06/16/2025
Salted Caramel Cupcakes
🧁✨ Moist vanilla cupcakes filled with gooey caramel and topped with fluffy salted caramel buttercream — these cupcakes are rich, sweet, and perfectly salty in every bite! A true crowd-pleaser! 🍯💛
Ingredients:
For the Cupcakes:
1½ cups all-purpose flour
1½ tsp baking powder
¼ tsp salt
½ cup unsalted butter, softened
¾ cup granulated sugar
2 large eggs
1 tsp vanilla extract
½ cup whole milk
For the Salted Caramel Sauce:
1 cup granulated sugar
6 tbsp unsalted butter, cubed
½ cup heavy cream
½ tsp sea salt
For the Salted Caramel Buttercream:
1 cup unsalted butter, softened
2½ cups powdered sugar
½ cup salted caramel sauce (cooled)
Pinch of sea salt
Instructions:
Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a 12-cup muffin tin with cupcake liners. 🧁
Duration: 5 minutes
Make the cupcake batter: Whisk flour, baking powder, and salt in a bowl. In another bowl, beat butter and sugar until fluffy. Add eggs one at a time, then mix in vanilla. Alternate adding flour mixture and milk until just combined.
Duration: 10 minutes
Bake the cupcakes for 18–20 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean. Cool in the pan for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack. 🧁
Duration: 20 minutes baking + 30 minutes cooling
Make the caramel sauce: In a saucepan over medium heat, melt sugar, stirring constantly until it turns amber. Add butter, then slowly whisk in cream (it will bubble). Stir in sea salt and cool completely. 🍯
Duration: 15 minutes prep + 15 minutes cooling
Make the buttercream: Beat butter until fluffy. Add powdered sugar gradually, then mix in cooled caramel sauce and a pinch of salt. Beat until smooth.
Duration: 10 minutes
Fill and frost: Use a knife or corer to remove the center of each cupcake. Fill with a spoonful of caramel. Pipe or spread the buttercream on top and drizzle with extra caramel and a pinch of flaky salt. ✨
Duration: 15 minutes
Prep Time: 25 minutes | Baking Time: 20 minutes | Cooling + Assembly Time: 1 hour | Total Time: 1 hour 45 minutes
Kcal: 420 kcal | Servings: 12 cupcakes