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RECIPE
21 INGREDIENTS 14 STEPS 1hr 10min

Chocolate Cupcakes with Caramel Buttercream

5.0
1 Ratings
These chocolate cupcakes with caramel buttercream are topped with wonderful salted caramel. The contrast of sweet and salty are sure to leave you wanting more than just one.
Chocolate Cupcakes with Caramel Buttercream Recipe | SideChef
These chocolate cupcakes with caramel buttercream are topped with wonderful salted caramel. The contrast of sweet and salty are sure to leave you wanting more than just one.
Hi, I'm Chelsey, the baker, blogger, and content creator! I'm a self-taught cake decorator, who loves to share tips and tricks as well as tried and true recipes with you.
https://chelsweets.com
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Hi, I'm Chelsey, the baker, blogger, and content creator! I'm a self-taught cake decorator, who loves to share tips and tricks as well as tried and true recipes with you.
https://chelsweets.com
1hr 10min
Total Time
38min
Active Time
$1.25
Cost Per Serving

Ingredients

Servings
12
US / METRIC

Chocolate Cupcake

1/3 cup
milk or dark
1/3 cup
Black Cocoa Powder
3/4 cup
Hot Water
1/2 Tbsp
Instant Espresso Powder
or Instant Coffee
1/2 tsp
1/2 tsp
Baking Soda
1/3 cup
Vegetable Oil
2
Eggs , room temperature
1 tsp
Distilled White Vinegar

Caramel Sauce

3 Tbsp
Unsalted Butter , room temperature
1/4 cup
Heavy Cream , room temperature

Salted Caramel Frosting

2 cups
Unsalted Butter , room temperature
8 cups
Powdered Confectioners Sugar
1 tsp
1 Tbsp
Heavy Cream
or Whipping Cream
1 pinch
Save Time,
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Nutrition Per Serving

VIEW ALL
CALORIES
806
FAT
42.6 g
PROTEIN
2.4 g
CARBS
104.2 g

Author's Notes

Makes 24 cupcakes. The leftover caramel will keep for several weeks in the fridge. I usually store it in a plastic bottle (and pop it into the microwave to reheat it), but any airtight container would work great!

Cooking Instructions

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Step 1
Begin by preheating the oven to 350 degrees F (180 degrees C). Place liners in the cupcake pan.
Step 2
Add ¾ cup of (VERY) Water (3/4 cup) into a large bowl. Mix in Instant Espresso Powder (1/2 Tbsp) , and stir lightly until dissolved.
Step 3
Carefully pour in Chocolate Chips (1/3 cup) and Black Cocoa Powder (1/3 cup) . Let this sit for 2 minutes to melt the chocolate, then stir until smooth.
Step 4
Pour the All-Purpose Flour (3/4 cup) , Granulated Sugar (3/4 cup) , Baking Soda (1/2 tsp) , and Salt (1/2 tsp) into chocolate espresso mixture, and stir until just combined. Scrape the sides and bottom of the bowl as needed with a spatula.
Step 5
Mix in the Eggs (2) then add Vegetable Oil (1/3 cup) , Distilled White Vinegar (1 tsp) , and Vanilla Extract (1 tsp) , and mix until the batter is smooth - it will be thin and runny.
Step 6
Fill cupcake liners 3/4 full, and bake for 18-20 minutes in the preheated oven, or until a toothpick comes out clean (or with minimal crumbs). Allow cupcakes to cool in pans for 10 minutes, then remove and place in the freezer for 15 minutes (to accelerate the cooling process).
Step 7
To make the caramel sauce, place a pot on the stove over medium heat. Pour in Granulated Sugar (1/2 cup) gradually, adding 1/4 cup at a time. Stir occasionally until the sugar is fully dissolved, and is an amber color.
Step 8
Turn off the heat. Mix in Unsalted Butter (3 Tbsp) slowly (1 Tbsp at a time), then stir in Heavy Cream (1/4 cup) . The mixture will be very thin but will thicken as it cools.
Step 9
Pour into a separate container, then place in the fridge to cool for 20 minutes.
Step 10
Once the caramel sauce is almost done cooling, make the caramel buttercream. Beat the Unsalted Butter (2 cups) on medium speed for 30 seconds with a paddle or whisk attachment, until smooth.
Step 11
Slowly add in the Powdered Confectioners Sugar (8 cups) , 1 cup at a time. Alternate with the Heavy Cream (1 Tbsp) which will help thin the frosting.
Step 12
Mix in the Vanilla Extract (1 tsp) , Salt (1 tsp) , and ⅓ Cup Caramel Sauce on a low speed. Beat on low until the ingredients are fully incorporated, and the desired consistency is reached. Add cream as needed to thin the frosting.
Step 13
Place frosting into a piping bag fitted with a Wilton 1M tip. Pipe a large swirl of frosting onto the cupcake. Then place the cupcake in the freezer for 5 minutes.
Step 14
Drizzle caramel over the chilled cupcakes and garnish with a pinch of Salt (1 pinch) .

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5.0
1 Ratings
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Nutrition Per Serving
Calories
806
% Daily Value*
Fat
42.6 g
55%
Saturated Fat
27.7 g
138%
Trans Fat
0.0 g
--
Cholesterol
128.9 mg
43%
Carbohydrates
104.2 g
38%
Fiber
1.2 g
4%
Sugars
93.2 g
--
Protein
2.4 g
5%
Sodium
382.1 mg
17%
Vitamin D
0.2 µg
1%
Calcium
50.0 mg
4%
Iron
2.1 mg
12%
Potassium
210.1 mg
4%
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