Salted Caramel Cupcakes
Salted caramel cupcakes with vanilla pudding batter, filled with caramel and topped with caramel buttercream and flaky sea salt.
Ingredients
Cupcake Instructions
- 1 box white cake mix
- 3.4 oz instant vanilla pudding 96 g
- 4 large eggs room temperature
- 1 cup sour cream 240 g
- ¾ cup vegetable oil 150 g
- ½ cup milk 120 ml
- ½ cup salted caramel about 1 tsp per cupcake for filling, 120 ml
Frosting Instructions
- 1 ½ cups salted butter 3 sticks, 340 g, softened
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- 6 cups powdered sugar 720 g
- ⅔ cup salted caramel 160 ml
- 2 tbsp heavy whipping cream 30 ml
- flakey sea salt such as Maldon's
Instructions
Cupcake Instructions
Preheat Oven and Prep Pans:
Heat oven to 350°F (175°C). Prepare muffin pans by placing cupcake liners in each cup; set aside.Mix Batter Ingredients:
In a large bowl, combine cake mix, instant pudding, eggs, sour cream, oil, and milk. Mix until smooth and uniform.Fill Cupcake Liners:
Divide batter among the lined cups, filling each to no more than ⅔ capacity.Bake Cupcakes:
Bake for 20 minutes, until a toothpick inserted into the center emerges with only a few moist crumbs. Remove from oven and let cool entirely.Core and Fill with Caramel:
Once cooled, use a serrated spoon to remove a small core from the top center of each cupcake. Spoon approximately 1 teaspoon of salted caramel into each cavity.
Frosting Instructions
Cream Butter and Vanilla:
In a mixing bowl, cream butter and vanilla extract until light and smooth.Add Powdered Sugar:
Add powdered sugar in two additions, beating after each until fully incorporated (the mixture will be thick).Incorporate Salted Caramel:
With the mixer running, pour in ⅔ cup salted caramel and whip until smooth.Whip in Heavy Cream:
Add heavy whipping cream and continue beating until the frosting becomes light and fluffy.Pipe Frosting Swirls:
Pipe decorative swirls of frosting onto each filled cupcake.Drizzle Caramel and Sprinkle Salt:
Drizzle extra caramel over the tops and finish with a sprinkle of flaky sea salt.