Description
Salted caramel cupcakes combine rich chocolate cake with silky caramel frosting for an irresistible dessert. Chocolate lovers will savor each sweet and salty bite, creating a perfect balance of indulgent flavors that dance on the palate.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 1 1/2 cups (180 grams) all-purpose flour
- 1 cup (200 grams) granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup (113 grams) unsalted butter, softened
- 2 large eggs
- 1/2 cup (120 milliliters) sour cream
- 12 soft caramel candies
Leavening and Seasoning:
- 3/4 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon sea salt
Flavoring:
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Coarse sea salt (for sprinkling)
Instructions
- Warm the oven to 350°F, preparing a cupcake pan with liners.
- Combine dry ingredients in a mixing bowl, ensuring even distribution of flour, baking powder, and sea salt.
- Cream butter and sugar in a separate bowl until the mixture becomes pale and airy, creating a smooth base.
- Incorporate eggs individually, mixing thoroughly after each addition to maintain a consistent texture.
- Gently fold in vanilla extract, blending until the mixture is uniform.
- Alternate adding flour mixture and sour cream to the butter base, mixing carefully to prevent overmixing.
- Fill cupcake liners halfway with batter, strategically positioning a caramel piece in the center of each.
- Sprinkle a delicate layer of coarse sea salt over the caramel centers for enhanced flavor complexity.
- Cover the caramel with remaining batter, filling liners approximately three-quarters full.
- Bake for 18-20 minutes, checking doneness by inserting a toothpick into the center – it should emerge clean.
- Rest cupcakes in the pan for 5 minutes to stabilize their structure.
- Transfer cupcakes to a wire cooling rack, allowing them to reach room temperature completely before serving.
Notes
- Swap regular salt with flaky sea salt for an enhanced flavor burst that elevates the caramel’s richness.
- Try different caramel types like soft, chewy, or hard varieties to create unique texture experiences in each bite.
- Prevent cupcake centers from sinking by ensuring caramels are at room temperature and gently pressed into batter, not dropped forcefully.
- Make these cupcakes gluten-free by substituting all-purpose flour with a cup-for-cup gluten-free flour blend, maintaining the same delicious taste and tender crumb.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Desserts
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 12
- Calories: 280 kcal
- Sugar: 26 g
- Sodium: 150 mg
- Fat: 12 g
- Saturated Fat: 7 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
- Trans Fat: 0.2 g
- Carbohydrates: 38 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 3 g
- Cholesterol: 55 mg