Caramel Stuffed Chocolate Cupcakes - Handle the Heat

Caramel Stuffed Chocolate Cupcakes

  |  
September 12th, 2018
5 from 7 votes
5 from 7 votes

Caramel Stuffed Chocolate Cupcakes feature a super moist and tender chocolate cupcake filled with luscious caramel sauce and topped with vanilla buttercream.

Yield: 12 cupcakes

Prep Time: 25 minutes

Cook: 20 minutes

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These cupcakes combine every flavor and texture that I adore. Every bite is pure heaven!

My inspiration for this recipe actually came from the classic Ghirardelli Milk & Caramel SQUARES. When I’m on the go during the week often times a few bites of something sweet and indulgent is the perfect way to slow down and enjoy a little moment to myself. Especially when it combines my two favorite ingredients: caramel and chocolate.

Caramel Stuffed Chocolate Cupcakes feature a super moist and tender chocolate cupcake filled with luscious caramel sauce and topped with vanilla buttercream.

Since chocolate is such a key flavor here, I wanted to make sure the chocolate flavor of the cupcake base was just right. I use both bittersweet chocolate and natural cocoa powder in this recipe, as well as hot coffee to bring out that chocolate flavor.

If you don’t have hot coffee, you can also use hot water + 1 tablespoon instant espresso powder. Or just use hot water if coffee or espresso isn’t your thing.

Caramel Stuffed Chocolate Cupcakes feature a super moist and tender chocolate cupcake filled with luscious caramel sauce and topped with vanilla buttercream.

There are a few other key ingredients that lend richness and flavor to these cupcakes: brown sugar, sour cream, and an extra egg yolk. You can also use plain Greek yogurt in place of the sour cream.

Be sure to complement these cupcakes with Ghirardelli Milk & Caramel SQUARES so you get a double dose of decadent caramel goodness. They really make life a bite better. The caramel surprise inside both will delight your friends and family!

An apple corer makes quick and easy work of filling these cupcakes with caramel sauce. Plus, the cupcake cores make for a perfect taste test sample for the chef! Just say it’s for quality control.

If you make these cupcakes, be sure to post a picture to Instagram and use #handletheheat and #ghirardelli so we can see your chocolate + caramel creations!


5 from 7 votes

How to make
Caramel Stuffed Chocolate Cupcakes

Yield: 12 cupcakes
Prep Time: 25 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 45 minutes
Caramel Stuffed Chocolate Cupcakes feature a super moist and tender chocolate cupcake filled with luscious caramel sauce and topped with vanilla buttercream.

Ingredients

For the chocolate cupcakes:

  • 4 ounces (127 grams) Ghirardelli bittersweet chocolate, finely chopped
  • 1/3 cup (28 grams) Ghirardelli unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 1/2 cup hot strong coffee
  • 3/4 cup (95 grams) all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 cup (100 grams) granulated sugar
  • 1/4 cup (50 grams) packed light brown sugar
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 cup (113 grams) sour cream, at room temperature (or plain full fat Greek yogurt)
  • 1/4 cup vegetable oil
  • 2 large eggs plus one egg yolk, at room temperature
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

For the caramel filling:

  • 1/4 cup Ghirardelli caramel sauce

For the vanilla buttercream:

  • 1 1/2 cups (188 grams) powdered sugar, sifted
  • 1 stick (127 grams) unsalted butter, at room temperature
  • 1/8 teaspoon fine salt
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 tablespoon cream or milk
  • 12 Ghirardelli Milk & Caramel SQUARES

Directions

Make the cupcakes:

  1. In a medium heatproof bowl add the chocolate, cocoa powder, and hot coffee. Cover and let stand for 5 minutes. Whisk mixture gently until smooth then set aside to cool.
  2. Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 350°F. Line a standard 12-cup muffin tin with foil or paper liners.
  3. In a small bowl, whisk together the flour, sugars, baking soda, and salt.
  4. Whisk sour cream, oil, eggs, egg yolk, and vanilla into the cooled chocolate mixture until smooth. Stir in the flour mixture until smooth, being careful not to overmix.
  5. Using a spring-loaded scoop, divide the batter evenly among prepared muffin cups. Bake until cupcakes are set and firm to the touch, about 20 minutes. Let cupcakes cool in pan on a wire rack for 10 minutes before removing from pan to cool completely, about 1 hour.
  6. Make ahead: Cupcakes can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 1 day.

Fill the cupcakes:

  1. Use a small knife or apple corer to cut a small hole in the middle of each cupcake. Fill about 1 1/2 teaspoons of caramel into each cupcake.

Make the buttercream:

  1. In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, mix together the sugar and butter. Mix on low speed until well blended and then increase the speed to medium and beat for another 3 minutes. Add the salt, vanilla, and cream and beat on medium for 1 minute, adding more cream if needed.
  2. Frost each cupcake then garnish with a Ghirardelli Milk & Caramel SQUARE.
Course : Dessert
Cuisine : American

Tessa Arias
Author: Tessa Arias

I share trusted baking recipes your friends will LOVE alongside insights into the science of sweets. I'm a professionally trained chef, cookbook author, and cookie queen. I love to write about all things sweet, carb-y, and homemade. I live in Phoenix, Arizona (hence the blog name!)

Tessa Arias

About Tessa...

I share trusted baking recipes your friends will LOVE alongside insights into the science of sweets. I'm a professionally trained chef, cookbook author, and cookie queen. I love to write about all things sweet, carb-y, and homemade. I live in Phoenix, Arizona (hence the blog name!)

Find Tessa on  

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Recipe Rating




  1. #
    corbin — October 31, 2022 at 11:34 am

    fire recipe on god

  2. #
    Cheryl Madrinich — May 2, 2022 at 7:22 am

    Love these made last night.
    Always on the lookout for
    New recipes.

  3. #
    Sabrina — September 24, 2018 at 6:22 pm

    wow, what a creative stuffed cupcake! thank you for this wonderful recipe

  4. #
    Keisha Nleka — September 19, 2018 at 7:03 am

    I plan to make these. Thanks for the recipe.

  5. #
    gmail — September 18, 2018 at 12:49 am

    Caramel is one of taste I like the most. This combination is perfect. I love it.

  6. #
    Kate — September 17, 2018 at 9:04 pm

    After several days of chomping at the bit, I finally had time and made these decadent treats. I followed the recipe. Very easy, I got compliments on the buttercream frosting, the cupcake, and the caramel chocolate square on top. The only problem was the caramel was absorbed into the cupcake, so it wasn’t a little pocket when cut or bitten into.
    Nonetheless, they are absolutely delicious!

  7. #
    how to delete instagram account — September 12, 2018 at 11:58 pm

    Every bite is pure heaven!!!!

  8. #
    Duck life — September 12, 2018 at 9:04 pm

    chocolate, making it more attractive than ever.

  9. #
    Carissa Nelson | Spoonful of Easy — September 12, 2018 at 6:36 am

    Hi Tessa,

    These look amazing! Love the idea of using Ghiradelli – their caramel is just the absolute smoothest and best out there! Only problem is I always taste test quite a few when I’m making something with them. But all in the name of quality control, hehe. Thanks for the great recipe!

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