Caramel Layer Cake – Pareve version

👨‍🍳 Method

To assemble

1. 1
   Preheat the oven to 180°C (355°F) and grease 2 round pans 22 cm.

   ⚙ Preheating the OvenOven

   💡Put things in the oven only once it's reached temperature, after the heating light has gone off: an oven that hasn't reached temperature changes baking times, and the bake burns outside or stays underbaked.
2. 2
   Whip the eggs and sugar, until the mixture is pale and fluffy.

   ⚙ WhippingBowlHand mixerorStand mixerorWhisk

   💡Room-temperature eggs whip better than cold eggs. Take them out of the fridge 30 minutes before baking. Warm eggs also make a more stable foam that holds up in the oven.
3. 3
   Add the margarine, unsweetened soy milk and vanilla extract and mix.
4. 4
   Sift the flour and baking powder, combine, add to the wet mixture and Fold gently, just until no dry flour remains.

   ⚙ FoldingSilicone spatula

   💡Fold in the flour only until there are no pockets of dry flour: overmixing develops gluten, and the cake comes out dense.

   💡Fold with a spatula, in broad strokes from the bottom up, and stop when there's no dry flour: vigorous mixing of a batter with flour develops gluten.
5. 5
   Divide the batter among 2 round pans.

   Baking pan
6. 6
   Bake 25–30 minutes, until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

   ⚙ BakingOvenBaking pan

   💡Check by the cue (until…), not just the clock: every oven bakes a little differently.
7. 7
   Melt the sugar on its own in a pot over medium heat, swirling the pot without stirring, until the caramel is smooth and amber.

   StoveSmall saucepan
8. 8
   Heat the coconut cream and pour it slowly into the caramel, stirring.

   Small saucepan

   💡Pour the coconut cream in slowly: it bubbles up hard when it meets the caramel, and all at once it boils over.
9. 9
   Add the margarine and salt and stir until the sauce is smooth and glossy.
10. 10
    Cook 3 more minutes, stirring.

    Small saucepan
11. 11
    Let the cakes and the caramel cool completely. Place one cake on a plate, spread half of the caramel over it, set the second cake on top and spread the rest of the caramel over it.

    Offset spatula