Happy Valentine's Day! (Salted Caramel Cupcakes)

Courtesy of Tidy Mom
(http://networkedblogs.com/dYnxJ)

So, I've been trying to think of a good recipe for you to make for Valentine's Day and I found these cupcakes that look delicious! I haven't tried them yet - but, I think me and Bree will get started on these right away. Also, I am posting my moms yummy stir fry on the main dish page, so take a look if you need something fun to cook for your sweetheart tonight! Here you go:

Courtesy of Tidy Mom
(http://networkedblogs.com/dYnxJ)

yields 24 cupcakes

Ingredients
■1 Duncan Hines Moist Deluxe Dark Chocolate Fudge Cake Mix
■3 Large Eggs
■1/2 cup melted butter (butter not margarine)
■1 cup water
Directions

1.Preheat oven to 350
2.Mix on low until blended, then mix on high for 2 mins.
3.Pour into paper lined cupcake pans. Bake for 20 min.
4.Cool completely.
5.For the filling(recipe below), use a paring knife to cut a cone-shaped piece (around 3/4 inch deep) from the center of each cupcake. Spoon 3-4 teaspoons warm filling into each hollowed out cupcake. Sprinkle a pinch of sea salt over the filling (I used Kosher salt).
6.Fill a pastry bag fitted with a medium star tip (I used a 1M) with frosting. Pipe Dark Chocolate frosting (recipe below)on each cupcake and garnish with a pinch of sea salt (again, I used Kosher Salt). Store at room temperature in airtight container, do not refrigerate. (I put mine in the cool basement).

Salted Caramel Filling
yield approximately 2 cups
(from Martha Stewart Cupcakes)

**NOTE: you will NEED a candy thermometer for this step

Ingredients
■2 1/2 cups sugar
■2/3 cup water
■1 tablespoon light corn syrup
■3/4 cup heavy cream
■2 1/2 teaspoons sea salt, preferably fleur de sel (I used about 1tsp Kosher Salt)
Directions

1.Heat sugar with the water and corn syrup in a heavy saucepan over high, swirling occasionally until syrup is clear. Stop stirring and attach a candy thermometer to side of pan.
2.Cook until syrup comes to a boil, washing down sides of pan with a wet pastry brush as needed. 3.Boil, gently swirling pan occasionally until mixture is caramelized and just reaches 360F
4.Remove from heat, and slowly and CAUTIOUSLY pour in cream. The mixture will spatter. Stir with a wooden spoon until smooth. Stir in sea salt.
5.Use immediately. If the caramel begins to harden, reheat gently until it is pourable again.

Dark Chocolate Frosting
yields approximately 5 cups
(from Martha Stewart Cupcakes)

Ingredients
■1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons Dutch-process cocoa powder
■1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons boiling water
■1 1/2 cups unsalted butter, room temp
■1/2 cup confectioners’ sugar, sifted
■Pinch of salt
■1 pound semi-sweet chocolate, melted and cooled

Directions
1.Combine the cocoa and boiling water, stirring until the cocoa has dissolved. With an electric mixer on medium high speed, beat butter, confectioners’ sugar and salt until pale and fluffy.
2.Reduce speed to low. Add melted and cooled chocolate, beating until combined and scraping down sides of bowl as needed. Beat in the cocoa mixture.
3.If not using immediately, frosting can be refrigerated up to 5 days or frozen up to 1 month, in an airtight container. Before using, bring to room temperature, and beat on low speed until smooth again. –This frosting got a HUGE two thumbs up from my whole family! Very smooth, dark and heavenly!