Caramel Popcorn Cupcakes

• FOR THE CUPCAKES:
• 4-1/2 ounces, weight Unsalted Butter
• 1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract
• 1 cup Brown Sugar, Firmly Packed
• 2 whole Eggs
• 1 Tablespoon Golden Syrup/or Maple Syrup
• 1 cup Self-Rising Flour
• 1/2 teaspoons Ground Cinnamon
• 1/2 cups Milk
• FOR THE CARAMEL FILLING:
• 1 cup Brown Sugar
• 3 Tablespoons Water
• 1 teaspoon Salt
• 1/2 cans Sweetened Condensed Milk (395g Can)
• 1/4 cups Icing Sugar
• FOR THE ICING:
• 1/2 pounds, 7/8 ounces, weight Copha Or Vegetable Shortening
• 1/2 pounds, 7/8 ounces, weight Unsalted Butter
• 1 teaspoon Vanilla Essence
• 1-1/2 pounds, 2-1/2 ounces, weight Icing Sugar
• 1-1/2 Tablespoon Meringue Powder
• 1/4 cups Water
• 1 package Premade Caramel Corn (250g)

1. For the Caramel Filling:
2. Place brown sugar, water and salt into a saucepan and simmer over a medium heat until mixture starts to darken and thicken. Take off heat and add 1/2 tin of condensed milk and the icing sugar and stir through. Place back on heat and simmer for 3 - 5 minutes - stirring constantly. Mixture should be a thick runny consistency - if not add more icing sugar. Set aside to cool.
3. For the Caramel Butter Cupcakes:
4. Preheat oven to 170 degrees C. Set out muffin papers in muffin tin.
5. Beat butter, vanilla and sugar with mixer until light and fluffy. Beat in eggs one at a time; then beat in golden syrup. Fold in sifted dry ingredients and milk.
6. Fill the cupcake papers half way and make an indent in the top of the mixture. Spoon a teaspoon of salted caramel in the indent and place the rest of the batter on top.
7. Bake for about 25-30 minutes. Set aside to cool.
8. For the buttercream icing:
9. Soften copha (or shortening) in microwave for a few seconds until it's pliable. Be careful not to melt it. Place both copha (or vegetable shortening) and butter into a mixing bowl, add vanilla essence and beat for 1-2 minutes until combined.
10. Add icing sugar 1 cup at a time, continuing to mix until you're happy with the consistency. You may not need the whole 750g. Add meringue powder and water and mix to combine. Set aside for about 10 minutes.
11. Assembling
12. Ice cupcakes with buttercream icing and carefully place popcorn pieces over the icing to cover the top of the cupcake, trying to keep gaps to a minimum.
13. Use pieces of popcorn with dabs of icing on it to fill in gaps and create a uniform top.

butter, vanilla, brown sugar, eggs, golden syrup, flour, ground cinnamon, milk, brown sugar, water, salt, milk, ubc, vegetable shortening, butter, vanilla, weight icing sugar, meringue powder, ubc, premade caramel

Taken from tastykitchen.com/recipes/desserts/caramel-popcorn-cupcakes/ (may not work)