Buttermilk Sheet Cake with Caramel Icing is a super easy to make version of the southern classic, Caramel Cake. There are few southern desserts more loved than Caramel Cake and this caramel cake recipe is one of the most popular recipes on Spicy Southern Kitchen.

Slice of Buttermilk Sheet Cake with Caramel Icing on small plate.

But Caramel Cake can be a little challenging to make and labor intensive. Thankfully, this Buttermilk Sheet Cake with Caramel Icing is a breeze to make. It has the delicious flavor of a caramel cake, but in a much easier to make from that is perfect for bringing to potlucks. Plus the caramel icing is a cinch to make. No boiling needed.

Slice of cake on a plate with rest of sheet cake in background.

Easy Caramel Icing

The icing can be made in just a few minutes. Just melt some butter in a saucepan. Remove it from the heat and whisk in some brown sugar and milk and then some powdered sugar.

It doesn’t have a deep caramel flavor that you’d get from a more labor intensive recipe. But it does have a light and buttery caramel flavor that is perfect for this tender and moist buttermilk sheet cake.

Storage

Can be stored at room temperature for 5 days. Make sure you wrap it well or place it in an airtight container so it doesn’t dry out.

Slice of Buttermilk Sheet Cake with Caramel Icing.

More Sheet Cake Recipes

Watch the short video below to see how easy this recipe is to make.

 


Buttermilk Sheet Cake with Caramel Icing

5 from 4 votes
Prep: 15 minutes
Cook: 35 minutes
Total: 50 minutes
Servings: 16
Buttermilk Sheet Cake with Caramel Icing is a tender and moist sheet cake covered with a super easy caramel flavored icing. Perfect for potlucks!
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Ingredients

Cake Batter

  • 3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) butter, softened
  • 1 3/4 cups sugar
  • 3/4 teaspoon salt
  • 2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 4 large eggs
  • 2 egg yolks
  • 1 1/2 cups buttermilk
  • 2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour

Icing

  • 6 tablespoons (3/4 stick) butter
  • 1 cup packed light brown sugar
  • 1/4 cup milk
  • 1 3/4 cup powdered sugar

Instructions 

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray a 13×9-inch pan with baking spray.
  • Using an electric mixer, beat butter, sugar, salt, baking powder, and vanilla until light and fluffy, at least 5 minutes.
  • Add the eggs and yolks one at a time, beating well after each addition.
  • Mix in buttermilk just until incorporated.
  • Add  flour and mix just until incorporated. Scrape down the sides of the bowl to make sure everything is evenly mixed.
  • Pour batter into prepared pan. Bake for 35 minutes, or until cake springs back when pressed lightly in the middle. Cool.
  • Melt the butter in a saucepan over low heat. Turn heat off and whisk in brown sugar and milk until the sugar is dissolved.
  • Stir in powdered sugar until smooth. Slowly pour over cooled cake. You can let it cool slightly if too runny, but don’t let it cool too much or it will be difficult to spread on the cake.

Nutrition

Calories: 428kcal

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Did you make this?Leave a comment below and tag us @spicysouthernkitchen on social media!

Recipe adapted from The Kentucky Fresh Cookbook

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links.

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9 Comments

  1. Hagewood rosie@gmail.com says:

    Thanks so much for sharing. Hoping to purchase a cookbook one day. Be blessed.

    1. Christin Mahrlig says:

      ๐Ÿ™‚

  2. Michelle Rouse says:

    This cake is AMAZING!!! Make itโ€ผ๏ธโ€ผ๏ธโ€ผ๏ธ add some caramel extract/flavoring and some butter flavoring to the batter thank me later ๐Ÿ˜‰

  3. Sara Gibbs says:

    I really like the recipe for gatherings. The only tweak I made was to use dark brown sugar (more for my liking). Otherwise great recipe!

  4. Caroline says:

    I just made the cake and itโ€™s in the oven right now Iโ€™ll let you know after it cools and Iโ€™ll make the frosting.

  5. Marva says:

    hello, when the recipe says 4 eggs and 2 egg yolks, are you meaning a total of 6 eggs or just the yolk of the 4 added separately (Add the eggs and yolks one at a time). thanks, I love caramel cake prepared in every way.

    1. Christin Mahrlig says:

      Use 4 whole eggs plus 2 yolks.

  6. Cynthia says:

    So good! So easy! Everyone loved it โค๏ธ

  7. Courtney says:

    Tried this after my husband and I loved your Turkey tetrizinni last night. Cake and icing turned out very well. Thanks for the post!