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For the Vanilla Cake:
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Mix flour, sugar, baking powder, powdered milk, and salt with a paddle attachment on stand mixer on low.
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Add water, vegetable oil, eggs and vanilla. Mix on medium speed until combined. Scrape in between mixing.
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Bake at 350F until cake bounces in the middle to touch and toothpick comes out clean.
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For the Swiss Buttercream:
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Place sterilized stand-up mixing bowl (just make sure it's super clean and dry) with whites on top of a saucepan with water, barely simmering (a.ka. double boiler).
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Heat to 160 F, constantly stirring. Be sure to watch it and keep stirring or else it'll turn into an omelette.
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Add Cream of Tartar and whip in stand mixer until cool. Place in refrigerator or freezer if necessary, after reaching a medium peak. You can also place the cooked egg whites on an ice bath ahead of time and place it in the refrigerator, then whip it up.
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Place back on whip and gradually add butter, one stick at a time. Make sure the meringue is cold prior to adding it to the mixture or else it will be a soupy mess. The mixture should separate at first (don't be alarmed and freak out). Be patient and keep mixing; it'll come back together. Mix until smooth and well incorporated.
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For the Caramel Spread:
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In a saucepan, combine water, sugar, and salt over medium heat. Bring mixture to a simmer without stirring until syrup is lightly golden. Continue to cook for about 1 minute more until it is a medium golden color. Immediately add cream and turn the heat on low.
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Stir caramel with a heat-resistant spatula until it reaches 225u00b0F (107u00b0C) Stir in vanilla extract and cool to room temperature. Store in an airtight container. The sauce thickens as it cools.
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For the Ganache:
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Place chocolate in a bowl.
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Place heavy cream in a microwave safe bowl and heat in microwave until scalding hot. Avoid overboiling.
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Stir lightly until mixture thickens. Set aside to room temperature, ready for spreading on cake.
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For the Assembly:
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Start with a base of vanilla cake. Make a barrier of buttercream with a piping bag. Fill and spread with a thin layer of ganache. Fill a piping bag with caramel and drizzle on top. Sprinkle crushed shortbread cookies on top.
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Place another layer of cake and repeat the process.
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Crumbcoat, chill and final coat your cake. Serve and enjoy.