Caramel frosting is a sweet, creamy topping made by combining caramelized sugar with butter and cream, used to cover or fill cakes, cupcakes, and other baked goods.
It is typically made by first creating a caramel sauce, then beating in butter and cream (and often vanilla extract or a pinch of salt) until light, smooth, and spreadable. The caramelization gives the frosting notes of butterscotch and toffee, balanced by a subtle bitterness against the sweetness.
Caramel frosting pairs especially well with chocolate layer cakes. Common variations include salted caramel frosting, which adds sea salt, and caramel buttercream, which uses a standard butter-based frosting as its base with caramel folded in.