Caramel Swirl Cake with Fudge Frosting

People talk a lot about being hangry.  I’ve been hangry now and then, mostly when I tried intermittent fasting for a very short while (very short – I was basically a monster), but it’s honestly pretty rare for me.

However I do go in phases when I get hanxious.  That’s my non-trademarked term (although perhaps I should rethink that) for a combination of hungry and anxious.  Most of the time, this doesn’t happen to me, but when conditions are just right, I basically convince myself the apocalypse is coming.

So much fun, I know.

This tends to happen when I am, well, hungry, and I’ve been out having fun and have had too much coffee (but I love coffee).  And once some of the caffeine wears off and I eat something, it passes.  It’s just kind of weird that being hungry leads my brain down an anxiety spiral sometimes, but I guess we all have strange things happen now and then.

This caramel swirled cake with fudge frosting is definitely a good way to beat being hangry or hanxious.  The cake itself is a total delight with flecks of vanilla and tons of complex caramel.  The flavors are out of this world, so warm and comforting.  Dare I say it almost doesn’t need frosting???

But I mean you’ll probably make the frosting, because frosting.  It’s basically good enough to eat with a spoon in all its rich, decadent fudgy glory.  Swoosh it on, and the flavor combination is incredible.  Maybe I better go grab a piece before a hanxious attack strikes.

Caramel Swirl Cake with Fudge Frosting

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★★★★★

5 from 1 review

• Author: Laura
• Total Time: 55 minutes
• Yield: 18 servings 1x

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Description

A decadent vanilla cake with a swirl of caramel, slathered in fudge frosting.

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Ingredients

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Cake

¾ cup coconut oil, room temperature

¼ cup olive oil

2/3 cup maple sugar

2 teaspoons vanilla bean powder

3 large eggs

2 ½ cups paleo flour blend (2 cups almond flour, 1 ¼ cup tapioca starch, ¾ cup coconut flour)

1 ½ teaspoons baking powder

¼ teaspoon baking soda

1 1/3 cups unsweetened almond milk

¾ cup homemade salted caramel sauce

Fudge frosting

¼ cup carob or cocoa powder

1/3 cup coconut sugar

1 tablespoon espresso powder

2 tablespoons honey

2/3 cup heavy cream

¼ teaspoon sea salt

6 ounces carob or dark chocolate, finely chopped

2 tablespoons coconut butter

2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract

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Instructions

Make the cake.  Preheat oven to 350 degrees F/325 degrees F convection.  Oil a 9 by 13 inch pan.

In a large bowl, beat oils, sugar, and vanilla until well combined and lightened in color and texture.  Beat in the eggs one at a time followed by half of the flour.  Stir in the milk, then finish the batter with the remaining flour and baking soda and powder.

Pour half the batter into the prepared pan, then drizzle with half the caramel.  Gently swirl it in.  Pour the remaining batter over the caramel, then pour over the rest of the caramel and gently swirl it in.  Bake for about 30 minutes until golden and risen and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean or with a few crumbs.  Cool completely in the pan.

When the cake is cool, make the frosting.  In a medium microwave safe bowl, place the carob or cocoa powder, sugar, espresso, honey, cream, salt, and carob or chocolate.  Microwave on high in 30 second increments, stirring in between, until fully melted.  Stir in the butter and vanilla.  Pour over the cake and allow to set for at least 30 minutes before slicing and serving.  Cake may be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days or frozen, wrapped in parchment and foil and placed in a zipper bag, for up to 3 months.  Thaw in the microwave about 1 minute.

Notes

Recipe adapted from Half Baked Harvest

• Prep Time: 25 minutes
• Cook Time: 30 minutes