Chocolate Cupcakes are tender, chocolate cupcakes topped with a luscious, creamy salted caramel chocolate frosting.  Top them off with a salted caramel drizzle for the ultimate cupcake!

Chocolate cupcakes with salted caramel frosting on a white plate

Are you tired of sweets?  If so, I apologize for putting these cupcakes in your face.  I’ve been sugared out since the beginning of February, but that didn’t stop me from eating Red Velvet Sandwich Cookies and Almond Dragees like they were going out of style.  

Then to top it off, my niece and my sister had birthdays, and that always means cupcakes.  Of course, I offered to make them, because I wanted to try making these Chocolate Cupcakes with Salted Caramel Buttercream. 

Can you blame me? 🙂

Horizontal shot of chocolate cupcakes on white serving platter

The driving force behind these cupcakes was some homemade salted caramel sauce that was in the fridge.  Caramel can be really sweet for me, so it has to include sea salt!  

The salt tones down the sweetness and just enhances the caramel flavor.  There’s not a salted caramel craze for nothing. 😉

Chocolate cupcake with salted caramel buttercream on parchment paper

I used a tried and true cupcake recipe for the cake, and I tinkered around with the frosting.  It was a fun experiment because I got to keep trying it as I went. 🙂  

I knew right away when I got it right because I wanted to eat a big spoonful.  I refrained, because I made just enough for 12 cupcakes.  I didn’t want any extra luscious frosting lying around my house. 

I decided to drizzle more caramel sauce on top with some more Maldon salt because you can’t have too much of a good thing, and these cupcakes are definitely a good thing. 🙂

Additional cupcake recipes you’ll love:

Chocolate cupcakes with salted caramel frosting on a white plate

Chocolate Cupcakes with Salted Caramel Chocolate Frosting

Chocolate Cupcakes are tender, chocolate cupcakes topped with a luscious, creamy salted caramel chocolate frosting.  Top them off with a salted caramel drizzle for the ultimate cupcake!
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Ingredients

For the cupcakes:

  • 3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa
  • 3/4 cup all purpose flour
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon instant espresso powder optional
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1 1/2 sticks unsalted butter softened
  • 1/2 cup granulated sugar
  • 1/2 cup light brown sugar packed
  • 3 large eggs room temperature
  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
  • 1/2 cup plain Greek yogurt or sour cream

For the Salted Caramel Sauce:

  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 tablespoon water
  • 3/4 cup heavy cream
  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter cut into cubes
  • 1 teaspoon fleur de sel I used Maldon salt

For the buttercream:

  • 1 stick unsalted butter softened
  • 2 cups powdered sugar sifted
  • 1/2 teaspoon milk
  • 1/2 cup salted caramel sauce
  • 1 teaspoon fleur de sel
  • 1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate melted and cooled slightly

Instructions 

Prepare the cupcakes:

  • Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Line a standard muffin pan with paper liners.
  • In a medium bowl, sift together the cocoa, flour, baking powder, espresso powder, and salt. Set aside.
  • Place the butter and sugar in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Cream together on medium high until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Add the eggs on low speed one at a time, mixing until well incorporated after each addition. Mix in the vanilla. Add the flour mixture in 2 batches, alternating with the Greek yogurt, ending with the flour mixture. Mix just until combined, scraping down the sides of the bowl with a rubber scraper as needed.
  • Fill the cupcake liners 3/4 full, and bake on the middle rack of the oven for 20-25 minutes, or until the tops spring back when touched lightly or a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Cook in the pan on a wire rack for 5 minutes, then remove from the pan and cool completely.

Prepare the salted caramel sauce:

  • Place the sugar and water in medium saucepan over medium low heat. Cook, stirring, until the sugar has dissolved. Increase the heat to high, and boil the sugar without stirring. If the sugar begins to crystallize on the sides of the pan, carefully use a wet pastry brush to brush it off. Boil until the sugar turns a deep amber color, being careful not to burn, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat and slowly whisk in the cream a bit at a time, as the caramel will bubble over if too much is added at once. Whisk in the butter and fleur de sel. Transfer to a dish to cool.

Prepare the buttercream:

  • Place the butter and powdered sugar in the mixing bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Beat on medium until the sugar has been incorporated. Add the milk, caramel sauce and fleur de sel, and beat until combined. Add the melted chocolate, and beat until incorporated. Once incorporated, beat the buttercream at medium high speed for 3 minutes until creamy.
  • Pipe the buttercream onto the cupcakes, and garnish with more caramel sauce and sprinkle with fleur de sel. Enjoy!

Notes

  • The salted caramel sauce will keep in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 weeks. Heat before serving.
  • Cupcake recipe adapted from Martha Stewart’s Chocolate Cupcakes.
  • Salted Caramel Sauce and Salted Caramel Chocolate Frosting recipes by Flavor the Moments.

Nutrition

Serving: 1cupcake, Calories: 551kcal, Carbohydrates: 67g, Protein: 5g, Fat: 31g, Saturated Fat: 18g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 10g, Cholesterol: 120mg, Sodium: 108mg, Fiber: 2g, Sugar: 57g

Nutrition is estimated using a food database and is only intended to be used as a guideline for informational purposes.

Did you try this recipe?Be sure to tag @flavorthemoments with the hashtag #flavorthemoments on Instagram so I can see what you made!

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