For best results, always weigh ingredients where a weight is provided
Instructions
For the Salted Caramel Sauce
Pour the water into a heavy bottomed saucepan, then add the sugar. Over high heat stir a little to melt the sugar but stop stirring once bubbles start to appear. Boil for 5-10 minutes until mixture reaches 120C. It should be amber / dark golden and thick.
Add the butter all at once and use a whisk to whisk it until fully incorporated. Add the cream, stir thoroughly then allow it to bubble for another 5 minutes.
Remove from heat. Add salt and stir well to dissolve it into the caramel. Pour into a sterilised jar and allow to cool. The salted caramel will keep well in the fridge for 2-3 weeks.
For the Cinnamon Cupcakes
Line 3x6 muffin / cupcake silicone or tin moulds with paper cases.
Preheat oven to 180C (350F).
Sift together the flour, cornflour, baking powder, cinnamon and salt and mix well.
In a stand mixer, beat the butter and sugar until very light and fluffy. Add the eggs one at time, scraping down the sides of the bowl and mixing thoroughly between each. Scrape down the sides again, add the vanilla beat for a further minute.
It’s very important not to over mix once you start adding the flour mixture so, either using the lowest speed on the stand mixer or using a spoon, gently mix one third of the flour into the butter / egg mix until just combined.
Add a half of the buttermilk until just mixed through. Repeat flour, milk, last of the flour each time mixing until just combined.
Fill paper cases a half to two thirds full. Bake for around 20 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.
Remove from the oven and allow them to cool for 5 minutes before removing from the pans and placing them on cooling racks.
Mix together the sugar and cinnamon. Dip the tops of the cupcakes into the cinnamon sugar.
Use a sharp knife to cut a hole in the top of the cupcakes. I usually cut a thin sliver of the hole that is removed from the cupcake to place back over once I’ve added the filling. The hole only needs to be big enough to fit half a teaspoon of filling.
Add half a teaspoon of filling into each cupcake then top it with the sliver of cupcake that you saved.
For the frosting
Beat the butter with ½ cup of the icing sugar until light and creamy. Add the vanilla and salted caramel sauce and beat until fully incorporated. Add the icing sugar ½ cup at a time until fully combined. Add the icing sugar until the frosting reaches the desired consistency. The more you add the sweeter it gets but also the firmer it will be.
Pipe or spread your frosting onto the cupcakes and top with a drizzle of salted caramel.
Notes
I use an Australian standard 20ml tablespoon (= 4 teaspoons worldwide)
For best results, you should always weigh ingredients like flour and sugar. Kitchen scales are relatively cheap but if you can’t weigh the ingredients, use the spoon and level method (don’t scoop).
I use corn starch a lot in my baking. Cake flour is a combination of all-purpose and corn starch but in Australia is not so readily available. I use this combo in my recipes a lot instead of using cake flour.
TOOLS USED IN THIS RECIPE
I love these silicone muffin trays for the shape these give my cupcakes and because they're so flexible.
A medium ice cream scoop is perfect for portioning the cupcake batter
A handheld beater or stand mixer will make mixing easier.
A silicone spatula makes sure nothing gets left behind
A cupcake corer makes cutting the little holes in the centre so simple
Have you tried this recipe?Don't forget to leave a rating and comment below and let me know how it was! I love hearing from you. Nutrition information is approximate and derived from an online calculator. The brands you use may cause variations.