Having had my fair share of caramel cakes, you will believe me when I tell you it's tough to get right. Growing up in Atlanta, Georgia, and being a food writer has provided ample opportunity to sample the good, the bad, and the ugly. The worst versions are overly dark, crystallized, and lack the creaminess you'd want from a caramel dessert. What I seek is a frosting echoing the chewy caramels from our childhood Halloween treats-rich, milky, and satisfying. This is exactly the charm that Caroline's Cakes bring to the table.

My first encounter with the now famous 7-Layer Caramel Cake from Caroline's was at the Food & Wine Festival in Atlanta a decade ago. As a dessert lover, their stall, presenting bite-sized pieces of their best-sellers, drew me in like a magnet. The 7-Layer Caramel Cake was notably exceptional, a spectacular showcase of the baking skills honed over the long-standing bakery’s 40-year journey, which incidentally started in Spartanburg with a caramel cake that founder Caroline Ragsdale Reutter made for her youngest son's christening. Its taste sensation spread across the country faster than butter on a hot pan thanks to her delivering them everywhere. Under the stewardship of her son Richard, the bakery gained commendations from numerous publications and celebrity tastemakers such as Oprah Winfrey and Martha Stewart.

Speaking of butter, let's not forget that as exquisite as Caroline's frosting does its job, so does the yellow cake beneath it. Because of the multi-layered nature of these cakes, the crumb factor is key and you need the correct tools to perfect them. The cake has to strike a balance between being sweet enough but not too much to compete with the caramel frosting. It also needs to be sturdy enough to be thinly sliced and layered. It’s not just baking but the logistics genius of shipping these across the country. Considering their nationwide delivery, the cakes, encased in a signature red tin, arrive at your table unscathed, a testament to their craftsmanship and delivery finesse. What's more, the cakes can be frozen in their tin, thawed and refrozen for up to 6 months, ensuring zero waste.

Caramel cake might not be everyone's cup of tea, but it is certainly mine, especially among the myriad of options Caroline's provides online. They also cater for smaller groups with half-cakes-think of the versatility of a pizza slice. Their flavors cater to everyone interested in a decadent Southern-style cake from South Carolina. My parents in New York and my sister in California are often surprised with these delicious desserts for special occasions, birthdays, and sometimes, I even send one to myself for a sweet treat.