Caramel Cashew Cupcake
- 3/4 cup packed brown sugar
- 1/3 cup whipping cream
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- Pinch salt
- 1 cup cashews
- 1 1/4 cups cake flour
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 1/4 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup buttermilk
- 1/2 cup oil
- 1 teaspoon grated orange zest
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 large eggs
- 3 1/3 sticks unsalted butter, at room temperature
- 1 1/4 cups confectioners' sugar
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- Grated orange zest, for garnish
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F; line a cupcake pan with 12 cupcake liners.
- For the caramel sauce: In a small, heavy saucepan, mix together the brown sugar, cream, vanilla and salt.
- Cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until the mixture thickens and browns.
- Set aside to cool.
- Reserve 1/4 cup for the cake batter and 1/2 cup for the frosting; set aside the rest for drizzling on top of the cupcakes.
- For the cake batter: On an ungreased baking sheet, roast the cashews for 5 minutes; cool and chop into pieces.
- Reserve 1/4 cup for the batter and set aside the rest for garnishing the cupcakes.
- Sift together the flour, granulated sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt in a large bowl.
- Add the buttermilk, oil, orange zest, vanilla extract, eggs and the reserved 1/4 cup caramel sauce and 1/4 cup chopped cashews.
- Mix until smooth and completely combined.
- Pour the batter into the cupcake liners and bake until golden brown and risen, 8 to 10 minutes.
- Let cool completely before frosting.
- For the caramel frosting: In a medium mixing bowl using an electric mixer, cream the butter.
- Add the confectioners' sugar 1/4 cup at a time and mix until completely smooth.
- Add in the vanilla extract and reserved 1/2 cup caramel sauce and mix until combined.
- To assemble: Frost each cupcake with some of the caramel frosting.
- Drizzle the remaining caramel over the top of each cupcake and sprinkle with the remaining chopped cashews.
- Sprinkle with orange zest to taste.
- Serve immediately or store in an airtight container for up to 2 days.
brown sugar, whipping cream, vanilla, salt, cashews, cake flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, salt, buttermilk, oil, orange zest, vanilla, eggs, butter, sugar, vanilla, orange zest
Taken from www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/caramel-cashew-cupcake.html (may not work)