Spice Cake Cupcakes with Salted Caramel and Brown Butter Magic

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Spice Cake Cupcakes with Salted Caramel Center and Brown Butter Cream Cheese Frosting

“These Spice Cake Cupcakes are the perfect fall treat, packed with warm spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves, and filled with a gooey salted caramel center. Topped with rich brown butter cream cheese frosting, these cupcakes are irresistibly moist and flavorful, making them the ultimate indulgence for any occasion.”

Recipe: Spice Cake Cupcakes

Ingredients:

• 2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 1/2 tsp baking powder
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1 tbsp ground cinnamon
• 1 tsp ground nutmeg
• 1/2 tsp ground cloves
• 2 cups light brown sugar (packed)
• 1 cup canola oil
• 1 cup applesauce
• 4 large eggs (room temperature)
• 3 tsp vanilla extract
• 3/4 cup sour cream (room temperature)

Instructions:

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C) and line your muffin tins with cupcake liners.
2. Mix dry ingredients: In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves.
3. Mix wet ingredients: In another bowl, combine the brown sugar, canola oil, applesauce, eggs, vanilla extract, and sour cream. Whisk until smooth.
4. Combine: Gradually add the dry ingredients into the wet mixture, stirring until just combined.
5. Bake: Fill each cupcake liner about 2/3 full with the batter. Bake for 18-22 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean when inserted into the center of a cupcake. Remove from the oven and let them cool completely on a wire rack.

Salted Caramel Filling

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup sugar
• 2 tbsp water
• 1 tbsp unsalted butter
• 6 tsp heavy cream
• A pinch of salt
• A splash of vanilla extract

Instructions:

1. Cook sugar: Combine the sugar and water over medium heat in a small saucepan. Stir until the sugar dissolves and begins to simmer.
2. Add butter: Once the sugar has melted and turned amber, remove it from the heat and quickly whisk in the butter.
3. Add the cream: Slowly stir in the heavy cream. The mixture will bubble up—keep stirring until smooth.
4. Finish: Stir in a pinch of salt and a splash of vanilla extract. Let the caramel cool before using.

Brown Butter Cream Cheese Frosting

Ingredients:

• 1 cup unsalted butter
• 16 oz cream cheese, softened
• 5 cups powdered sugar
• 1/2 tsp vanilla extract

Instructions:

1. Brown the butter: In a medium saucepan, cook the butter over medium heat, stirring constantly, until it turns golden brown and gives off a nutty aroma. Remove from heat and let it cool.
2. Whip the cream cheese: In a mixing bowl, beat the cream cheese until smooth and creamy.
3. Add powdered sugar: Gradually add the powdered sugar to the cream cheese, beating on low speed to incorporate.
4. Add browned butter: Once the butter has cooled, slowly add it to the frosting mixture, followed by the vanilla extract. Whip until light and fluffy.

Assembling Your Spice Cake Cupcakes

1. Core the cupcakes: Once the cupcakes have cooled, use a small knife or a cupcake core to remove a small section from the center of each cupcake.
2. Fill with caramel: Spoon about 1-2 teaspoons of the salted caramel into the hollowed-out center of each cupcake.
3. Frost: Use a piping bag or spatula to generously frost the cupcakes with the brown butter cream cheese frosting.
4. Optional garnish: Drizzle any leftover caramel over the frosting or sprinkle a pinch of sea salt for an extra pop of flavor.

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Why You’ll Love These Spice Cake Cupcakes

These Spice Cake Cupcakes are the ultimate fall treat! They combine the warm, comforting spices of cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves with a sweet and salty caramel surprise in the center. The rich brown butter cream cheese frosting ties everything together, making each bite an indulgent experience.

Whether you’re hosting a holiday party or just craving something sweet, these cupcakes are a show-stopping dessert. Plus, they’re easy to make, with pantry staples that come together to create something extraordinary.

The Perfect Fall Flavor Combination

Fall flavors are all about comfort, and these Spice Cake Cupcakes embody that cozy feeling we crave as the weather cools down. The combination of cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves is perfectly balanced—not too overpowering but just enough to make your kitchen smell amazing as the cupcakes bake.

The addition of applesauce gives the cupcakes a moist texture while adding a hint of fruitiness that pairs beautifully with the spices. Sour cream brings richness and keeps the cupcakes tender, making them melt-in-your-mouth delicious.

Salted Caramel: The Sweet and Salty Secret

The salted caramel center is the surprise that will wow anyone who takes a bite. Salted caramel adds that irresistible sweet-and-salty balance, making these Spice Cake Cupcakes stand out from your typical fall desserts.

The caramel is rich and buttery with just the right amount of salt to cut through the sweetness. It complements the spices perfectly and adds a luxurious element that takes these cupcakes to the next level.

The Magic of Brown Butter Cream Cheese Frosting

Brown butter makes everything better, and this frosting is no exception. By browning the butter, you add a rich, nutty flavor to the frosting that elevates it from ordinary to extraordinary. Combined with the cream cheese, it creates a tangy yet sweet topping that perfectly complements the spiced cupcakes and salted caramel center.

This brown butter cream cheese frosting is thick, creamy, and utterly addictive. You’ll want to eat it by the spoonful!

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Tips for Making the Best Spice Cake Cupcakes

Here are some tips to ensure your Spice Cake Cupcakes turn out perfectly every time:

1. Don’t Overmix the Batter

Overmixing the batter can make your cupcakes dense and tough. Stir until the ingredients are just combined to keep the cupcakes light and fluffy.

2. Room Temperature Ingredients

Make sure your eggs, sour cream, and applesauce are at room temperature. This helps the ingredients blend more smoothly and ensures a better texture.

3. Use High-Quality Spices

The spices are the star of this recipe, so make sure they’re fresh! Ground cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves lose potency over time, so using fresh spices will give your cupcakes the best flavor.

4. Cool Before Filling and Frosting

Let the cupcakes cool completely before filling them with salted caramel and adding the frosting. This will prevent the caramel from melting and the frosting from becoming too runny.

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Variations of Spice Cake Cupcakes

Feel free to get creative with your Spice Cake Cupcakes. Here are some variations you can try:

1. Apple Spice Cupcakes

Add small chunks of fresh apples to the batter for extra texture and flavor. The apple pieces will complement the spices and add a bit of natural sweetness.

2. Pumpkin Spice Cupcakes

For a pumpkin twist, replace the applesauce with canned pumpkin puree. This will give the cupcakes an even more autumnal flavor that pairs beautifully with the caramel and frosting.

3. Chai Spice Cupcakes

Enhance the spice profile by adding a teaspoon of chai spice blend to the batter. Chai’s unique combination of cardamom, ginger, and pepper will add a delicious complexity to your cupcakes.

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Perfect Pairings for Spice Cake Cupcakes

These Spice Cake Cupcakes are perfect on their own, but if you want to create a full dessert spread, here are some ideas for what to serve alongside them:

1. Chai Tea

The warm, spiced flavors of chai tea pair wonderfully with the cinnamon and nutmeg in the cupcakes.

2. Hot Apple Cider

Apple cider is another fall favorite that complements the flavors of these cupcakes perfectly. The sweetness of the cider and the spices in the cupcakes are a match made in heaven.

3. Vanilla Bean Ice Cream

Serve your cupcakes with a scoop of vanilla bean ice cream for an extra indulgent dessert. The creaminess of the ice cream is a nice contrast to the spiced cake and rich frosting.

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Conclusion

If you’re looking for a dessert that captures the essence of fall, these Spice Cake Cupcakes with a salted caramel center and brown butter cream cheese frosting are the answer. They’re packed with warm spices, filled with gooey caramel, and topped with a luscious frosting that’s sure to impress your family and friends. Enjoy baking these cupcakes and sharing the love of fall flavors!