Raspberry Smoked Butterscotch Cake
A rich butterscotch cake infused with subtle smoked notes and layered with vibrant raspberry flavor for the perfect balance of sweet and tangy. It’s decadent yet refined, with a cozy depth that makes each bite unforgettable.
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Smoked Butterscotch Cake Inspiration
Smoked butterscotch? I didn’t have to have the latte in hand to know that it would taste like heaven. I immediately started running different ideas in my head. How could I get that smoked flavour? What would it pair with? Do I want to incorporate something tangy? Something salty? Something sweet? The ever-practical and precise cake scientist that I am ? I eventually made my way down to Starbucks and grabbed said latte.
I eagerly awaited that first sip as I drove home and got snuggly on my couch. Verdict: oh gosh…slightly disappointing. I mean it was alright but it wasn’t “knock my socks” off amazing. Not enough smoke to balance the sweet butterscotch.
Mixing Up Flavours
Using this knowledge as a starting point I knew I wanted to highlight the smoky taste just as much as the butterscotch. As I was mixing up the cake batter I quickly realized that 1 tsp of the liquid smoke was not enough and quickly added another. My kitchen was soon filled with the delicious scent of smoked butterscotch as the cake layers baked. Now to decided on a buttercream.
Seeing as how the cake layers were smoky and sweet I wanted to add in a contrasting flavour that brought in some shall we say “zing!” Citrus fruits immediately came to mind but the sound of lemon smoked butterscotch was not doing it for me. And then in popped raspberry! Raspberry, while a sweet berry, has a great tart punch to it. And there you have it: Raspberry Smoked Butterscotch cake. Give it a shot and let me know what kind of happy dance you do after you take the first bite.
If you are a butterscotch fan, I bet you’d be blown away by these Sprinkle Confetti Squares!
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Smoked Butterscotch Cake
- Total Time: 2 Hrs 30 Mins
- Yield: 10 Slices
- Diet: Gluten Free
Description
This smoked butterscotch cake is full of smoky sweet butterscotch flavour and paired with a butterscotch ganache filling and whipped raspberry buttercream frosting.
Ingredients
Smoked Butterscotch Cake
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1/3 cup salted butter, room temperature
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1 1/2 cups brown sugar
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1/2 cup egg whites (approx 4 egg whites), room temperature
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1/4 cup sour cream, room temperature
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1 tablespoon vanilla extract
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1-2teaspoons liquid smoke, to taste
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2 1/2 cups cake flour, sifted *regular or gluten-free flour 1:1 baking blend
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1 (99 gram) package of butterscotch jello pudding mix
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1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
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1/2 teaspoon baking soda
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1 teaspoon fine sea salt
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2/3 cup milk, room temperature
Butterscotch Ganache
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3/4 cup butterscotch chips
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2 tablespoons milk
Raspberry Buttercream
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2 cups salted butter, room temperature
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6 cups powdered sugar
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1 teaspoon fine sea salt
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1 teaspoon vanilla extract
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1/2 cup raspberry jam or reduced fresh raspberries
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optional: Chef Master gel colours in Bakers Rose, Red Red, and Burgundy Wine
Instructions
Smoked Butterscotch Cake
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Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and prepare three 6-inch round cake pans.
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In the bowl of a stand mixer, cream butter and brown sugar on high for 1 minute.
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Add egg whites and mix on high for 2 minutes.
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Add in the sour cream, vanilla extract, and liquid smoke and mix on high for 2 minutes.
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Combine all the dry ingredients into the mixer and mix on low
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While the mixer is on low, slowly pour in the milk and mix until combined. Be careful not to overmix the batter.
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Divide batter between pans and bake for 25-30 minutes or until a toothpick comes out with a few crumbs.
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Cool in pans for 10 minutes and then invert on a cooling rack to fully cool.
Butterscotch Ganache Filling
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In a microwave-safe bowl, heat the milk and butterscotch chips in 30-second intervals until fully melted and smooth. Make sure to stir between each interval.
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Allow to fully cool before filling the cake.
Raspberry Buttercream
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In the bowl of a stand mixer, beat the butter on high speed with the paddle attachment until light and fluffy. This should take approximately 5-10 minutes.
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Add the powdered sugar, salt, vanilla extract, raspberry jam, or reduced fresh raspberries and mix on low until combined.
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Turn the mixer up to medium and let it mix for 5 minutes until smooth and creamy. Scrape the sides of the bowl when necessary.
Cake Assembly
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Place one levelled layer of smoked butterscotch cake on a cake board or plate. Top with approximately 1 cup of buttercream.
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Pipe a border of buttercream around the edge and fill with approximately ⅓ cup butterscotch ganache filling. Repeat with the remaining layers and apply a thin coat of buttercream all over the cake. Refrigerate for 20 minutes.
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Cover the cake with another layer of buttercream and smooth the sides.
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Decorate as you please. I used ChefMaster gel colours to create an ombre effect. To do this, separate the remaining buttercream into three bowls and in each bowl add 4 drops of one colour. With an offset spatula apply the burgundy wine coloured buttercream to the bottom third. The red red buttercream to the middle third. The bakers rose buttercream to the top third. With an icing smoother, go around the cake to smooth the buttercream and fill any holes or gaps with the coordinating coloured buttercream. If you wish, you can use any extra butterscotch ganache for a drip. Warm it up and gently pour over the edges of the well-chilled cake with a spoon or a piping bag. On top, I used the Wilton 1M piping tip to create a border. Enjoy!
- Prep Time: 2 Hrs
- Cook Time: 30 Mins
- Category: Cakes
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Could you clarify the amount of liquid smoke? What brand did you use and is it really 2 teaspoons—we found it to be rather powerful and will use less if we make it again.
1-2 teaspoons of liquid smoke. I made this cake so long ago, I unfortunately cannot remember the brand. I’m so sorry!