Have you ever used maple extract in your kitchen? It’s amazing. Just a few drops and you will literally smell pancakes all day.
Maple + Butterscotch + Caramel. Three delicious but oft neglected flavors in my kitchen.
I wanted to make these cupcakes for those neglected baked good fans who would prefer fruit or non-chocolate flavors. I made these for work and they received RAVE reviews. I actually never even tried the completed cupcakes – just the frosting… which was finger lickin’ good!
Non-chocolate lovers rejoice!!
Butterscotch Caramel Cupcakes
slightly adapted from Cupcakes! From the Cupcake Doctor
Ingredients:
- 1 package 18.25 oz yellow cake mix
- 1 package 3.4 oz vanilla or butterscotch pudding
- 1 c. water
- 1/2 c. vegetable oil
- 4 large eggs
- 1 t. vanilla
- 1 t. caramel flavoring (I use Loran oil flavorings)
Directions:
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Place 24 cupcake liners in 2 cupcake pans. Set aside.
- In a large bowl, mix together all ingredients. Use a whisk or electric mixer and mix well.
- Use a 1/3 c. measuring cup to scoop the batter into each liner, filling it 3/4 of the way full. Remove any empty cupcake liners if you have any.
- Bake cupcakes for about 18-20 minutes, turning about 2/3 of the way through for even browning. Use a toothpick or skewer to test its doneness. You want it clean or with dry crumbs.
- Cool in pans for about 5 minutes before removing to wire rack to cool completely.
Maple Buttercream Frosting
slightly adapted from Cupcakes! From the Cupcake Doctor
Ingredients:
- 1 8 oz package cream cheese, at room temperature (reduced fat is fine – don’t use fat free)
- 4 T. (1/2 of a stick) butter, at room temperature
- 2 1/4 – 2 3/4 c. powdered sugar
- 1/2 t. – 3/4 t. maple flavoring
- 3/4 c. melted butterscotch chips
Directions:
- Place the cream cheese in the bowl and beat. It’s imperative that it’s room temperature. Add in butter and beat well.
- Sift in 2 1/4 c. powdered sugar. Mix on low until incorporated. Mix on medium for a minute or so.
- Add in 1/2 t. maple flavoring and butterscotch chips. Beat well for a few minutes. Taste. Add in additional maple flavoring if you’d like. If the texture is too thin, add in more powdered sugar – a couple tablespoons at a time.
- Pipe or spread on. Keep cupcakes in the refrigerator.
