Gingerbread Cake with Salted Caramel

Gingerbread Cake

1. Preheat oven to 180°C (160°C fan-forced) and grease or line two 15cm (6”) cake tins with greaseproof paper.
2. Melt butter in a small saucepan, add milk and cream and stir over low heat until smooth. Do not allow to boil. Set aside.
3. Place eggs and sugar in free-standing mixer with paddle attachment and beat on medium speed until pale (approximately 3-5 mins).
4. Add golden syrup to eggs and sugar, then grated ginger, and continue to mix until smooth.
5. Sift flour, baking soda, spices and salt together in a large bowl.
6. Add 1/3 of the flour mixture to eggs and sugar mixture, and mix on low speed until smooth, then add 1/3 of the butter mixture. Continue to alternate between adding the dry and wet ingredients into the batter and mix on low speed until smooth. Scrape the bowl with a spatula between each addition and take care not to overbeat.
7. Divide batter evenly between cake tins, weighing the tins using a kitchen scale to ensure equal volume.
8. Bake in pre-heated oven for approximately 40-45 minutes, or until a cake tester comes out clean.

Salted Caramel Sauce

1. Heat cream in a small saucepan over low-medium heat until hot and steamy, then remove from heat while caramelising sugar as below.
2. Melt 1/3 of the caster sugar in a medium saucepan over low-medium heat.
3. Continue adding the sugar over the melted sugar in small additions, until all the sugar has melted and you have achieved a dark, amber colour.
4. Remove the pan of melted sugar from the heat and quickly stir in butter and cream, mixing thoroughly and taking great care not to burn yourself.
5. Return the pan to the heat and keep mixing until the sugar, cream and butter are mixed through.
6. Add salt to taste, then leave to cool to room temperature. Transfer to an airtight container or sterilised jar until use.

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 caramel are at room temperature.
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 with each layer, then cover the sides and top of the cake with buttercream, smoothing with a palette knife.
4. Place the cake in the fridge for about 15-20 mins at this stage to chill slightly, allowing this first thin layer of buttercream to form your ‘crumb coat’, locking in crumbs and preventing them from entering your final coat.
5. Remove the cake from the fridge and using a palate knife, spread another layer of buttercream over the whole cake. Repeat this process of chilling and frosting if required to create a smooth crumb-free finish.
6. Drizzle salted caramel sauce slowly over the top of the cake, allowing a little to drip down over the sides. You may have up to ¼ cup extra salted caramel left over, so be mindful of this when pouring to ensure perfect drips.
7. Sprinkle sea salt flakes over cake when ready to serve. Serve at room temperature with a clean sharp hot knife.