Chocolate Caramel Surprise Cupcakes is a chocolate cupcake with a caramel nougat center topped with a chocolate and caramel swirl buttercream.

Chocolate Caramel Surprise Cupcakes

Chocolate cake is pretty much my favorite thing right now. Any time I have a craving it involves chocolate cake. So yesterday when the kids all asked me what we were making for a special dessert, special because there was no school and they had friends over, I naturally had to involve my favorite chocolate cake.

Chocolate Caramel Surprise Cupcakes
With 12 mini-chefs ready to assist we “accomplished” and I say accomplished, as with this many helpers the fact we came out with a finished and tasty cupcake was no short of a miracle.

Chocolate Caramel Surprise Cupcakes
So here is an original recipe from our chef filled kitchen, rich Chocolate Caramel Surprise Cupcakes: a chocolate cupcake with a caramel nougat center topped with a chocolate caramel buttercream.
Enjoy! XOXO San and kids:  Aiden, Madden, Jersey, Jojo, Cannon and their friends Bradon, Isaac, Emmett, Audrey, Izabella, Gabbie, Claire, little Isaac and baby Adelle

How do you make Chocolate Caramel Surprise Cupcakes?

Cupcakes
  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Liner cupcake pans with 16 cupcake liners.
  • Mix all ingredients together until moist and well blended. Add batter in cupcake liners about 2/3 full. Place in oven for 20-25 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean.

  • Cool completely, and using a teaspoon remove the center of the cupcake. Discard centers, by eating them (smile).

Nougat Filling
  • Cream butter, caramel, and marshmallow cream together. Add vanilla and mix in powdered sugar until filling is at desired sweetness and consistency (should be like a thick caramel). To get the right consistency add more powdered sugar and/or caramel until you get the taste and consistency you desire.

  • Using a frosting bag or tablespoon, fill the center of the cupcakes with the filling. Fill all the way and just a little bit over the top. The filling will sink a tad after sitting.
Chocolate Caramel Surprise Cupcake step by step
Buttercream
  • Cream together butter and vanilla with a mixer. Slowly blend in cocoa powder then sugar one cup at a time. Beat in milk until light and fluffy. Add more milk or sugar as needed until you get the desired consistency. Keep covered until ready to frost.

  • Spoon buttercream into one side of a piping bag, or a Ziploc with the corner snipped off. Scrape caramel topping one tablespoon at a time into the other side of the bag. Pipe onto cupcakes, you may not see the caramel at first.

  • Serve once frosted, and enjoy!

Love these fun cupcakes? Try these other recipes! Easy Rocket CupcakesOreo Spider Cupcakes, and these Buried Treasure Cupcakes.

Don’t forget to pin this to your favorite Pinterest board to save for later!

Chocolate Caramel Surprise Cupcakes pinterest image

Chocolate Caramel Surprise Cupcakes

Prep: 35 minutes
Cook: 20 minutes
Total: 55 minutes
Servings: 16 cupcakes
Calories: 452 kcal
Chocolate Caramel Surprise Cupcakes is a chocolate cupcake with a caramel nougat center topped with a chocolate and caramel swirl buttercream.

Ingredients
 

Cupcakes

  • 1 1/2 cups flour
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/3 cup cocoa powder
  • 1/2 cup oil
  • 1 cup water
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 tablespoon vinegar

Nougat Filling

  • 1/4 cup softened butter
  • 6.5 ounces marshmallow cream
  • 3 tablespoons Smuckers Caramel Topping
  • 1/2 -1 cup powdered sugar

Buttercream

  • 1 cup butter softened
  • 1 teaspoon clear vanilla extract
  • 1/2 cup Hershey’s cocoa powder
  • 4 cups confectioners’ sugar
  • 2 tablespoons milk
  • 4 tablespoons Smuckers Caramel Topping

Instructions
 

Cupcakes

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Liner cupcake pans with 16 cupcake liners.
  • Mix all ingredients together until moist and well blended. Add batter in cupcake liners about 2/3 full. Place in oven for 20-25 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean.
  • Cool completely, and using a teaspoon remove the center of the cupcake. Discard centers, by eating them (smile).

Nougat Filling

  • Cream butter, caramel, and marshmallow cream together. Add vanilla and mix in powdered sugar until filling is at desired sweetness and consistency (should be like a thick caramel). To get the right consistency add more powdered sugar and/or caramel until you get the taste and consistency you desire.
  • Using a frosting bag or tablespoon, fill the center of the cupcakes with the filling. Fill all the way and just a little bit over the top. The filling will sink a tad after sitting.

Buttercream

  • Cream together butter and vanilla with a mixer. Slowly blend in cocoa powder then sugar one cup at a time. Beat in milk until light and fluffy. Add more milk or sugar as needed until you get the desired consistency. Keep covered until ready to frost.
  • Spoon buttercream into one side of a piping bag, or a Ziploc with the corner snipped off. Scrape caramel topping one tablespoon at a time into the other side of the bag. Pipe onto cupcakes, you may not see the caramel at first.
  • Serve once frosted, and enjoy!
Calories: 452kcalCarbohydrates: 65gProtein: 2gFat: 22gSaturated Fat: 10gCholesterol: 38mgSodium: 374mgPotassium: 94mgFiber: 1gSugar: 45gVitamin A: 455IUCalcium: 19mgIron: 1.2mg
Tried this recipe?Let us know what you think!

Kids review: The kids love this cupcake, they called it the surprise cupcake because most of them forgot that we put something in the middle. They said it was like a little present in the middle.

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82 Comments

  1. I love cupcakes now filled cupcakes, I’m pregnant and craving , wonder how will your recipe work with pastry cream or custards. yummy!!! Hope you don’t mind me twisting it a bit.

  2. Girl, you are the cupcake queen! These looks so delicious! Also, I love the name inspiration at the bottom of your post (since I am pregnant, I always like seeing different names!)!

  3. These sound and look incredible! WOW! Your pictures are truly stunning and I can’t wait to try these delicious cupcakes – love caramel and chocolate!!!

  4. OMG! My kids love “stuff in the middle” Myself- you had me at chocolate! I feel like jumping in the car and buying all these ingredients and going all out! Yum!

  5. Wow pretty much describes these! Anytime caramel and chocolate is involved, I’m there. These look like pretty much the best cupcakes I’ve even seen! Can’t believe they came out so gorgeous with so many kidlets helping! You must be a saint in the kitchen!

  6. I really want to be your taste tester! When will get the opportunity to buy your treats? You are so talented and I love reading about all your goodies, seriously move over MARTHA “YOU” are amazing, you could have your own show. And you will invite me to taste all the goodies right? !

    1. So if I ever move Martha over, you are my first guest! And if you were closer I would so be giving you a taste of it all. I need a food tester buddy! Thanks girl your comment made my day! xo San

  7. Chocolate and Caramel in one awesome cupcake, this is wonderful! Hope you have a very special weekend and thanks so much for sharing with Full Plate Thursday.
    Come Back Soon!
    Miz Helen

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