Salted Caramel Chocolate Cupcakes

If you’re looking for the moistest, most wonderful caramel and chocolate nugget, you are in the right place. Every time I make these cupcakes, they get rave reviews. They include a couple of baking shortcuts, which is an even bigger bonus. Yes, you have got to try them!

Salted Caramel Chocolate Cupcakes

Salted Caramel Chocolate Cupcakes

Servings: 24 cupcakes

Ingredients

Chocolate Cupcakes

  • 1 box Devil's Food Cake Mix
  • 1 box (3 oz.) Jello chocolate instant pudding mix
  • 4 large eggs
  • 1/2 cup canola oil
  • 1/2 cup milk
  • 1 cup sour cream

Salted Caramel Frosting

  • 1/2 cup butter use Irish butter, if possible
  • 1 cup packed brown sugar
  • 1/3 cup heavy cream
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  • 3 cups confectioner's sugar
  • garnishes (pretzels, caramel or chocolate caramel candy)

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 350°. Line cupcake pans with liners.
  • Using a stand mixer on medium speed, beat together the cake mix, pudding mix, eggs, oil, milk and sour cream. Beat until well combined, about 2 minutes.
  • Scoop the batter evenly into cupcake liners. I prefer to use a retractable ice cream scoop or large baking scoop.
  • Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean. Remove the cupcakes from the tin and let cool.
  • Meanwhile, make the frosting. Melt the butter in a small saucepan over low heat. Once melted, add brown sugar and cream. Stir constantly over medium heat until sugar is dissolved.
  • Add salt. Allow to bubble for exactly 2 minutes. Remove from heat and cool.
  • Beat in confectioner's sugar 1 cup at a time, until you reach the desired consistency.
  • Frost the cupcakes using a pastry bag and tip or with an icing spatula. Top with a pretzel and drizzled caramel, or consider adding a chocolate caramel candy.

Notes

Recipe slightly adapted from Sally’s Baking Addiction

See? I told you, you would not be disappointed — but do try to share a few!

Blessings,
Tina

Copyright © 2021 Montana Mountain Maven / Tina R. Cusker. All rights reserved.


Triple Berry Pie

Triple Berry Pie

Prep Time15 mins
Cook Time50 mins
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Keyword: berries, pie
Servings: 8

Ingredients

Pie Crust

  • 1/2 c. butter, chilled and chopped
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1 1/4 c. flour
  • 1/4 c. ice cold water
  • 1 large egg white
  • 1 tbsp water

Pie Filling

  • 3/4 c. granulated sugar
  • 1/3 c. cornstarch
  • 2 c. fresh or defrosted marionberries
  • 1 c. fresh blueberries
  • 2 c. fresh raspberries

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 400°.
  • To make the pie crust, use a food processor to mix the flour, salt, butter and ice cold water. Pulse until well blended.
  • Pour the crust mixture onto a floured baking sheet. Knead slightly to finish mixing. Cut in half. Wrap one half in cellophane and chill in the fridge until ready to use.
  • Using a rolling pin, roll out the first crust evenly into at least a 10 inch circle, about 1/4" thick. Fold in half and then fourths to unfold and easily line the bottom of a 9 in. pie plate. Trim pastry at outside edge of pie pan. Beat the egg white and 1 tbls water; brush over crust. Set aside.
  • In a bowl, combine 3/4 cup sugar and cornstarch. Gently stir in the berries. Pour into the crust.
  • Roll out the remaining pastry to fit top of pie; place over the filling. Trim, seal, and flute edges. Cut at least 4 slits in the top crust. Brush with remaining egg wash and sprinkle with 1 tbls granulated sugar.
  • Bake at 400° for 40-50 minutes or until crust is golden brown and filling is bubbling. After about 30 minutes, cover the fluted edges with foil or a metal pie ring.
    Cool on a wire rack. Store in the refrigerator.

Notes

Copyright © 2020 Montana Mountain Maven / Tina R. Cusker. All rights reserved.


Sourdough Bread

I am sure many of you have noticed that the grocery stores have been sold out of yeast for weeks, maybe longer, thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic. I had only one small package of yeast left in my fridge and decided this was a great time to produce my own sourdough starter that ‘made’ its own yeast. Well, that didn’t work so well for a first try, but that’s ok because our local Rosauser’s grocery began packaging their commercial yeast into 4 oz. packages. I was quick enough to snag one and decided to try this yeast laden starter instead and it worked beautifully! It doesn’t mean I’ve given up on the other starter options, but I’ll have to save that recommended recipe for another day.

Sourdough Starter

Keyword: bread, sourdough, starter
Author: *unknown source

Ingredients

  • 1 pkg active dry yeast
  • 2 1/2 cups warm water (110-115°)
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 tbsp sugar or honey

Instructions

  • Dissolve yeast in 1/2 cup warm water until frothy. Stir in remaining 2 cups water, the flour, and sugar or honey. Beat until smooth. Cover with cheesecloth. Let stand at room temperature for 5-10 days or until bubbly; stir 2-3 times each day.
  • To store, transfer starter to a jar and cover with cheesecloth; refrigerate. DO NOT cover jar tightly with a metal lid.
  • To use starter, bring desired amount to room temperature.
  • To replenish starter after using, stir 3/4 cup all-purpose flour, 3/4 cup water, and 1 tsp sugar or honey into remaining amount. Cover; let stand at room temperature at least 1 day or until bubbly. Refrigerate for later use.
  • If starter isn't used within 10 days, stir in 1 teaspoon sugar or honey. Repeat every 10 days until used.

Honey Wheat Sourdough Bread

Ingredients

  • 1 cup Sourdough starter
  • 2 tbsp active dry yeast
  • 1 cup warm water (110-120°)
  • 1 tsp sugar
  • 1/4 cup honey
  • 1/4 cup coconut oil, softened
  • 3 large eggs
  • 2 cups ground whole wheat flour
  • 2 tsp salt
  • 1/2 tsp baking soda mixed with 1 cup whole wheat flour
  • 2-3 cups bread flour

Instructions

  • Dissolve yeast in warm water; add 1 tsp sugar until frothy.
  • In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with dough hooks, combine starter, yeast mixture, oil, honey, eggs and 2 cups wheat flour. Mix well.
  • Add baking soda mixed with flour and salt. Mix well.
  • Add bread flour, one cup at a time.
  • Using the stand mixer, knead with dough hooks for 10 minutes.
  • Grease a large bowl and place the dough in the bowl. Cover with a cloth and place in a warm place to rise until double in size, about an hour.
  • Shape dough into two loaves and place them in two greased bread pans. Cover the dough and let rise in a warm place for another 20-30 minutes.
  • Bake at 350° for 30-35 minutes.
  • For a soft crust, brush the top of the loaves with butter while they are still warm. Allow the bread to cool and slice to serve.
  • Store any remaining bread in an airtight container.

Copyright © 2020 Montana Mountain Maven / Tina R. Cusker. All rights reserved.


Autumn Apple Harvest

For over two weeks I have been slicing and peeling apples by the dozens thanks to some very generous colleagues with a bounty to share. I’ve already made 5 pies, 3 dozen apple cinnamon muffins, apple cake, apple onion & yellow squash gratin, AND two dozen caramel apple cinnamon rolls. What’s next on the menu?

You’ll be the first to know when I finally decide… and hopefully I’ll get them finished before the pears and plums show up.

Read More


Apple Cake

Apple Cake

1 1/3 cups all purpose flour
1 cup whole wheat flour
1 cup sugar
2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
1 tsp cinnamon
5 cups thinly sliced, peeled, diced apples
1/2 cup oil
1/4 cup honey
1 tsp vanilla
2 eggs

Heat oven to 350º. Spray a 13×9 pan with non-stick cooking spray. In a large mixing bowl, combine all ingredients at low speed until moistened; beat 2 minutes at medium speed. Spread batter in prepared pan. Bake for 40-50 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean. Serve warm or cool with shipped cream, ice bream or caramel sauce, if desired.

*Recipe taken from The Pillsbury Cookbook

Copyright © 2019 Montana Mountain Maven / Tina R. Cusker. All rights reserved.