Cupcake Craze 1 - Salted Caramel Cupcake With Caramel-Coffee Butter Cream Frosting

Some of you may have seen my pictures on FB of these delicious Cupcakes, but I am finally getting around to posting them on my blog -The "Sweet Inspiration"(read with Frensh accent) came from watching the Sweet Genius and a few episodes of the Cupcake Challenge.
For all those who love cupcakes, these are some of the best kind you can taste -but also be aware that this has no place in any "dieting" program :) This is indulgence at its highest, but I kid you not when I say it is hard to stop with one!  I got my recipe from a couple of sources; Sprinkle Bakes & 52 Kitchen Adventures, whose post popped up when I searched for caramel cupcakes. After tasting the cupcakes and adding my own "secret ingredient" instant coffee, I think my children declared me a "sweet genius" :) Let me add to this narrative that this has by no means been a summer of holding back, esp on the calorie front - But with kids on vacation  (they are back at school for the first day today) it was hard not to make them things thy like and appreciate - time enough for them to hold back on the yummier things of life - but I have shamelessly indulged in all of it as well and have the price to pay - more hours of gymming required to burn the cupcake lining on my belly off!  Today is the day when the sane and sober me kicks back into full gear - no more sweet indulgences for a while!

I followed the instructions verbatim as given by Sprinkle Bakes and they turned out really well - But I still want to claim my creative addition of coffee in the butter cream - that was Da Bomb!

For quick reference, here is the recipe as written by Sprinkle Bakes

Makes 15 Cupcakes

Cupcakes:

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon sea salt
1 stick of unsalted butter, at room temperature
1 cup plus 2 tablespoons packed light brown sugar
2 large eggs, at room temperature
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons buttermilk

Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Line muffin tins with papers. Combine flour, baking powder and salt; set aside.

Cream butter and brown sugar on medium-high speed until pale fluffy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating until each is incorporated.  Add vanilla.  Mix and scrape down sides of bowl as needed. Add flour mixture in three batches, alternating with two additions of buttermilk, and beating until combined after each.

Divide batter evenly among lined cups, filling each about halfway full.  Bake for about 25 minutes. When done, transfer tins to wire racks to cool 10 minutes; turn out cupcakes onto racks and let cool completely.

Salted Caramel Filling:

1/2 cup sugar
3 tablespoons salted butter cubed
1/4 cup plus 1 tablespoons heavy cream, at room temperature

Melt the sugar over medium  high heat in a large pot.  Whisk the sugar as it melts and cook until it becomes a deep amber color. Add the butter and stir it in until melted. Pour in the heavy cream (mixture will foam) and whisk until you get a smooth sauce. You may have some lumps but keep stirring until they have melted.  Remove from heat and let cool slightly.  

Cut a small round piece out of the tops of each cooled cupcake and pour in 1 teaspoon of caramel.  Replace the cake piece and set cupcakes aside. (I did this with a apple corer - makes perfect holes in the middle :)

Salted Caramel/Coffee Buttercream Frosting:

1/4 cup granulated sugar
2 tablespoons water
1/4 cup heavy cream
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 stick salted butter
1 stick unsalted butter
1/2 teaspoon sea salt
1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
1tbsp instant coffee (I used Folgers)

In a saucepan, stir together granulated sugar and water.  Bring to a boil over medium high heat.  Cook without stirring until mixture turns a deep amber color.  Remove from heat and slowly add in cream and vanilla, stirring until very smooth.  Let caramel cool for about 20 minutes, until it is just barely warm and still pourable.

In a mixer fitted with paddle attachment, beat butter and salt together until lightened and fluffy.  Reduce speed to low and add powdered sugar.  Mix until thoroughly combined.

Add  1tbsp of instant coffee powder and whip for an additional minute.

Scrape down the side of the bowl and add the caramel.  Beat on medium high speed until light and airy, and completely mixed (about 2 minutes).  Mixture should be ready to use without refrigeration.  If your caramel was too hot when added, it will cause your icing to be runny.  If this happens refrigerate for 15-20 minutes. 

Top caramel-filled cupcakes with frosting.

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