Pumpkin Caramels.
I made those.
Having never have made caramels before, the process seemed daunting.
But I got this new book, Sweet Confections by Nina Wanat and knew I wanted to try. Her directions are easy to follow and the photography was done by the amazing Todd and Diane of White on Rice.
The pictures are enough to make you drop everything and run to the store for supplies.
But since I didn't want to put Nina's beautifully perfect recipe here (that's what the book is for), but still wanted you to be able to sample some if this wonderful pumpkin and chocolate deliciousness, I made cupcakes.
Pumpkin Chocolate cupcakes.
With cinnamon buttercream.
And a caramel on top.
These tasted amazing. Ah-mazing.
I remembered I had some of these fun *free-standing muffin molds and I literally danced over to my supply closet to retrieve them. (I also used *these fun little cupcake liners.)
Um, I like baking. And cupcake liners. And dancing in my kitchen. And eating pumpkin caramels.
Chocolate Pumpkin Cupcakes (adapted from Country Living)
1 1/2 cups Flour
2/3 cups Cocoa
2 tsp Baking Powder
1 tsp Baking Soda
1/2 tsp Salt
1/2 cup Vanilla Yogurt
1 cup Canned Pumpkin
2 tsp Vanilla Extract
3/4 cups Butter, softened
1/2 cup Brown Sugar
1 1/2 cups Granulated Sugar
4 large Eggs
Directions
Preheat oven to 325.
Prepare cupcake pan with your fun and festive liners.
In mixer, beat butter and sugars until light and fluffy, about three minutes. Add in eggs, one at a time, until fully incorporated. In a medium bowl, sift the flour, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda, and salt together, set aside. Stir yogurt, pumpkin, and vanilla extract together in a small bowl. Reduce mixer speed to low and alternately beat in the flour and yogurt mixtures in thirds, starting and ending with flour.
Bake for 18-25 minutes, depending on your oven. Remove once toothpick inserted into center comes out clean, or center springs back when touched.
This recipe for Cinnamon Buttercream is divine, I simply excluded the brown sugar. (Because I wanted it to be whiter, not for taste purposes. I am a vain baker like that.)
I used a *2D tip to pipe out big clouds of cinnamon frosting. Then I simply went back and added a caramel square to each cupcake.
Now for the fun part... I would like to give YOU a copy of Sweet Confections!
Simply leave a comment.
Good luck!
CONTEST CLOSED! The winning comment was #115, Roberta. I will be sending you an email Roberta!
Thanks all who participated!
Open to USA and Canada residents only. Sorry all you fabulous international bakers! No comments accepted from Facebook.
*Amazon Affiliate link.
I love the fact that you are a vain baker! These look so good - wish I could eat them all up - but I'm trying to be good this month!
Posted by: Lucy Lean | Oct 03, 2011 at 01:11 PM
Gorgeous! I love those liners and the generous swirl of frosting!
Posted by: Sylvie @ Gourmande in the Kitchen | Oct 03, 2011 at 01:12 PM
Those look delicious! What a great fall recipe. I'll be keeping my fingers crossed for the book, because I've always been a scaredy-cat when it comes to caramels, but yours came out gorgeous :) Thanks for the chance to win Amanda!
Posted by: Monica | Oct 03, 2011 at 01:21 PM
Looks yummy!! Thanks for the chance at this book. :)
Posted by: Kristin Smith | Oct 03, 2011 at 01:22 PM
Beautiful! Cinnamon, chocolate, & pumpkin..couldn't be a better fall combination! If only the ones I bake turn out half as pretty :)
Posted by: Maria | Oct 03, 2011 at 01:22 PM
My mouth is watering as I type. Lovely work! :)
Posted by: Laura B | Oct 03, 2011 at 01:22 PM
Beautiful, delicious looking caramels and cupcakes.
Posted by: Athena R | Oct 03, 2011 at 01:23 PM
Those caramels look so delectable! What a great way to use them! Thank you for the giveaway opportunity.
Posted by: Nicola Murray | Oct 03, 2011 at 01:23 PM
You always make the most amazing sweets!
Posted by: Mrs. Puma | Oct 03, 2011 at 01:23 PM
Those look crazy-yummy! Woah!
Posted by: Theresa Sea | Oct 03, 2011 at 01:24 PM
Chocolate AND pumpkin. You're killing me. Beautiful as always.
Posted by: Renee | Oct 03, 2011 at 01:24 PM
OMG, those look amazing! Must try...
Posted by: Ruth P. | Oct 03, 2011 at 01:24 PM
Those a simply exquisite Amanda!
Posted by: Wenderly | Oct 03, 2011 at 01:24 PM
Can't wait to try these! Looks dee-lish!!!
Posted by: Elain Ponce De Leon | Oct 03, 2011 at 01:25 PM
These are absolutely beautiful!
Posted by: Elizabeth Benge | Oct 03, 2011 at 01:25 PM
I love pumpkin everything and anything! I vet those caramels are insanely yummy!
Posted by: Leslie Y. | Oct 03, 2011 at 01:26 PM
Very pretty! I love sweets. :)
Posted by: Tricia W. | Oct 03, 2011 at 01:27 PM
Oh my yum - I want some of those caramels, please!
Posted by: Kristen | Oct 03, 2011 at 01:27 PM
Beyond Beautiful!!
Posted by: Michelle | Oct 03, 2011 at 01:31 PM
You had me at caramel!
Posted by: katie | Oct 03, 2011 at 01:32 PM
I am defiantly going to try these... they sound amazing!
Posted by: Emily Aubin | Oct 03, 2011 at 01:34 PM
Three of my favorite flavors...pumpkin, cinnamon and caramel! They sound simply delicious all mixed together in a cupcake.
Posted by: Amber G. | Oct 03, 2011 at 01:34 PM
The caramels and the cupcakes look absolutely divine!!
Posted by: MNStacey | Oct 03, 2011 at 01:35 PM
Looks amazing!
Posted by: Dana | Oct 03, 2011 at 01:35 PM
These look so beautiful and my mouth is watering! I'm definitely trying the recipe, and I hope I win the cookbook! Thanks for such a great giveaway opportunity!
Posted by: Tristen | Oct 03, 2011 at 01:35 PM
Pumpkin caramels sound like the PERFECT fall treat!
Posted by: Christine | Oct 03, 2011 at 01:36 PM
I'm off to the store today to get my first can of pumpkin of the season!
Posted by: Morgan | Oct 03, 2011 at 01:36 PM
must try!!
Posted by: Jessica | Oct 03, 2011 at 01:37 PM
Those look amazing..! I am saving this recipe, the icing sounds like it's a perfect choice to top these Cuppies. Thanks for sharing!
K
Posted by: K | Oct 03, 2011 at 01:37 PM
Oh my! I love all things pumpkin!!
Posted by: Dana Kroh | Oct 03, 2011 at 01:38 PM
So fancy! I can't wait to try it.
Posted by: Lyndsey | Oct 03, 2011 at 01:38 PM
I'm so making those caramels tonight!
Posted by: Erin | Oct 03, 2011 at 01:38 PM
oh yummm...all i need is a steamy cup of coffee and some girlfriends to dish over this super cute treat!!
Posted by: Joanna Waller | Oct 03, 2011 at 01:39 PM
YUM YUM YUM...I can never decide what your blog makes me want to do more, bake, or take photography lessions....
Posted by: Sadie | Oct 03, 2011 at 01:39 PM
These look delicious! A great way to kick off the cooler weather and welcome in fall. Chocolate, pumpkin, cinnamon and caramel- how can this be anything but a winning recipe!? :)
Posted by: Emily S. | Oct 03, 2011 at 01:39 PM
Wait, no I'm not. There's no recipe! Gotta get that book!
Posted by: Erin | Oct 03, 2011 at 01:39 PM
Love the flavor combination!
Posted by: Lynae Johnson | Oct 03, 2011 at 01:40 PM
They look absolutely divine! Thank you for the opportunity to win.
Posted by: Laura K | Oct 03, 2011 at 01:40 PM
So pretty!
Posted by: Molly Chester | Oct 03, 2011 at 01:40 PM
People who say pumpkin and chocolate don't go together are crazy - these sound amazing.
Posted by: Catie | Oct 03, 2011 at 01:40 PM
Those looks so yummy!! I recently made homemade caramel too! I sprinkled a little sea salt on top and it turned out better than I expected.
Posted by: Jey | Oct 03, 2011 at 01:40 PM
Oh, those cupcakes look lovely, and sound fantastic! And I really want that book!
Posted by: Tracy J. | Oct 03, 2011 at 01:41 PM
Those look so good! Perfect for fall!
Posted by: Mariah | Oct 03, 2011 at 01:42 PM
OMGoodness! These look divine! :) Can't wait to try your recipe ~ and look for the book to make the caramels.... yummers! :)
Posted by: Brandi | Oct 03, 2011 at 01:43 PM
Must have some now! I cannot wait to try this recipe.
Posted by: Stella P | Oct 03, 2011 at 01:43 PM
I love pumpkin, but this is taking it to a whole new level of elegance! Must try.
Posted by: Alexis | Oct 03, 2011 at 01:43 PM
These look delicious! And the pumpkin caramels...WOW!!
Posted by: Kelly | Oct 03, 2011 at 01:46 PM
Love pumpkins and caramels are my fav candy! Thanks for opportunity to win this book. I would never have attempted to make homemade caramels so if I win those caramel babies will be the first dessert I make!
Posted by: Jessica | Oct 03, 2011 at 01:47 PM
I love caramels, and I love pumpkin, so these look wonderful. I've never made candy before, so this book would be a welcome gift.
Posted by: MS Laura | Oct 03, 2011 at 01:48 PM
People doubt the awesomeness of chocolate + pumpkin, and it is so sad that they do. I became a convert when I made pumpkin muffins with chocolate chips. DEElish.
Posted by: Tipper | Oct 03, 2011 at 01:48 PM