Imagine four layers of the softest sponge cake infused with caramel, stacked with caramel buttercream and generous layers of dulce de leche, all topped off with hazelnuts.
Every part of this cake is filled with Dulce de Leche, a thick, gooey caramel made by heating sweetened condensed milk.
You won’t need any eggs for this recipe, and you can also use dairy-free ingredients if you prefer!
To start, we make a one-bowl sponge cake sweetened with brown sugar and dulce de leche, giving it a wonderfully moist and creamy texture. Each layer is spread with dulce de leche before being covered in creamy caramel buttercream. Finished with a sprinkle of hazelnuts, this creates the incredibly soft Golden Key Cake.
Dulce de Leche Cake (Golden Key Cake)
Ingredients
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup vegetable oil
- 1 cup milk dairy or non-dairy
- 1/2 cup dulce de leche plus extra for filling and topping
- 1 tablespoon white vinegar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- A pinch of salt
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour a 9-inch round cake pan or line it with parchment paper for easy removal.
- In a large bowl, whisk together the vegetable oil and sugar until well combined.
- Add the milk, vanilla extract, and dulce de leche. Mix until smooth.
- In a separate bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
- Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing until just combined. Be careful not to overmix.
- Add the vinegar to the batter and stir gently until incorporated. The vinegar will react with the baking soda to help the cake rise.
- Pour the batter into the prepared cake pan and smooth the top with a spatula.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 30-35 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean.
- Remove from the oven and allow the cake to cool in the pan for 10 minutes. Then, transfer it to a wire rack to cool completely.
- Once cooled, spread a layer of dulce de leche on top of the cake as frosting. You can also add a layer in the middle if desired.
- Slice and serve! Enjoy your delicious egg-free Dulce de Leche Cake.