Salted Caramel Cupcakes with Caramel Cream Cheese Frosting

You'll love these Salted Caramel Cupcakes with Caramel Cream Cheese Frosting, loaded with rich caramel flavor in both the cupcakes and frosting, then sprinkled with a little touch of sea salt for that beloved sweet-salty combination. Seriously, what's not to love?

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I guess we could call these cupcakes double caramel cupcakes if we'd like.  Because they're loaded up with rich caramel flavor in both the cupcakes and the frosting, delivering rich and delicious caramel flavor in every bite.

And when you then add on a sprinkling of sea salt to finish them off? -- Mmmmm, you get that wonderful sweet-and-salty combination we love.

Now, I have a confession to make. These Salted Caramel Cupcakes have actually been sitting in my "queue" for quite a while, just waiting for me to get around to sharing them with you.  I actually made these beauties, along with super-fun Neapolitan Cupcakes, this summer for a bridal shower a friend of mine was hosting.

They're loaded up with rich caramel flavor in both the cupcakes and the frosting, delivering rich and delicious caramel flavor in every bite.

When my friend asked if I'd make cupcakes for the event, of course I said yes.  I mean, an excuse to bake?  I'm all over that.

And I loved that my friend gave me complete creative license to choose the cupcake flavors.  I asked her like a million times, I swear -- Are you sure you don't care what flavors I make?  She truly didn't care, and I just love being handed wide-open creative license like that.

So I immediately turned to these Salted Caramel Cupcakes. Pretty drool-worthy, if I do say so myself.  And just the perfect sweet treat for such a sweet event as a bridal shower. 

The cupcakes themselves get their caramel flavor from dark brown sugar used in their batter.  Sure, you could use light brown sugar instead of dark -- but it wouldn't create the richer caramel-like flavor that dark brown sugar creates.

The caramel cream cheese frosting is flavored with caramel ice cream topping.  I've also worked with caramel frosting recipes made with melted caramel candies, and believe me, caramel ice cream topping is way easier to work with.  With the convenience of jarred ice cream topping, a batch of this caramel frosting can be easily whipped up in a flash.

Admittedly, the caramel frosting is on the sweet side.  But that sweetness pairs beautifully with a sprinkling of sea salt on top.

A piece of caramel candy perched on top makes for a perfect little finishing touch to garnish these tasty caramel cupcakes.

Not only does the caramel candy garnish look adorable, it clearly signals the cupcakes' flavor, too.

So if you're a caramel lover, give these Salted Caramel Cupcakes a try.  They're loaded with rich caramel flavor in both the cupcakes and frosting, then sprinkled with a little touch of sea salt to deliver up that sweet-salty combination we love.

And I'm happy to say these little beauties became the belle of the bridal shower ball. Well, aside from the bride-to-be of course!

Check out these other super tasty cupcake recipes:

• The Best Vanilla Cupcakes + Coffee Buttercream
• The Best Chocolate Cupcakes
• German Chocolate Cupcakes
• Snickers Cupcakes
• S'mores Cupcakes
• Neapolitan Cupcakes
• Funfetti Birthday Cupcakes
• Pineapple Upside-Down Cupcakes
• More desserts

Thank you for stopping by The Kitchen is My Playground. We'd love to have you back soon!

salted caramel cupcakes, caramel cupcakes, caramel cupcakes recipe

Cupcakes

American

Yield: 24 cupcakes

Author: Tracey | The Kitchen is My Playground

Salted Caramel Cupcakes with Caramel Cream Cheese Frosting

You'll love these Salted Caramel Cupcakes with Caramel Cream Cheese Frosting, loaded with rich caramel flavor in both the cupcakes and frosting, then sprinkled with a little touch of sea salt for that beloved sweet-salty combination. Seriously, what's not to love?

Prep time: 45 MinCook time: 20 MinTotal time: 1 H & 4 M

Ingredients

Caramel Cupcakes:

• 1/2 c. (1 stick) butter, softened
• 4 oz. cream cheese, softened
• 1 1/4 c. granulated sugar
• 3/4 c. dark brown sugar
• 1 T. canola oil
• 4 eggs
• 1 tsp. vanilla extract
• 3 c. all-purpose flour
• 1 tsp. baking powder
• 1/2 tsp. baking soda
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 1 c. buttermilk

Caramel Cream Cheese Frosting & Garnish:

• 8 oz. cream cheese, at room temperature
• 1/2 c. unsalted butter, softened
• 1/2 c. caramel ice cream topping
• 1 tsp. vanilla extract
• 1/8 tsp. salt or fine sea salt
• 6 c. confectioners’ sugar
• 12 caramel candies, unwrapped & cut in half (I use Kraft caramels)
• Additional sea salt for sprinkling

Instructions

Caramel Cupcakes:

1. Line 24 muffin cups with paper cupcake liners. Set aside.
2. Using an electric mixer, cream together butter, cream cheese, sugar, brown sugar, and oil until light and fluffy, about 3-4 minutes. Add eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition.
3. Add vanilla, baking powder, baking soda, and salt; mix until well combined.
4. Beginning and ending with flour, add flour alternately with buttermilk, mixing between each addition.
5. Distribute batter evenly between the 24 muffin cups. Bake at 350℉ for 18-20 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
6. Cool in pan for 10 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

Caramel Cream Cheese Frosting & Garnish:

1. Beat butter and cream cheese in bowl of an electric mixer on medium speed until fluffy, about 1 minute.
2. Add vanilla extract, caramel ice cream topping, and salt; reduce mixer speed to low and mix for a few seconds until just combined.
3. Add confectioners' sugar, about 2 cups at a time, beating on low speed for a few seconds between each addition. Increase mixer speed to medium and beat for about 20 to 30 seconds until smooth.
4. Use to frost cupcakes.
5. Garnish with a caramel candy half, and sprinkle with a bit of sea salt.

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