Snickers with Caramel Buttercream Cupcakes

Ingredients

FOR THE CUPCAKES
2/3 cup cocoa powder
2/3 cup boiling water
2/3 cup milk
2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 teaspoon baking soda
3/4 teaspoon baking powder
3/4 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter
1 3/4 cups sugar
3 eggs, at room temperature
1 tablespoon vanilla extract

FOR THE FILLING
1 1/4 cups sugar
1 tablespoon corn syrup (can be omitted, but watch the sugar color more vigilantly)
1/4 cup water
1 cup heavy cream
pinch salt
5 tablespoons butter
1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract

36 Snickers miniatures, quartered

FOR THE FROSTING
1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, at room temperature
1 lb. confectioners’ sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/3 cup caramel sauce (from the filling)
1 to 2 tablespoons heavy cream

FOR THE GARNISH
24 Snickers miniatures, quartered
about 7 tablespoons (scant half cup) of caramel sauce (from filling)

METHOD

To make the cupcakes: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Line a muffin pan with cupcake liners.

In a large (4 cup) measuring cup, combine the water and cocoa powder and whisk thoroughly. Stir in the milk; set aside.

In a medium bowl, combine the flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt; set aside.

In a large bowl, or the bowl of a stand mixer, cream the butter. Add the sugar and beat until light and fluffy. Stir in the eggs, one at a time, then scrape the bowl and add the vanilla. Sprinkle 1/3 of the flour mixture over the batter and beat until just combined. Add half of the cocoa mixture, mix until combined, then repeat with the remaining flour and cocoa mixtures, scraping the bowl as needed.

Place 2 tablespoons of batter in each cupcake liner and bake for 18-20 minutes, or untila toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.

To make the filling: Place the sugar, water, and corn syrup in a small saucepan, stirring to combine. Without stirring, bring to a boil over high heat, swirling the ingredients in the pan occasionally. Continue boiling until the mixture reaches an amber color. Remove from heat and very carefully (the mixture will quickly expand and sputter) add the cream in a slow steady stream, being sure to stir constantly. Once combined, add the salt and butter and continue stirring until both are completely melted and combined. Stir in the vanilla. Cool to room temperature before using. Reserve 3/4 cup of the filling for the frosting and garnish. Once cooled, stir in the quartered Snickers candy.

To make the frosting: Beat the butter on high speed until light and fluffy. Beat in the sugar until combined. Stir in the vanilla, sugar, and caramel. Add 1 tablespoon of heavy cream and whisk on high for 4 minutes. If necessary, add more heavy cream, up to 1 extra tablespoon.

Assemble the cupcakes: Once the cupcakes are cooled, use a paring knife to cut a small cone of cake out of the center (or use an apple corer to core out a small piece of cake). Fill each cupcake with a portion of the Snickers caramel filling (about a tablespoon each, which will be 5 or 6 candies in each cupcake). Frost each cupcake as desired. Garnish with cupcake with 4 or 5 quartered Snickers candies, per cupcake, and drizzle with caramel sauce.

http://bakingdom.com/2011/03/snickers-cupcakes.html