Name: Sumptuous custard cake with salted caramel
Prep time: 40 min
Total time: 40 min
Yield: serving
Cuisine: Bake
Ingredients: 2 vanilla cake mix; 500 ml readymade custard thick; 250 ml white sugar; 60 ml water; 160 ml cream; 30 ml butter; 2 ml Vanilla essence; 5 ml sea salt flakes; 125 g butter soft; 250 g icing sugar; 15 ml milk; 10 ml lemon juice; 5 ml Vanilla essence; fresh olive sprig

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Ingredients (14)

2	vanilla cake mix
500 ml	readymade custard — thick
250 ml	white sugar
60 ml	water
160 ml	cream
30 ml	butter
2 ml	Vanilla essence
5 ml	sea salt — flakes
125 g	butter — soft
250 g	icing sugar
15 ml	milk
10 ml	lemon juice
5 ml	Vanilla essence
	fresh olive sprig

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Method:

Cake

1. Prepare the cakes according to the box instructions. Use the batter to bake two 23-cm cakes.

2. Allow the cakes to cool completely then cut the tops level. Halve each cake horizontally so you have four layers.

3. Spread three of the layers with custard and stack them, placing the final layer on top. Chill until needed.

Salted caramel

4. Put the sugar and water in a deep heavy-bottom saucepan (the mixture bubbles up high so make sure the saucepan is big enough).

5. Stir continuously until the sugar has dissolved. Remove the spoon and allow the syrup to simmer, without stirring, until light brown. Remove from the heat and shake gently until the syrup has become slightly darker.

6. Add the cream and whisk fast (the mixture bubbles up). Stir in the rest of the ingredients and mix well. Set aside to cool while you make the icing.

Butter icing

7. Cream the butter with a hand-held electric beater until smooth. Gradually add the icing sugar, beating until well combined. Add the rest of the ingredients and beat until well incorporated (the icing must be thick enough to spread).

Assembly

8. Spread the cake top and sides with the butter icing. Scrape away some from the sides so the cake shows through. Spoon some of the salted caramel on top and allow it to drip down the sides. Garnish with an olive sprig.