Toasted Almond Cupcakes With Caramel Frosting Food

TOASTED ALMOND CUPCAKES WITH CARAMEL FROSTING

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°F (325°F for dark or nonstick pans).Place Reynolds Baking Cups in each of 24 regular-size muffin cups. In shallow pan, toast almonds 6 to 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until golden brown. Cool 15 minutes. Reserve 1 cup almonds for garnish. In food processor, grind remaining almonds until finely ground.
• In large bowl, beat cake mix, water, oil, whole eggs and almond extract with electric mixer on low speed 30 seconds, then on medium speed 2 minutes, scraping bowl occasionally. Fold in ground almonds. Divide batter evenly among muffin cups.
• Bake and cool as directed on box for cupcakes.
• In 2-quart saucepan, melt butter over medium heat. Stir in brown sugar. Heat to boiling, stirring constantly. Reduce heat to low; boil and stir 2 minutes. Stir in milk. Heat to boiling. Remove from heat. Cool to lukewarm, about 30 minutes.
• Gradually stir powdered sugar into brown sugar mixture. Place saucepan of frosting in bowl of cold water. Beat with spoon until smooth and spreadable. If frosting becomes too stiff, stir in additional milk, 1 teaspoon at a time. Frost a few cupcakes at a time with 1 tablespoon frosting each; press reserved almonds lightly into frosting. Store loosely covered.

ALMOND CUPCAKE WITH SALTED CARAMEL BUTTERCREAM FROSTING

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Line 12 cupcake cups with paper liners. In a bowl, whisk together the flour and baking powder.
• In a mixing bowl, thoroughly cream together the sugar and 1/2 cup of margarine until very well blended. Beat in the eggs, one at a time, until thoroughly combined, and stir in the vanilla and almond extracts. Gradually beat in the flour mixture, alternating with the milk, in several additions. Spoon the batter into the prepared cupcake cups, filling them about 2/3 full.
• Bake the cupcakes in the preheated oven until a toothpick inserted into the center of a cupcake comes out clean, 20 to 25 minutes.
• To make caramel, Place the brown sugar, 1/2 cup margarine, corn syrup, and vanilla into a large saucepan over medium heat, and bring the mixture to a boil. Reduce heat, and simmer until thickened, 3 to 4 minutes; remove from heat and allow to cool to warm (not hot) temperature. Add the cream, a little at a time, until the caramel has the consistency of honey. Mix in the pinch of salt, and allow to cool to room temperature.
• Beat the salted butter with confectioners' sugar in a bowl with an electric mixer on medium speed until the mixture is fluffy; slowly add and beat in the caramel, a tablespoon at a time, beating until the frosting is smooth.

TOASTED ALMOND CUPCAKES WITH CARAMEL FROSTING

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°F (325°F for dark or nonstick pans).
• Place paper baking cup in each of 24 regular-size muffin cups.
• In shallow pan, bake almonds 6 to 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until golden brown: cool 15 minutes.
• Reserve 1 cup almonds for garnish.
• In food processor, grind remaining almonds until finely ground.
• In large bowl, beat cake mix, water, oil, eggs and almond extract with electric mixer on low speed 30 seconds.
• Beat on medium speed 2 minutes, scraping bowl occasionally (Batter will be lumpy.)
• Fold in ground almonds.
• Divide batter evenly among muffin cups.
• Bake 15 to 20 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.
• Cool 10 minutes.
• Remove from pan to cooling rack.
• Cool completely, about 30 minutes.
• In 2-quart saucepan, melt butter over medium heat.
• Stir in brown sugar.
• Heat to boiling, stirring constantly.
• Reduce heat to low; boil and stir 2 minutes.
• Stir in milk.
• Heat to boiling.
• Remove from heat.
• Cool to lukewarm, about 30 minutes.
• Gradually stir powdered sugar into brown sugar mixture.
• Place saucepan of frosting in bowl of cold water.
• Beat with spoon until smooth and spreadable.
• If frosting becomes too stiff, stir in additional milk, 1 teaspoon at a time.
• Frost a few cupcakes at a time with 1 tablespoon frosting each; press reserved almonds lightly into frosting.
• Store loosely covered at room temperature.

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.

ALMOND CUPCAKES WITH ORANGE ICING

Steps:

• In a bowl whisk together the flour, the almonds, the baking powder, and a pinch of salt. In another bowl with an electric mixer cream together the shortening and the granulated sugar, beat in the egg and the almond extract, and beat in the flour mixture alternately with the water, beating well after each addition. Divide the batter among 12 paper-lined 1/2-cup muffin tins and bake the cupcakes in the middle of a preheated 350°:F. oven for 15 to 20 minutes, or until a tester comes out clean. Turn the cupcakes out onto a rack and let them cool completely.
• In another bowl beat together the confectioners' sugar, the butter, the zest, and the juice, beating until the icing is fluffy, and spread the icing on the cupcakes.