Chocolate Cupcakes with Caramel Filling and Vanilla Buttercream Frosting are moist and decadent mini cakes that you can make from scratch.
I think there is nothing better than homemade baking, starting from scratch. You can mix some basic ingredients together, bake it, with the final result of receiving a scrumptious dessert. The best part of it is seeing how your family and friends enjoy these treats that you made yourself. This is the best award for me!
Cupcakes are perfect treats for parties. You can create a few different flavors, toppings, and even fill them with some caramel, curd, or fudge. Everyone can enjoy their preferred flavors!
This recipe is one of my most favorites; chocolate cupcakes filled with homemade salted caramel and topped with rich vanilla buttercream frosting. Although it might look complicated, it is really easy to make.
How to make Chocolate Cupcakes
The base for these cupcakes is very similar to my popular Red Velvet Cupcakes. Instead of using a mix of sour cream and milk, I like to use some buttermilk. It will help your mini cakes stay soft and moist.
To start, I like to beat softened butter and sugar in my Kitchen Aid Stand Mixer for about 4-5 minutes, so it will have an airy texture and pale color. Then add the eggs, vanilla extract and buttermilk and beat it again for a minute or two, until it is well combined.
To fold in dry ingredients, I prefer to use a spatula. That way I won’t over mix the mixture, so it will stay light and airy.
How to make Salted Caramel
You can pre-make the caramel sauce a day or two in advance and just reheat in in a microwave or an oven when you are ready to use it. Pre-heating is not necessary but it will be easier for you to fill in the cupcakes and top the buttercream. Though, don’t re-heat it too much, just to the right consistency.
I like to make my own caramel filling at home, since it takes only 15 minutes and 4 ingredients. Check out the full recipe here with all tips and tricks: Homemade Caramel Sauce.
How to make Vanilla Buttercream Frosting
I made two versions of these cupcakes, with Cream Cheese Frosting and Vanilla Buttercream Frosting. While I always prefer cream cheese over buttercream icing, I think that vanilla buttercream frosting is more classic for this recipe.
However, if you are a fan of Cream Cheese Icing like me, you can see how I make it with my Red Velvet Cupcakes.
For my Vanilla Buttercream Frosting, I start with beating softened butter on a high speed for a few minutes in my stand mixer, using a paddle attachment. Then add powdered sugar and mix again until well incorporated. Add heavy cream and vanilla extract, and beat on a high speed until it gets the right consistency. If it is too liquid, you can add more powdered sugar and mix one more time. Cover with some plastic wrap and keep in a refrigerator until ready to use.
MORE CUPCAKES IDEAS YOU MIGHT LIKE:
- Kahlua Cupcakes
- Birthday Cake Cupcakes
- Red Velvet Cupcakes
- Vanilla Chocolate Chip Cupcakes
- Blueberry Lemon Cupcakes
- Carrot Cake Cupcakes
MORE CHOCOLATE DESSERT IDEAS YOU MIGHT LIKE:
- Chocolate Mousse Pie
- Chocolate Bourbon Truffles
- Chocolate Chunk Cookies
- Julia Child’s Chocolate Mousse
- One Bowl Brownies
- No-Bake Brownie Bites
Did you make this recipe?!? I’d love to know how it turned out! leave a comment and a rating below👇 thank you!
Chocolate Cupcakes with Caramel Filling
Ingredients
Ingredients for Chocolate Cupcakes:
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- ½ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- ⅛ teaspoon salt
- ½ cup unsalted butter softened
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup buttermilk
Ingredients for Salted Caramel:
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 6 tablespoon unsalted butter cut in pieces
- ½ cup heavy cream
- 1 teaspoon salt
Ingredients for Vanilla Buttercream Frosting:
- 1 ½ cups unsalted butter room temperature
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- ¼ cup heavy cream
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
How to make Chocolate Cupcakes:
- Preheat your oven to 350°F and line a muffin tin with 12 muffin liners inside. Set it aside.
- In a medium size mixing bowl sift 1 cup all-purpose flour, ½ cup cocoa powder, ½ tsp baking powder, ½ tsp baking soda, and ⅛ tsp salt together. Set aside.
- Using a hand or stand mixer with a paddle attachment, cream together ½ cup butter and 1 cup sugar on a high speed for a few minutes, until the mixture is pale and fluffy.
- Add 2 eggs, 1 tsp vanilla extract, and 1 cup buttermilk and mix again until well incorporated.
- Using a spatula, fold in dry ingredients in 2 steps until just combined. Do not overmix!
- Divide this batter between 12 muffin liners. Bake at 350°F for 18-20 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. When it is ready, take it out and set aside to cool off for about 10 minutes. Place the muffins on a wire rack.
How to make Salted Caramel:
- Heat 1 cup granulated sugar in a saucepan over medium heat. Stir constantly with a rubber spatula until the sugar melts and becomes amber in color. That might take about 5-7 minutes. Make sure not to burn it.
- When the sugar is melted, add 6 tbsp unsalted butter. Constantly stir while the butter melts and mixes together with the sugar.
- As soon as the butter is incorporated, stir in ½ cup heavy cream. The mixture will bubble because of the temperature difference. Continue to stir all the time.
- When the sauce is the right consistency and the color, remove it from the heat and add some salt (about a teaspoon).
How to make Vanilla Buttercream Frosting:
- In a stand mixer, using a paddle attachment, beat 1 ½ cups room temperature butter until it gets light consistency.
- Add 1 cup powdered sugar and mix again until well incorporated.
- Add ¼ cup heavy cream and 1 tsp vanilla extract, and beat on a high speed until it gets the right consistency.
- If it is too liquid, you can add more powdered sugar and mix one more time.
How to assemble Chocolate Cupcakes with Caramel Filling and Vanilla Buttercream Frosting:
- Using a knife or a cupcake corer, cut out small holes in the middle of cupcakes.
- Fill in with about 1-1 ½ teaspoon of salted caramel into the cupcakes holes.
- Using a 1 mm open start piping tip, top the cupcakes with the Vanilla Buttercream Frosting.
- Spoon a teaspoon of salted caramel on top of the frosting.
- Enjoy!
hi can i use any kind of milk instead of buttermilk? does it have any substitution?
Hi there! Does the caramel harden significantly in the fridge? If i used this between cake layers in a cake, would it be chewy or crunchy if eaten straight out the fridge? I would like it to stay smooth and silky, so i’d like to know…
Hi Michelle! Yes, this caramel gets thick and chewy in the fridge (like most of caramel sauces). If you want it to be thinner, you can add a bit more heavy cream. Also, if you add it to the cake, just leave it on the counter for about 30 minutes before serving.
Hi, is there any subsitute for the heavy cream in the caramel or does it have to be heavy cream?
Hi Maria. to get the right consistency and creaminess, you need to use heavy cream.
Fantastic recipe. Made it tonight – and got 14 cupcakes out of it, so perhaps I could have made mine slightly larger.
Cupcakes were light and airy, and unlike many recipes not too sweet (the buttermilk and cocoa keeps that sweetness down). The caramel.was super easy to make – it was the first time I’ve made caramel, and it was foolproof. I found the buttercream needed a lot more powdered sugar than the recipe called for, but that’s a small complaint.
The end result is a lovely cupcake oozing with caramel that you’ll really enjoy.
Thank you, James! I’m so happy you liked them!
Can I substitute the buttermilk with almond or oatmeal milk as I don’t have buttermilk
Hi Michele. Unfortunately, you cannot substitute buttermilk with plant based milk. Buttermilk helps the cupcakes to get light and airy texture.
Actually I used 2 cups of almond milk mixed with 1 tbsp fresh lemon juice. Turned out airy and perfect!
will the caramel melt the frosting once it is put on top of the frosting? If so, could I refrigerate the caramel and then put it on, or will it become too thick to put on top of the frosting?
Hi Catherine. When you drizzle the frosting with caramel, you need to make sure that the caramel is not too warm (or it will melt it). I like to keep it on the counter, just to cool off, then drizzle. If you put it in the fridge, it will be too thick and it will be hard to drizzle. Hope that helps!
Delicious cupcakes, cooking the caramel to the right consistency takes some practice!
does the caramel seep into the cupcakes or will it stay put for at least a day? I’m looking to make these the night before for a work event.
Hi Casey!
The caramel filling will thicken up when you refrigerate them. It is totally ok to make them a day before!) My only suggestion is to drizzle additional caramel on top just before you serve it so it looks fresh. You can warm it up in a microwave for a few seconds so it is runny, cool off a bit, then drizzle on top)
thank you!! 🙂
If I make them a day in advance, do I just leave them in the fridge with a foil seal and bring it back to room temp before serving the next day?
Hi Ruth! Yes, you can refrigerate them overnight and take them out an hour before you serve them. I also prefer to drizzle the caramel just before serving, so it stays fresh an runny.
If I were to use salted butter, would I simply cut out the added salt in the cupcake recipe?
Hi Molly! You definitely want to skip additional salt when using salted butter. Though, I always prefer to use unsalted butter, because it is easier to control the amount of salt in your dessert. Let me know how it came out!)
Is it 1/4 cup of Cocoa? Same as in your Red Velvet Cupcake Recipe? Sorry, I don’t see it listed and wanted to make sure.
Hi! Wow, thank you for catching that!) it is 1 cup of all-purpose flour and 1/2 cup of unsweetened cocoa powder. I corrected the recipe 😉
What a tasty surprise in the middle of these chocolate cupcakes. I love caramel!!
Thank you, Matt) I love cupcakes with different fillings!)
Oh my goodness, the decadence here! These cupcakes look incredible and I know my kids would absolutely love them!
Thank you, Stacey)
Caramel and chocolate is such a great flavor combo! These look delicious and I just love the photos!!
Thank you, Kathryn!
The caramel running out of these cupcakes is pretty much straight from my dessert dreams. You nailed it with the recipe and with the photos!
Thank you, Abby!)
Whoa – that photo with the caramel just pouring out — beautiful!! These look and sound absolutely incredible!
Thank you, Julie)
You’ve out done yourself with this recipe – WOW! These look and sound so amazing! Perfect for a sweet treat! My kids will love these and I’m excited to make the Salted Caramel!! YUM!
Thank you, Amanda! I am sure your kids will love them!)
Be still my beating heart!! These look so delicious and then that filling….pure perfection! Thanks for sharing!
Thank you, Carrie!
This reminds me of a lava cake with caramel and it sounds so good! Thanks for sharing a great recipe and all the details on making them!
Thank you, Analida)
You have me at caramel and those pictures make me want one. Yum! Saving this for later – love how simple it is.
Thank you, Veena! Let me know how you liked them!)
I am drooling looking at these photos!! There’s nothing like drippy caramel coming out of a chocolate cupcakes…. YUMMM
Thank you, Dominique!)
Oh, wow! These cupcakes are like EVERYTHING! Perfect crumb, the frosting is on point, and that caramel! Yup – I’m drooling!
Thank you, Jenni )
Oh my goodness! I don’t “do” sweets, but your cupcakes have me fortitude weakening. I love the idea of the chocolate with the oozing salted caramel. Delicious, and the photos make them look irresistible!
Thank you, Tamara!
Yum! Will these be served at your wedding?
ha-ha) That would be nice!) But we will have some other delicious treats 😉