Caramel Apple Cupcake

Well, it's hard to say who won overall, but the first ones gone in both test groups were the Caramel Apple.  Plus, that one was my favourite so it's getting posted first!  The best part of this cupcake, other than the caramel apple slice on top, was the surprise caramel filling.  To make this sweet and caramely delight you'll need...

For the Cake: 

• White Cake Mix (plus ingredients to make the cake...usually eggs, oil, and water...but we're replacing the water for this one)
• Apple Juice Concentrate (to replace the water your recipe calls for)
• Store bought White Icing
• Butter (room temperate...around 1/2 cup....but it's up to you)
• Icing Sugar (optional)
• Garnish: Caramel Square or Caramel Apple Slice

For the Filling:

• 1/4 cup butter
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 3 tablespoons Milk
• 1 1/2 cups icing sugar

Alright, here's the recipe...

Step 1: For the most part, follow the direction of your White Cake Mix - preheat your oven and add in your eggs and oil, but replace the water with Apple Juice Concentrate. Spoon the batter into your cupcake liners and bake as directed on package. Once done, cool completely.

Step 2: On to the Caramel Filling!  Melt down the butter in a saucepan on the stove.  Add in the Brown Sugar and boil for around 2 minutes stirring constantly - be careful cuz this gets hot!  Next you'll need to remove it from the burner and mix in the milk.  Place it back on the burner and get it back to a boil.  Once it reached a good boil remove it and let it cool to lukewarm and stir in your icing sugar.

Step 3: Using a cupcake corer or small spoon, make a small hole in the centre of your cooled cupcakes.  If you're using a spoon, you may want to use a knife first to create a small circle and use a spoon to scoop it out.  Make sure you don't go too far down into the centre of your cupcake or your filling will fall out from the bottom when you unwrap it.

Step 4: Spoon in your Caramel Filling.  It's easier to do this when it's still a little warm.  Your filling will be plyable and have a consistency of a fudge.

Step 5: Mix together your White Icing and Butter on high until smooth. Give it a taste and if it's too buttery for your taste, add some icing sugar. Pipe your icing on top of your cupcake to cover the filling.  If you're garnishing it with an Apple Slice, be sure to wait until you're ready to serve your cupcake before placing it on top.

Happy Faking!

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Candy Apple vs Caramel Apple

It's getting close to one of my most favourite holidays - HALLOWEEN! I can't decide what I like more about this holiday...making my costume or getting candy! Now that I'm too old to trick or treat (note: I did not say too small, those who know me would understand why) I feel like I put more effort into this holiday than ever.  So naturally I will be making Halloween themed cupcakes for some upcoming fun.

This year, I will be hosting a cupcake off between two natural Halloween competitors...well... natural in my mind.  First up is the Candy Apple - a hot cinnamon treat with a tough exterior.  It's competitor, and biasedly my favourite, the Caramel Apple - a sweet caramel treat with a chewy-gooey exterior that makes parents and dentists cringe.

Both the Candy Apple and Caramel Apple will be cupcake-ified for this round.  A select group of friends and colleagues who get try them also get to vote for their favourite.  Who will win?  Everyone who gets to try them of course:)  But the cupcake with the most votes will get bragging rights in their feature recipe post.  And so my Saturday baking begins! 

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Dulce de Leche Cupcake

Sometimes you just need a little something sweet to get you through a tough day.  If you're looking for that perfect little sweet little indulgence, here's the perfect cupcake that is sure to fit the bill and make you smile.  To make this delightfully sweet treat you'll need...

• Chocolate Cake Mix (plus ingredients to make the cake...usually eggs, oil, and water)
• Store bought Vanilla Icing
• 1 Jar of Dulce de Leche Topping
• Butter (room temperate...around 1/2 cup....but it's up to you)
• Icing Sugar (optional)
• Garnish (optional): Milk Duds

On to the recipe...

Step 1: Follow the direction of your Chocolate Cake Mix - from preheating your oven through to adding the eggs, oil, water, etc.  Mix together until the batter is smooth..

Step 2 : After that you have a few options on how you'd like to add in the Dulce de Leche topping into your batter.  Your first option is to add around 1/3 of a cup directly into the batter and mixing it through.  Your second option, and my preference, is to add a couple of small dollops of Dulce de Leche into each cupcake (alternating a small spoonful of batter then a small spoonful of Dulce de Leche) or spooning some Dulce de Leche directly on top of the cupcake batter as you fill your cupcake liners.  By doing it the second way, the bottom of your cupcake gets all sticky and gooey  - almost like you soaked it in the Dulce de Leche - YUM.  Either way, it's yummy and completely up to you.


Step 3: Fill you cupcake pan liners around 3/4 of the way. Don't overfill your cupcake liners because you'll need some space between the cupcake and the top of the liner to act as a barrier to top the cupcake with the Dulce de Leche topping.  Place in the oven and bake as directed on package.  Once done, cool completely before icing. 

Step 4: On to the icing.  Mix together your vanilla icing and butter on high until smooth.  Give it a taste and if it's too buttery for your taste, add some icing sugar.  Once you're happy with the taste, you're ready to put together your Dulce de Leche Cupcake .

Step 4: Now it's time to assemble your sweet Dulce de Leche Cupcake.  Spoon on as much or as little Dulce de Leche topping over the top of your cupcake.  The Dulce de Leche topping won't soak into your cupcake much, so you'll only need enough to spread over the top.  This is also why it it was important not to overfill your cupcake liners so that it can act as a barrier.

Step 5: Finally, it's time to ice your cupcakes.  Because of the Dulce de Leche topping, it's easier if you use a piping bag and tip, but if you'd like to can try spooning it on.  Finally, top your cupcake off with a Milk Dud or whatever garnish you choose.

Happy Faking! 

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Caramel-WOW Cupcake

This creation is like an oversized chocolate covered caramel square, but in cupcake form. It also combines two of the gooeyest ingredients - Caramel and Marshmallow - into a tasty treat that will make you say WOW!  To make this sweet, sticky creation you'll need...

• Marble Cake Mix (plus ingredients to make the cake...usually eggs, oil, and water)
• 1/4 cup of Caramel Sauce
• Store bought Vanilla Icing 
• Butter (room temperate...around 1/2 cup....but it's up to you)
• 1 cup of Fluff
• Icing Sugar
• 1 cup of Cool Whip (optional)
• 3 ounces of Semi-Sweet Chocolate (optional)
• Garnish (optional): Caramel Square, Chocolate Covered Caramel Square

Step 1: Follow the direction of your marble cake mix including: 1) preheating your oven, 2) adding the eggs, oil, water, etc, 3) measuring 1 cup or so of the batter and pouring it into a separate bowl and 4) mixing in the cocoa package to the 1 cup of batter. 

Step 2: Now it's time to add a little caramel to the mix.  Mix in around 1/4 of a cup of Caramel Sauce into the vanilla batter and stir until filly incorporated. And now your batters are ready to be spooned into your cupcake liners!

Step 3: Spoon your caramel flavoured cupcake batter into your cupcake pan liners, filling them just over 1/2 way.  Next spoon a tablespoon of the chocolate batter in the centre of the caramel flavoured batter.  Place them in the oven and bake as directed on package.  As they bake, the chocolate batter will bake through to the middle of the cupcake and surround the outside.  Once they are done baking, let them cool completely before icing.

Step 4:  On to the icing.  Here's where you add in a little more WOW with Marshmallow.  Mix your vanilla icing, Fluff and butter on high until smooth.  Add in some icing sugar to thicken it back up.  If you want to stop there and simply top your cupcakes off with this icing and be done you can.  Just spoon or pipe on your icing and garnish with a Caramel or Chocolate Covered Caramel Square ... or to make it a little more fancy, move on to step 5.

Step 5 (optional): If you want to fancy it up a step more with a chocolate glaze, simply melt together 3 ounces of semi-sweet chocolate and 1 cup of Cool Whip.  Let it cool a little before you add a little to the top of your icing.  To get in on top of your icing, place the warm chocolate glaze mixture in a piping bag or a Ziploc bag.  Cut the tip and drizzle as much as you want over the top of each cupcake. You can consider that to be your garnish or add a Caramel or Chocolate Covered Caramel Square to the top.  

Happy Faking!

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Turtle Cupcake

Craving the perfect mix of caramel, chocolate and pecans?  Instead of picking up a box of turtles, why not make this yummy turtle inspired cupcake.  Or better yet, get both!  After all, turtles never go to waste and you can always garnish your cupcakes with turtles too!  For this delicious take on a turtle cupcake-style you'll need...

• Chocolate Cake Mix (plus ingredients to make the cake...usually eggs, oil, and water)
• Store bought Chocolate Icing
• 1/4 cup of Caramel Sauce (plus more to add on top of each cupcake) 
• 1/2 cup of Pecan Pieces (plus more to garnish if you'd like)
• Butter (room temperate...around 1/2 cup....but it's up to you)
• Icing Sugar (optional)
• Garnish (optional): Pecan Pieces, Whole Pecans, Turtles 

And here's the recipe...

Step 1: Follow the direction of your Chocolate Cake Mix - from preheating your oven through to adding the eggs, oil, water, etc.  Add 1/4 cup of Caramel Sauce.  Mix together until the batter is smooth..

Step 2: Add 1/2 cup of Pecan Pieces and stir until fully incorporated.  Spoon the batter into your cupcake pan liners around 3/4 of the way. Don't overfill your cupcake liners because you'll need some space between the cupcake and the top of the liner to act as a barrier to top the cupcake with a little caramel sauce.  Place in the oven and bake as directed on package.  Once done, cool completely before icing. 

Step 3: As if that's not turtle inspired enough, it's time to add a second layer of turtle inspiration. Before assembling your cupcakes, you'll need to whip up your chocolate icing by mixing together your chocolate store bought icing and butter on high until smooth.  Taste the icing and add more icing sugar if it tastes too buttery for your liking.

Step 4: Now it's time to assemble your turtle inspired topping.  Spoon or pour around 1 to 1 1/2 teaspoons of Caramel Sauce in the middle of your cupcake - this was why it was important not to overfill your cupcake liners.  The Caramel Sauce will slowly absorb into the cupcake after decorating - DELICIOUS! Then, add 3 to 4 Pecan Pieces on top of the Caramel Sauce.

Step 5: Finally, it's time to ice your cupcakes.  Because of the Pecan Pieces and Caramel Sauce, it's easier if you use a piping bag and tip, but if you'd like to can try spooning it on.  And last, but not least, it's time to garnish your cupcakes!  I used a few Pecan Pieces, but you can use a Whole Pecan or a Turtle if you'd like.

Happy Faking!

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