.Buh.Geez. This looks fantastic!
Btw, I’ll be at the NKTOBSB concert (FRONT ROW!!) when it comes to Houston! Be jealous. :)
Oh Lisa Frank, how I was so obsessed with every sticker you ever made…I HAD to have them all, not to mention the folders, pens, etc!!!
I forgot about the stickers!!
Oh lordy. Lisa Frank, NKOTB and salted caramel in one post? In loooove!
I need a moment alone with this cake please.
Hahaha wow jelly shoes, NKOTB and Lisa Frank folders…ohhhh memories!
This looks SO good (as usual with everything you create) and I’m trying to see everything I’ve missed with your blog…and Lisa Frank folders?! I used to love those! :D
this sounds incredible! cannot wait to try this recipe :)
ps. the Lisa Frank folder comment just took me WAY back
Oh my gosh…if I wasn’t going to Cancun in a week I would be running out the door to pick up supplies for this! We’re in the process of moving and when we have a housewarming party this will be on the menu! Skip its were pretty much the coolest things ever…excuse me…are pretty much the coolest thing ever!
Pack me in your suitcase?
This is my favorite combination of flavors! And now you’ve given me yet a new way to make it.
And yes, I do know what it’s like to eat bubbling caramel off the stove. A bad idea. But it just seems like such a good one before it burns your tongue off.
Did you know you can caramelize white chocolate? And then pour it over a cake like this. And then still put the caramel sauce on it.
Learn something new everyday!
And THIS is why I love you. It’s also why I may not mind if it’s not warm enough for bathing suits just yet…if YOU know what I mean :)
I’m not minding one bit either…
I loved Lisa Frank. Thanks for the flashback. And of course you know what it’s like to stand around in your kitchen licking caramel sauce off a spoon. I wouldn’t have expected anything different from you. :-)
Mmm I love that you use sour cream with the chocolate base gives it that slight tang. mmm mmm! :)
Oh I remember Lisa Frank, I probably still have an old Lisa Frank trapper keeper some where in my parent’s house. This cake looks so delicious! I love salted caramel :)
Ahaha, I love all the 80s references (and your Lisa Frank euphemism) in this post. I made my own caramel a few weeks ago for some brownies, and I burned the snot out of my tongue, too. I’m pretty sure it was worth it.
Always worth it!
This is my favorite cake that you make actually…and I can’t wait to try it like this…oh…and LISA FRANK!!!! HA!
Chocolate + Caramel… Say no more – I’m already in love. :)
Oh dear god!!! I need to make this cake!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Will be doing it this weekend! Looks delish!!!! x
I used to wonder how on earth anyone could call a cake by such a name, but after many years of marriage….um yeah. Not ALWAYS, mind you, but SOMETIMES I just prefer cake.
Looks amazing as always!! :)
Every time you post these recipes I go into a dream like state where I pretend to be eating them….I’m not kidding.
I can actually say yes to that first question! That cakes looks fabulous!!
yes I do know what it is like to be eating salted caramel off a spoon with bare feet. Purely amazing :)
oh and I had all the cool school supplies and backpacks, my dad works for a company that designs them. I might be 18 an still use a “spidey” notebook ;)
Holy MOLY! I am making this-I love caramel!!
That cake looks so AMAZING! My mom made the same cake that yours did only instead of caramel sauce, she would use sweetened condensed milk. It was a sugar bomb and I loved it!
Holy Yum. Holy Yum. Holy Yum.
I just died laughing at the lisa frank reference
I don’t believe that you look like a cased sausage, yet I do not know how that is possible with all these delicious recipes you post. How do you do it? Really? Do you have super powers?
I’m in love with this post. That is all.
I don’t know. I’m a huge fan of Lisa Frank folders. I can’t get enough of them, in fact. ;)
YUMMM you had me at the title of the post. Because of you, I have been baking more! Something I never thought I would enjoy… I don’t know if I should thank you or slap you.
Woah!! That cake looks so decadent and delicious! I’m definitely bookmarking this recipe. :D
Thank you, thank you, thank you for mentioning Ames in this post. I jsut had about 10,000 flashbacks to wandering the aisles at age three….
Oh, and…. OHMIGOD THAT CAKE.WUT??????
good golleeeee guurl~~what are ya’ trying to do to me?? i am in love with this cake—already and i have not even made it yet!!! your so darn funeeee that i laugh and giggle the entire time i read some of your posts!!! keep up the AWESOME writing and FANTASTIC recipes!!!!!!!!!!woootwooot!!!
are you kidding me! good lord and I just must have a bite. So funny that you have carmel feet. ;) this is just a great recipe. :)
I don’t know if I am brave enough to make this, because how do you stop on one slice?!?!?
Great, now my sweet tooth is acting up. I just HAVE to make this salty caramel sauce. Have. to.
Turtle cake? I love turtles even more than Lisa Frank folders and LF folders were the greatest brightest thing ever! This cake looks like something I need in my life.
Haha, my mom just dropped off a bunch of my old stuff at Easter, including several Lisa Frank folders. ;-) This cake looks amazing…and I am inspired to finally make my own caramel sauce!
Can I move in and have you cook for me? Our husband’s can share their love for silly things like Nascar, Wrestling and large amounts of meat. :)
holy moley. these pictures could make me drool at my desk!
i would trade up sex for this cake, anyday! :-)
Looks amazing. I LOVE CARAMEL!
Better than Sex cake has been a staple in my family for years. I have a 7 year old brother. He calls this cake “sexy cake”
we let him :) Because, let’s face it, the cake is so delicious it’s basically sexy :)
I want to lick the top of that cake. But it was the title that hooked me. Salt Caramel Drenched Double Chocolate Loaf Cake?? It brought a tear to my eye.
YOU ARE SOOOO FUNNY!!!!! HAHA!!!
I had a hot pink Skip It, sparkley purple jelly sandels, AND all the Lisa Frank tiger and unicorn folders. Yeah, I was pretty awesome. And this cake looks absolutely amazing!
Oh. My. Word. How did I not see this post yesterday?? This cake looks incredible!!
I was showing recipe to one of our Pastry Chefs. She wants to know about the shoes. Who makes them and where did you get them from? I love salted caramel! I also love salted hot fudge too!
Hahaha… I got them at Nordstrom – they are Vince Camuto!
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