Salted caramel seems to be popping up all over the place. It’s certainly a trend in the food world at the moment. So when I was browsing cupcake recipes I decided to take on this one. The salty-sweet combination is truly delicious. The bourbon added here really doesn’t leave any alcohol taste. It just gives the chocolate cake a greater depth of flavor. I’ll be on the lookout for more salted caramel recipes after these cupcakes. I’m hooked!
Salted Caramel-Chocolate-Bourbon Cupcakes
Source: Adapted from BHG.COM
For the cupcakes:
1 cup butter, room temperature
3 eggs, room temperature
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 cups water
1/3 cup bourbon
3 ounces unsweetened chocolate, chopped
2 ounces bittersweet chocolate, chopped
2 cups sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla
Line thirty-two to thirty-four 2-1/2-inch muffin cups with paper baking cups. In a medium bowl stir together flour, baking soda, and salt. In a 2-cup glass measuring cup combine the water and bourbon. Set aside.
In a small microwave-safe bowl microwave unsweetened chocolate and bittersweet chocolate, uncovered, on high power for 1 minute; stir. Microwave, uncovered, for 30 seconds more; stir until smooth. Cool slightly.
Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. In a large mixing bowl beat butter with an electric mixer on medium to high speed for 30 seconds. Gradually add sugar, about 1/4 cup at a time, beating on medium speed until combined and scraping sides of bowl occasionally. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in melted chocolate and vanilla.
Spoon batter into prepared muffin cups, filling each about three-fourths full. Use the back of a spoon to smooth out batter in cups.
Bake about 18 minutes or until a wooden toothpick inserted in centers comes out clean (tops of cupcakes may sink slightly). Cool the cupcakes in muffin cups on wire racks for 5 minutes. Remove cupcakes from muffin cups. Cool completely on wire racks.
For the Fudge Frosting:
6 ounces chopped bittersweet chocolate
2 tablespoons butter
1/2 cup sour cream
2 1/2 cups powdered sugar
In a large saucepan cook and stir chocolate and butter over low heat until melted. Cool for 5 minutes. Stir in sour cream. Gradually add powdered sugar, beating with an electric mixer on medium speed until combined.
Place Fudge Frosting in a pastry bag fitted with a star tip; pipe a border around edges of cupcakes.
For the Salted Caramel:
2 tablespoons whipping cream
1 tablespoon bourbon
24 unwrapped vanilla caramels
1/4 teaspoon sea salt
In a small saucepan combine whipping cream and bourbon. Heat over medium-low heat until steaming but not boiling. Stir in caramels and sea salt. Heat until melted, stirring constantly.
Spoon about 1 teaspoon Salted Caramel into center of each cupcake. Sprinkle caramel lightly with sea salt.