Caramel Cupcakes

img_4175

This weekend a group of my daughter’s friends gathered items (in lieu of a baby shower for our new addition that is due in November.  My daughter decided she didn’t need anything for the baby since this is #3) and wanted to put together 20 Love Bags.  These bags will be given to foster children who are removed from homes for various reasons and arrive with only the clothes on their backs.  

Items were removed from sacks, laid out on the kitchen island and we began walking around filling the bags with toothpaste, a toothbrush, baby wipes, a blanket, Kleenex, coloring book, crayons, a photo album and a storybook.   We saw the truth of how something bigger than ourselves had become a reality.   It is the hope that these bags will not only be a comfort to the children but also the families that are taking in these little ones.

14608844_1420219197992488_8564534544516551036_o-2

After we had completed our project we talked, laughed, shared and, of course, ate.  One of the items I served was a Caramel Cupcake.  I was a bit challenged because I wanted to make sure my daughter, who needs to avoid eggs, could enjoy them.  The solution was found by substituting the egg with milk (I used almond/coconut milk) and apple cider vinegar.  We also had Monster Cookies, Almond Joy Bites and Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies.

Caramel Cupcakes
A caramel cupcake with caramel frosting.
Write a review
Print
Ingredients
  1. 1 Tbsp apple cider vinegar
  2. 1 ½ cup almond milk, unsweetened or (your choice of milk)
  3. 2 cups white spelt flour, (or your choice of flour)
  4. 3/4 cup white sugar
  5. 2 tsp baking powder
  6. ½ tsp baking soda
  7. ½ tsp salt
  8. ½ cup coconut oil, melted and cooled
  9. Caramel Liquid Stevia - 6 to 8 drops
  10. Caramel Frosting
  11. 1/2 cup butter, softened
  12. 3-4 cups Powdered Sugar
  13. 1/3 cup almond milk (or milk of your choice)
  14. 8 Kraft Caramels, unwrapped
  15. Caramel Liquid Stevia, 6 drops
Instructions
  1. CAKE
  2. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
  3. Line two-12-cup muffin pans with muffin cups. Spray lightly with a coconut oil.
  4. Combine the 1 1/2 cup almond milk and vinegar into a 2-cup measuring cup and whisk together. Let sit 5 minutes until curdled (little bubbles will appear on top).
  5. Add stevia in liquid mixture.
  6. In large bowl whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt.
  7. In a separate bowl whisk together the almond milk mixture, oil and stevia.
  8. Pour the wet ingredients into the dry mixture and mix well.
  9. Fill the cupcake liners about 1/2 full. (Do not overfill)
  10. Lightly bang pan against counter to even out batter.
  11. Bake in the preheated oven until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes back clean, approximately 15-20 minutes.
  12. Cool in pan on a cooling rack.
  13. Make frosting below.
  14. When cool – Top with frosting and sprinkles, caramels and chocolate.
  15. Caramel Frosting
  16. Place caramels in microwave-safe dish with milk. Heat in 20 second increments, stopping to stir until well combined. Add in liquid stevia
  17. Place butter in the mixer and whip until smooth.
  18. Add in 2 cups of powdered sugar.
  19. Add in caramel milk mixture.
  20. Continue to add sugar until frosting is the consistency you desire.
Deliciously Inspired http://www.deliciouslyinspired.com/
We hear about so much bad in the world but there are many who are doing what they can to spread kindness to our hurting world.  We live in a world that strives to have our focus remain on the yucky instead of the good. I have been blessed lately by seeing the generation of my daughter stand up and create good – and I am encouraged.  “Do not let kindness and truth leave you.  Bind them around your neck and write them on the table of your heart.”  Proverbs 3:3

img_4166

Frosting Done

img_4170

Ready to Decorate

img_4174

Here are my favorite items for making cupcakes.  

Kitchen Aid Mixer – I would consider going into debt if this kitchen tool broke but I’ve had mine for over 25 years and it’s still going strong.

Rachel Ray Cupcake Pans – I recently replaced my worn-out pans with these and enjoy how easily they clean up.  PS – They are on sale.

Cooling Racks – It is important to cool your cupcakes down before frosting – a cooling rack helps speed the process.  Tip:  I often bake my cupcakes the day before I decorate.  After they have cooled, i place in my cupcake storage containers and refrigerate.

Cupcake Storage Containers – These are my favorite holders because the tray can accommodate 12 regular size cupcakes or 24 miniature cupcakes or be removed entirely to hold a batch of cookies.  They also stack on top of one another.

Disposable Frosting Bags – These are worth the money – cuts down on clean-up.

Frosting Decorating Tips – I am not an expert on decorating but these large tips make my cupcakes better than my skill level.

Large Tip Decorating Coupler – This is made up of two piece – one will go inside the bag and the other will hold your tip onto the outside of bag and connect everything together.

Go to the Thrift Store and buy a cylinder vase or use a large drinking glass.  Place bag in vase/glass, fold the edge over vase/glass.  This makes getting the frosting into the bag much easier.

img_4164

***Deliciously Inspired utilizes affiliate links to help with the cost of the site.

signature

Thanksgiving 2014

Thanksgiving 2014 - Pilgrims

I’m putting together my list for next Thursday and thought I’d share a few recipes I’ll be using.  The Overnight Rolls Recipe is from Trisha Yearwood  and I love it.  I’ll be making the dough and baking these this weekend, then place in the freezer until they are popped back  into the oven to warm up for Thanksgiving..  This is the easiest yeast roll recipe I’ve ever made and they taste like my Grandma Leona used to make.  I’ll also be making my pie crust dough this weekend, patting into discs and then wrapping in saran wrap and foil for the freezer.  These will go into the refrigerator to thaw a day before pie baking time.  In addition to our pumpkin pies, I’ll be making this Caramel Upside Down Cake which was tweaked from a 1940’s cookbook of my Grandma Bertha.

Menu:  Roasted Turkey, Stuffing, Mashed Potatoes, Gravy, Sweet Potato Casserole, Yeast Rolls, Butter, Cranberry Sauce, Caramel Upside Down Cake, Pumpkin Pie and Whipped Cream

Here is the schedule (I’m doing this more for me than you)

90% of grocery shopping is done

Turkey is in freezer defrosting

This weekend – Make yeast rolls and pie crusts for freezer, Set table

Monday – Last few shopping items

Tuesday – Pie crusts – freezer into refrigerator to thaw

Wednesday – Make pumpkin pies,  caramel upside down cake, whipping cream, and sweet potato casserole

Thursday – Take rolls out of freezer, Turkey goes into oven at 10 a.m., Make stuffing, Cook green beans, mashed potatoes, gravy cranberry sauce, butter and salt/pepper on the table.

Cooking is one way of expressing love to my family.  I pray you have a blessed Thanksgiving.

Apple Cake - finished
Caramel Upside Down Cake

Pie Crust - discs
Pie Crusts shaped in circles and wrapped for freezer.

signature

Grandma’s Cookbook – Caramel Apple Upside-Down Cake

 It’s time again for the recipe that caught my attention from the 1940 cookbook my Grandma handed down.  This month I saw a recipe for an Apple Upside-Down Cake.  I changed it up a bit and it was delicious.

Apple Cake - finished

Caramel Apple Upside-Down Cake
A twist on a pineapple upside-down cake
Write a review
Print
Ingredients
  1. 1/4 cup butter
  2. 1 cup brown sugar
  3. 2 large apples
  4. 1 1/2 cups Spelt flour or flour of your choice
  5. 1/2 tsp salt
  6. 3 tsp baking powder
  7. 1/4 cup butter
  8. 1/2 cup granulated sugar
  9. 2 eggs, well beaten
  10. 1 tsp vanilla extract
  11. 1/2 tsp vanilla
  12. 2/3 cup water
Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
  2. To make the caramel - Melt 1/4 cup butter in oven proof skillet or baking pan. Add 1 cup of brown sugar and stir until melted. Cool.
  3. Peel, core and slice apples. Place on top of caramel.
  4. Sift flour, salt and baking powder together in a bowl. Set aside.
  5. Cream butter with sugar until fluffy.
  6. Add eggs and vanilla and beat until smooth.
  7. Add sifted dry ingredients and water, alternately in small amounts, beating well after each addition.
  8. Pour over apples and bake for 40 to 50 minutes.
  9. Turn onto a plate immediately. If this is not done immediately the caramel will harden and the cake won't release from the pan.
  10. Serve with whipped cream or vanilla ice cream.
  11. Makes 1 9-inch cake.
Adapted from The Encyclopedic Cookbook
Adapted from The Encyclopedic Cookbook
Deliciously Inspired http://www.deliciouslyinspired.com/

 
Upside down apple cake - caramel
Melt the butter and sugar in an oven-proof skillet or pan. I found my cast iron pan worked well.

Apple Cake - finished caramel
The finished caramel will look like this. Set aside while prepping the apples.

Apple Cake - sliced apples
Peel, core and slice apples and place on top of caramel.

Apple Cake - batter on top of the apples
Place the batter on top of the apples. Now it’s ready for the oven.

Apple Cake - before flip
Flip onto a serving platter or pan when cake comes out of the oven. Be careful – it’s very hot. But this needs to be done because caramel will harden quickly and once it’s hard the cake won’t release from the pan.

I had never heard of apples being used in this type of cake. Has anyone had it before?

signature