• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

The Polka Dotter

Baking a bit of beauty into every day

  • Home
  • About
  • Recipe Index
  • Food Photography and Styling
  • FAQ
  • Contact

Chocolate Salted Caramel Brownie Cake + Fresh Figs

April 8, 2018 by Salma Leave a Comment

Chocolate Salted Caramel Brownie Cake + Fresh Figs
This sweet little layer cake is a few of my favourite flavours rolled into one. The salted caramel not only marries well with the rich dark chocolate brownie layers, but also perfectly complements the succulent fresh figs. One slice and you’ll be in chocolate caramel fig heaven!

Baking Notes

(1) If this is your first time making a layer cake or you encounter any problems while making it, I would highly recommend you refer to my post on Layer Cake Basics.

(2) If this is your first time making swiss meringue buttercream or you encounter any problems while making it, I would highly recommend you refer to my post on Swiss Meringue Buttercream Basics

(3) This cake is actually a teeny tiny 4” cake – the perfect size as a treat for 2-4 people. If you would like to treat a few more guests (8-12), I would suggest doubling the entire recipe (cake, frosting, salted caramel and figs) and bake the cake in two 6’ pans. Note that you will also need to bake the cakes for longer (approx. 45-50 mins).

(4) This recipe incorporates this Salted Caramel Sauce, the most delectable salted caramel sauce you will ever taste. But if you are short on time, you can purchase a good-quality salted caramel from your local speciality food store instead.

Chocolate Salted Caramel Brownie Cake + Fresh Figs | The Polka Dotter Chocolate Salted Caramel Brownie Cake + Fresh Figs | The Polka Dotter Chocolate Salted Caramel Brownie Cake + Fresh Figs | The Polka Dotter

Print

Chocolate Salted Caramel Brownie Cake + Fresh Figs

Chocolate Salted Caramel Brownie Cake + Fresh Figs | The Polka Dotter
Print Recipe

Makes a four layer 10cm (4”) cake and serves 2-4 people

Ingredients

Scale

Chocolate Brownie Cake

  • 100g unsalted butter
  • 100g good-quality dark chocolate
  • 100g (1/2 cup, firmly packed) muscavado or brown sugar
  • 75g (1/3 cup) caster sugar
  • 2 large eggs, at room temperature
  • 150g (1 cup) plain flour, sifted
  • 6 tbsp dutch-process cocoa, sifted
  • 1 tsp baking powder, sifted

Salted Caramel Swiss Meringue Buttercream

  • 2 large egg whites
  • 90g caster sugar
  • 125g unsalted butter, softened
  • 2–3 tbsp Salted Caramel Sauce

Decorations

  • 65ml (¼ cup) Salted Caramel Sauce
  • 3–4 large fresh figs, washed and sliced into quarters

Instructions

Chocolate Brownie Cake

  1. Preheat oven to (180°C/160°C fan-forced) and line two 10cm (4”) round baking pans with greaseproof paper.
  2. Melt butter and dark chocolate in small saucepan on low heat until smooth, then set aside to cool for 10 minutes.
  3. Place sugars and eggs in free-standing mixer with paddle attachment and beat until pale and smooth.
  4. Pour melted chocolate and butter mixture into beaten sugar and eggs, and beat until combined.
  5. Add 1/3 of the sifted plain flour and gently beat on low speed to combine, then the rest of the flour, cocoa and baking powder, until mixture is smooth. Take care not to overmix.
  6. Divide mixture between prepared cake pans, weighing each pan to ensure equal weight. Bake for approximately 35-40 minutes or until a cake tester inserted comes out clean. Allow to cool for 10-15 minutes in pans, then turn out and cool completely on a wire rack.

 Salted Caramel Swiss Meringue Buttercream

  1. Place egg whites and caster sugar in heatproof bowl over small saucepan of simmering water, ensuring the base of the bowl does not touch the water.
  2. Allow the sugar to dissolve, whisking intermittently, heating to 65°C to ensure egg whites are pasteurised.
  3. Allow mixture to cool to room temperature, then whisk in free-standing mixer until white, glossy, soft meringue peaks form.
  4. Very slowly add small 1cm cubes of softened butter, then salted caramel sauce to taste, and continue whisking until buttercream is light and fluffy.

Assembly

  1. Assembling this cake is easiest when the cake is slightly chilled, and the buttercream and salted caramel are at room temperature. The salted caramel should be thick but fluid, and can be warmed gently to allow smoother drips, but take care not to overheat as it will melt your buttercream.
  2. Level each cake by slicing off the cake domes, then cut them in half lengthways to yield four cake layers in total. Use the base of one layer for the base of the cake, and the base of the other layer (turned upside down) for the top of the cake to avoid crumbs in the buttercream.
  3. Place the first layer on a round cake plate or turn-table and spread a thin layer of buttercream on the top, smoothing with a palate knife. Repeat frosting between each cake layer.
  4. Cover the top and sides of the cake in a very thin layer of buttercream and smooth with a palate knife, allowing portions of the cake to remain visible, creating a semi-naked cake appearance. It can help to dip the palate knife in warm water then wipe clean to create a smoother “white-wash” appearance, although naked cakes generally have a rustic appeal so it does not need to be perfect.
  5. Drizzle salted caramel sauce slowly over the top of the cake, allowing a little to drip down over the sides.
  6. Decorate with fresh figs.

Enjoy!

Did you make this recipe?

Tag @thepolkadotter on Instagram and hashtag it #polkadotbakes

Chocolate Salted Caramel Brownie Cake + Fresh Figs | The Polka Dotter

Credits and Sources
Cake recipe adapted from Lomelino’s Cakes by Linda Lomelino

You may also like:
Peanut Butter Brownie Salted Caramel Crunch Cake
Gingerbread Cake with Salted Caramel
Spiced Orange Pistachio Cake + Fresh Figs & Ginger Syrup (gf)

Filed Under: Cakes Tagged With: Chocolate, Fig, Salted Caramel

Previous Post: « Spiced Orange Pistachio Cake + Fresh Figs & Ginger Syrup (gf)
Next Post: Lemon Myrtle Cheesecake + Roasted Macadamia Crust »

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

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

Recipe rating ★☆ ★☆ ★☆ ★☆ ★☆

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Primary Sidebar

Welcome!

Salma Sabdia | Food Photography

Hi, I’m Salma, and I love creating beautiful images and sweet treats. If you’re looking for a little baking inspiration, you’ve come to the right place.

SaveSave

  • Bloglovin
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest

Instagram

The intrigue of a single cake moment frozen in tim The intrigue of a single cake moment frozen in time 💕

Where swirling smoke trails whisper secret birthday wishes and salted caramel drips are forever suspended.

Where reality bleeds into art and back again.

Where a photo conjures up memories from the crevices or stirs those with joy floating right at the top. 

Where you can take a moment to just breathe and witness the beauty.

This is my little ode to you, my cake, and the joy of photography.

#layercake #saltedcaramelcake #figcake #earlgreycake #lavendercake #autumncake #autumnbaking #birthdaycandles #foodphotographyandstyling
Stepping inside a sea of sunflowers and enjoying a Stepping inside a sea of sunflowers and enjoying an amazing long lunch of local produce 🌻 

What do you think? Is it on your bucket list for next year’s sunflower festival? 

Thanks @kalbarsunflowers @richardousby @cancercouncilqld 

#sunflowerfield #sunflowerfarm #kalbarsunflowers #kalbarsunflowerfestival #kalbarsunflowers2023 #flowerfields #longlunch #scenicrim #explorequeensland #merrypeopleboots
Something delicious is launching soon 💕 Can you Something delicious is launching soon 💕 Can you guess the flavour?

#icecreamswirl #homemadeicecream #icecreamrecipe #autumnicecream #autumntreats #seasonalbaking #australianeggs #cookingwithcuisinart #foodstylingandphotography
Still sunflower scenes from the field of a million Still sunflower scenes from the field of a million golden giants 🌻 

#sunflowers🌻 #sunflowerfield #sunflowerfarm #kalbarsunflowers #kalbarsunflowerfestival #kalbarsunflowers2023 #flowerfields #flowerphotoshoot #scenicrim #explorequeensland
A little baking inspiration today for all my fello A little baking inspiration today for all my fellow fig lovers out there.

Is it just me or are figs one of the prettiest and most delicious fruits in existence? Doesn’t it look like the sun is setting right in the centre of this stunning fig? 

I love figs dearly, they come so perfectly packaged from nature. It does mean, however, they are usually devoured well before I have the chance to bake with them, let alone photograph them!

Occasionally I have a few extra that make their way into my cakes and desserts. Even then, I have a tendency to just slice them into slivers. Any extra fussing or cooking (apart from a quick brûlée for the very underripe ones), often never matches up to the flavour and beauty gifted straight from nature. 

Whether you prefer pairing them with rosewater and pistachio, blackberries, spiced pomegranate syrup, salted caramel, ricotta and honey, orange and ginger, labneh or anything in between, you can find your favourite fig recipe on the blog. Swipe for some beautiful ideas 💕

And I would love to know what’s your favourite way to enjoy the humble fig? One of these or do you have your own personal favourite? 😊

#figs #figcake #figcheesecake #saltedcaramelcake #minipavlova #layercakes #bakinginspo #weekendbaking #foodphotographyandstyling #harrisfarm
Step inside the most magical place 🌻 I had the Step inside the most magical place 🌻

I had the pleasure of attending the @kalbarsunflowers festival recently and was truly blown away by the breathtaking beauty of these majestic flowers. It’s one of those sights you think really can’t be as pretty as the pictures, but when you’re immersed in hundreds of thousands of flowers as tall as you, it really does feel like you’re walking right in the middle of a sunflower dream 😊

An amazing event that last year was the biggest fundraiser for the @cancercouncilqld!

How about you? Are you a sunflower lover? 🌻

#sunflowerfield #sunflowerfarm #kalbarsunflowerfestival #kalbarsunflowers2023 #flowerfields #flowerphotoshoot #scenicrim #explorequeensland #merrypeopleboots  #cancercouncil
Blackberry season is slowly ending but let it ling Blackberry season is slowly ending but let it linger a little while longer with these divine Blackberry & Chocolate Cupcakes.

Find the recipe on the blog | Link in profile

#blackberries #blackberrycake #chocolatecupcakes #purplecupcakes #creamcheesefrosting #weekendbaking #smallbatchbaking #edibleflowers #frostingcupcakes #foodstylingandphotography
Have you tasted this Honeycomb Lavender Chocolate Have you tasted this Honeycomb Lavender Chocolate Chip Ice Cream yet? It’s flecked with homemade honeycomb and dark chocolate chips swirled through a creamy honey base infused with lavender. And it is quite likely the best homemade ice cream you’ll ever eat. Your perfect weekend plan 😉

Head to the blog for the recipe | Link in profile

#honeylavender #honeyicecream #lavendericecream #lavenderhaze #honeycombicecream #homemadeicecream #icecreamrecipe #australianeggs #cookingwithcuisinart #foodstylingandphotography
A beautiful baking moment of meditation 💜 Fros A beautiful baking moment of meditation 💜

Frosting these lovely little chocolate cupcakes with blackberry cream cheese frosting and finishing with a flourish of dried cornflower petals.

Recipe for these luscious Blackberry and Chocolate Cupcakes is up on the blog now | Link in profile

#blackberries #blackberrycake #chocolatecupcakes #purplecupcakes #creamcheesefrosting #weekendbaking #smallbatchbaking #edibleflowers #frostingcupcakes #foodstylingandphotography
Follow @thepolkadotter on Instagram

Latest Blog Posts

Roasted Plum Swirl Ice Cream | The Polka Dotter
Blackberry & Chocolate Cupcakes | The Polka Dotter
Honey Lavender Ice Cream | The Polka Dotter
Rosewater Panna Cotta + Fresh Figs | The Polka Dotter
Chocolate Macadamia Black Sesame Cake | The Polka Dotter
strawberry-macadamia-mango-ice-cream-terrine
gingerbread-cookies-with-lemon-icing
macadamia-gingerbread-raspberry-trifle
Blood Orange + Earl Grey Bundt Cake | The Polka Dotter

Copyright © 2023 · Foodie Pro & The Genesis Framework