Rich Chocolate Caramel Cupcake Food

CHOCOLATE CARAMEL TOFFEE CUPCAKE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Place 24 cupcake liners in a cupcake pan.
• In a large bowl, mix together the flour, granulated sugar, milk, cocoa, vegetable oil, vanilla extract, salt and eggs. Mix until smooth. Add the baking soda to 1 cup water. Add baking soda mixture to the batter. Mix well (the batter will be thin). Pour the batter into baking cups, filling three-quarters of the way up. Bake for 12 to 15 minutes.
• To assemble: Place the Caramel in a pastry bag fitted with a small tip. Push the tip through the bottom of paper liner to fill each cupcake. Add the Whipped Frosting to a pastry bag fitted with a large tip. Pipe a swirl of the frosting onto each cupcake, covering the filling. Sprinkle the Toffee over the frosting. Transfer the cupcakes to the refrigerator and chill for at least 30 minutes.
• In a large saucepan, stir together the granulated sugar, milk, butter, 2 teaspoons vanilla extract and the salt. While stirring, bring to a boil. Cook for 7 minutes. Remove from the heat, and stir in the remaining teaspoon of vanilla extract. Let cool.
• Chill the bowl of a stand mixer in the freezer.
• Add the heavy cream to the chilled bowl. Whip with the whisk attachment on medium-high speed until soft peaks form. Add the confectioners' sugar and continue to whip until thoroughly combined and stiff peaks form. Be careful not to over beat. Blend in the vanilla extract.
• Spray a large cookie sheet with nonstick spray. Combine the butter, granulated sugar and 1/2 cup water in a heavy pan. Stir constantly at a simmer until the mixture turns brown (like a brown paper bag). Pour the mixture onto the prepared cookie sheet. Break the chocolate bar onto the toffee while still hot. With the back of a spoon, spread the chocolate evenly. Let cool and then break into small pieces.

CHOCOLATE CUPCAKES WITH CARAMEL FROSTING

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease 15 muffin cups or line with paper baking cups.
• In a large bowl, stir together the white sugar, flour, cocoa, and baking soda. Make a well in the center, and pour in the water, grape jelly, mayonnaise, and 1 teaspoon of vanilla. Mix just until blended. Spoon the batter into the prepared cups, dividing evenly.
• Bake in the preheated oven until the tops spring back when lightly pressed, 20 to 25 minutes. Cool in the pan set over a wire rack. When cool, arrange the cupcakes on a serving platter.
• Make the frosting while the cupcakes cool. Combine the butter, half-and-half and brown sugar in a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil, stirring frequently. Remove from the heat and stir in the confectioners' sugar and vanilla. Set the pan over a bowl of ice water and whisk or beat with an electric mixer until fluffy. Frost cupcakes when they are completely cool.

RICH CHOCOLATE CARAMEL CUPCAKE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 325°F Line 30 regular-size cupcake or muffin cups with paper cupcake liners or line 6 dozen (72) mini cupcake or mini muffin cups with mini cupcake liners.
• In a mixing bowl, combine the flour baking soda, and salt. Sift the cocoa powder in a separate bowl. Whisk the hot water into the cocoa until smooth. In bowl of an electric mixer, cream the sugar and butter well. Add the eggs, buttermilk, oil, and vanilla and mix until smooth. Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and add the cocoa mixture. Beat just until smooth. Fill the cupcake liners 3/4-full and bake the regular-size cupcakes for 20 minutes, or until cooked through or bake the mini cupcakes for 19 minutes, or until cooked through. Remove the cupcakes from the pan and let cool completely. Fill with CARAMEL CREAM CENTER and top with GANACHE FROSTING and the prepared Blue Rock Sugar.
• AGAVE CARAMEL SAUCE:.
• In a small saucepan, heat the water over high heat until hot but not boiling. Add the sugar and the agave and stir gently to dissolve. Bring the mixture to a boil, and heat to 330°F, or to a warm brown color. Add the cream slowly, whisking constantly, the caramel will bubble and rise. Add the butter and continue whisking over the heat until the caramel is smooth. Remove from the heat and stir in the vanilla extract. Chill the mixture to thicken.
• CARAMEL CREAM CENTER:.
• Warm the egg whites and sugar over a double boiler, stirring the egg mixture until the sugar dissolves and the mixture feels warm to the touch. Remove from the heat and whip until medium-stiff peaks form. With the mixer running, gradually add the softened butter and vanilla until thick and smooth. Fold in the Agave Caramel Sauce until fully incorporated. Place the CARAMEL CREAM CENTER in a pastry bag fitted with pastry tip and filled the cooled cupcakes.
• CHOCOLATE GANACHE:.
• In a saucepan, heat the cream to scald. Add the chocolate chips. Stir the mixture until smooth. Chill on the ice bath until a spreadable consistency, stirring frequently. Frost the filled cupcakes with the CHOCOLATE GANACHE and garnish with the prepared rock sugar.