10/18/2026
Chocolate Caramel Cake Cups
Soft chocolate cake, rich chocolate cream, and fluffy caramel cream layered into an irresistible make-ahead dessert!
Ingredients:
Chocolate Cake:
• 1¾ cups all-purpose flour
• ¾ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1¾ cups granulated sugar
• 1½ tsp baking powder
• 1½ tsp baking soda
• ½ tsp salt
• 2 large eggs
• 1 cup whole milk
• ½ cup vegetable oil
• 2 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 cup hot water or coffee
Chocolate Cream:
• 8 oz cream cheese, softened
• 1 cup cold heavy cream
• ½ cup powdered sugar
• ⅓ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• ½ cup chocolate-hazelnut spread
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
Caramel Cream:
• 8 oz cream cheese, softened
• 1 cup cold heavy cream
• ¾ cup dulce de leche or thick caramel spread
• ¼ cup powdered sugar
• ½ tsp vanilla extract
• Pinch of salt
Instructions:
Preheat oven to 350°F. Line and lightly grease a 13×18-inch rimmed sheet pan.
Whisk dry cake ingredients together. Mix in eggs, milk, oil, and vanilla, then gradually add hot water or coffee.
Spread batter in the pan. Bake for 18–23 minutes, until a toothpick comes out with a few moist crumbs. Cool completely, then crumble.
For chocolate cream, beat cream cheese, powdered sugar, cocoa, chocolate-hazelnut spread, and vanilla until smooth. Add cold cream and whip until thick enough to pipe.
For caramel cream, beat cream cheese, dulce de leche, powdered sugar, vanilla, and salt. Add cold cream and whip until firm peaks form.
Layer cake crumbs, chocolate cream, and caramel cream in clear dessert cups. Repeat, finishing with cake crumbs and a smooth chocolate cream layer.
Decorate with chocolate cream rosettes and a small caramel cream swirl. Cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours.