How to Make Chocolate Caramel Turtle Cupcakes

How to Make Chocolate Cupcakes

• Preheat the oven to 350˚ F.
• Put paper cupcake liners in your cupcake pans or you can use silicone, which ever ones you prefer.
• In a medium bowl whisk together the hot brewed coffee and cocoa, until dissolved and set aside.
• In the bowl for your stand mixer, combine the flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt.
• Then add the butter and sugars.
• Beat on medium-high speed of your mixer until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Add in the eggs one at a time. Mix in the vanilla.
• With the mixer on low speed, add the dry ingredients in three additions alternating with the coffee-cocoa mixture, beginning and ending with the dry ingredients.
• Mix each addition just until incorporated, being careful not to over mix.
• Divide the batter between the prepared liners, filling each about two-thirds of the way full.
• Bake about 20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
• Let cool in the pans briefly, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

How to Make Caramel Buttercream

• In a stand mixer bowl add the butter. Place the mixer bowl on the mixer stand and turn up to medium speed. Mix the butter until it is smooth.
• Reduce the mixer speed to low and slowly pour in the confectioners sugar and mix until it is all incorporated.
• Add the caramel sauce and the vanilla extract and turn the mixer speed up to medium.
• Leave the mixer mixing for 5-10 minutes until the caramel frosting is light and fluffy.

How to Make homemade Caramel Sauce

• In a very clean sauce pan combine your sugar and water with a rubber spatula.
• Have your heavy cream and butter next to the stove already.
• Place a small cup of water with a pastry brush next to the stove so you will be able to wash down the inside of the pot.
• Place your pan with the water and sugar over medium-high heat. Making sure you wash the side of the pot if you see any crystals forming. Cook your sugar until it reaches a caramel color.
• Remove the pot from the stove and add in all of the butter at once making sure you whisk it well while you add it. The caramel will boil up but make sure you keep an eye on it. Add in the heavy cream being careful of the bubbling and whisk it all together.
• Whisk in the vanilla and salt until well combined.

How to Assemble Caramel Turtle Cupcakes

• Once your cupcakes are cooled, pipe the caramel frosting on top of each cupcake. Drizzle with homemade caramel sauce and sprinkle with pecans.