Salted Caramel Icing Food

SALTED CARAMEL FROSTED BROWNIES

Steps:

• For the brownies: Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Line a 9-by-13-inch baking pan with foil or parchment paper.
• In the top of a double boiler over medium heat, heat the chocolate and butter, stirring, until melted, about 5 minutes. Add the granulated sugar and stir gently until combined. Remove from the heat.
• In a separate bowl, gently whisk the eggs. Add a small splash of the chocolate mixture to the eggs, stirring immediately (but still gently). Then add the tempered eggs into the chocolate, stirring constantly. Add the flour and stir until combined. Pour the batter into the prepared baking pan and spread to even out the surface.
• Bake until just beginning to crisp at the edges, 25 to 30 minutes. Let cool completely in the pan.
• For the salted caramel sauce: Add the brown sugar, cream, butter, vanilla and salt to a pan and cook over medium heat, whisking occasionally, until thickened and combined, about 5 minutes. Remove from the heat and allow to cool.
• For the salted caramel buttercream: Add the confectioners' sugar, butter and cream to a mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Mix until light and fluffy, 3 to 4 minutes. Turn the mixer off, drizzle in the salted caramel sauce, turn the mixer back on and mix until combined.
• To frost the brownies: Remove the cooled brownies from the pan, spread with the buttercream and cut into individual pieces.

CHOCOLATE CUPCAKES WITH SALTED CARAMEL FROSTING AND CHOCOLATE FUDGE FILLING

Steps:

• For the chocolate cupcakes: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line a 24-cup muffin pan with cupcake liners.
• Cream the granulated sugar, butter and oil in a large bowl. Beat in the eggs, one at a time, until fluffy. Add the vanilla and blend well. Sift the flour, baking soda and sea salt and gradually add to the sugar mixture, alternating with the milk.
• Whisk the cocoa and water until smooth in a small bowl. Add to the mixture and continue beating until well blended.
• Fill each muffin cup three-quarters full with batter. Bake the cupcakes until baked through the center, about 15 minutes. Remove the cupcakes from the pan and cool on wire racks.
• For the chocolate fudge filling: Melt the butter in a microwave-safe bowl. Whisk the cocoa and water until smooth in a separate bowl. Whisk the cocoa mixture into the butter until blended and smooth. Whisk in the powdered sugar until fluffy. Yield: 2 cups.
• For the buttercream base frosting: Whip the powdered sugar, milk, vanilla and sea salt with a whisk attachment on low until smooth and creamy. Add the butter one slice at a time until well blended. Add the shortening and blend well. Whip on high until the mixture doubles, 10 to 12 minutes. Yield: 8 cups.
• For the salted caramel: Combine 1/4 cup room temperature water and the granulated sugar in a small saucepan. Cook over medium-low heat until the sugar dissolves. Increase the heat to medium-high and bring to a boil. Boil without stirring, until the mixture is approximately 325 degrees F and a deep amber color, 5 to 6 minutes.
• Remove the caramel from the heat and whisk in the cream. The caramel will bubble violently. Once smooth, stir in the butter and fine sea salt. Transfer the caramel to a heat safe container and allow cooling for 15 minutes. Cover and refrigerate for up to 2 weeks. Yield: 1 1/2 cups.
• For the salted caramel frosting: Whip 2 1/2 cups buttercream base frosting, the powdered sugar and 1/2 cup salted caramel with a whisk attachment until fluffy. Yield: 3 cups.
• Once the cupcakes are cool, cut out the center of each cupcake and fill with the chocolate fudge filling. Top each cupcake with the salted caramel frosting.

SALTED CARAMEL FROSTING

Steps:

• Briefly stir together granulated sugar and water in a small saucepan and bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Continue cooking, without stirring, until mixture turns dark amber in color, 6-10 minutes.
• Remove from heat and slowly add in cream and vanilla, stirring with a wooden spoon until completely smooth. Set aside until cool to the touch, about 25 minutes.
• Beat butter and salt on high in a large bowl until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Reduce speed to low, add powdered sugar, and mix until completely incorporated.
• Turn mixer off and scrape down the sides of the bowl, then add caramel. Beat frosting on medium-high speed until airy and thoroughly mixed, about 2 minutes.
• For easiest spreading, cover and refrigerate until stiff, about 45 minutes, before using. If not, spread and enjoy!

SALTED CARAMEL CUPCAKES

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. Line a 12-hole cake tin with paper cases.
• Beat the butter and sugar together with an electric whisk until pale and fluffy. Add the eggs, one at a time, and the vanilla extract. Briefly mix in the flour until just combined, and stir in the milk until the batter just falls off the beaters.
• Divide the mixture between the cases, leaving about 2 tbsp batter in the bowl. Add a pinch of salt to the caramel sauce if it's not salted caramel, then add ½ tsp to the tops of each cupcake. Use a teaspoon to cover the caramel sauce with the remaining batter. Bake for 15-20 mins until springy and golden. Leave to cool completely on a wire rack.
• Meanwhile, make the icing. Beat the butter and half of the icing sugar together, then tip in the remaining icing sugar and whisk vigorously until pale and fluffy. Stir in half of the caramel sauce, then spoon the mixture into a piping bag with a round or star nozzle.
• Pipe swirls of icing on top of the cooled cupcakes. Stir the remaining caramel sauce with a pinch of salt, if unsalted, then use to drizzle over the icing. Sprinkle over a small pinch of sea salt over each, if you like.

CARAMEL FROSTING I

Steps:

• In a saucepan over medium heat, melt the butter, and mix in 3 tablespoons milk and brown sugar. Boil vigorously for 1 minute.
• Remove from heat, and beat in 1/2 cup confectioners' sugar. Cool slightly, and beat in the vanilla and remaining 1/2 cup confectioners' sugar. Add more milk if the mixture is too thick.

SALTED CREAM CHEESE CARAMEL FROSTING

Steps:

• Combine the sugar, water and corn syrup in a large saucepan and stir with a wooden spoon over medium heat until sugar is dissolved.
• Cover the saucepan and let it cook over medium heat for 3 minutes. Do not open lid.
• After 3 minutes, remove the lid, increase the heat to medium and bring to a boil.
• Do not stir from this point on, but instead swirl the liquid around the pan so that the caramel doesn't burn. Stirring forms sugar crystals and it will become grainey.
• Continue to cook until the caramel turns an even amber color then remove from the heat and let stand for about 30 seconds.
• Carefully pour the heavy cream into the mixture. The mixture will bubble up significantly and is very hot. Stir the mixture; add the butter, lemon juice and salt. Stir, again, until combined.
• Pour caramel into a heat-proof measuring cup. Stir occasionally and allow to cool until thickened and warm to the touch, about 20 minutes.
• Beat butter and cream cheese at medium speed until creamy.
• Add 4 cups sifted powdered sugar into the butter/cream cheese mixture and beat to combine.
• Add 3/4 cup of the prepared salted caramel and beat to combine.
• Add additional powdered sugar until the frosting is the sweetness and consistency desired.