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.
YOU are so inspiring! thank you!
Posted by: darla | Oct 05, 2011 at 09:45 PM
This book is exactly what I've been looking for - and those pumpkin caramels look divine!
Posted by: Audrey L. | Oct 05, 2011 at 11:00 PM
These look incredible. I want to try them tomorrow!
Posted by: Rachel | Oct 05, 2011 at 11:07 PM
Love, love, love caramel, chocolate, pumpkin and buttercream. Have been looking for a special cake or cupcake to make for my birthday this weekend, and I think I've just found the perfect combination. Yum!
Posted by: Barbara | Oct 05, 2011 at 11:57 PM
I love fall baking, especially when its with pumpkin!!!
Posted by: Jillian | Oct 06, 2011 at 12:54 AM
Caramel gets me every time. Maybe one of these days when I get a normal candy thermometer I will get it right...you know, since I happened to get defective ones the last four times I bought one, LOL! Great flavors and gorgeous pics!
Posted by: SweetSugarBelle | Oct 06, 2011 at 01:09 AM
How excittng!!
Posted by: Antonia | Oct 06, 2011 at 04:35 AM
YUUUMMMMMM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: Jill | Oct 06, 2011 at 05:50 AM
Those look delicious!
Posted by: Beth | Oct 06, 2011 at 05:59 AM
I'm hungry now:) Would love to win!
erinchris07 at gmail.com
Posted by: Erin Phelps | Oct 06, 2011 at 06:45 AM
I love caramel! Would like to try this recipe.
Posted by: Jessie | Oct 06, 2011 at 06:52 AM
Oh, good heavens. I TOO like baking...and cupcake liners...AND dancing in my kitchen!!
Posted by: Susan | Oct 06, 2011 at 07:40 AM
Love Love Love!!!! I have to make!!
Posted by: carol | Oct 06, 2011 at 09:27 AM
Yum! Caramel and pumpkin always remind me of my Grandmother house.
Posted by: Logan | Oct 06, 2011 at 09:30 AM
These look divine! I can't wait to make them!
Posted by: Lindsey Johnson | Oct 06, 2011 at 09:35 AM
The cupcakes look yummy. I will have to try them. I love this time of year and all the wonderful recipes with pumpkin.
Posted by: Annemieke | Oct 06, 2011 at 10:10 AM
Those cupcakes with carmels look devine! Why is it that we only really use pumpkin in the fall? I guess it keeps it special.
Posted by: Laura Pierson | Oct 06, 2011 at 10:50 AM
These cupcakes are gorgeous and look delicious!
Posted by: Stacey | Oct 06, 2011 at 11:06 AM
Wow...beautiful!
Posted by: Gail | Oct 06, 2011 at 11:06 AM
This looks amazing! I love to bake and I love cupcake wrappers too. Thanks for sharing!
Posted by: Kaci | Oct 06, 2011 at 11:28 AM
I am currently on the hunt for my favorite pumpkin cupcake recipe! I will for sure have to try these! And I sure would LOVE to have the caramel recipe too!
Posted by: Sam | Oct 06, 2011 at 11:33 AM
Tis the season. These look fabulous and my girls and I love your site. Blessings to you! Thank you :)
Posted by: Shelly Fuller | Oct 06, 2011 at 11:33 AM
Pumpkin? Ooh, please pick me!!
Posted by: Brittni Lasater | Oct 06, 2011 at 11:40 AM
They looks amazingly wonderful. I must try this recipe!!
Posted by: Meredith | Oct 06, 2011 at 11:42 AM
These sound devine! I can't wait to try out the recipe.
Posted by: Angela | Oct 06, 2011 at 11:54 AM
Yum. I love the twist of using pumpkin with caramel instead of apple.
Posted by: Rachel | Oct 06, 2011 at 11:56 AM
Pumpkin Season is my favorite season!
Posted by: Jillian Z | Oct 06, 2011 at 12:13 PM
These look amazing! I would love to try to make those caramels as well!
Posted by: Melissa | Oct 06, 2011 at 12:23 PM
These look delicious and perfect for fall. I was wondering what to do with my pumpkin for sunday coffee. Now I know! Thank you so much for the inspiration. You are amazing! Not only today but, with every post you do, you inspire me to be better in the kitchen and therefore everywhere else.
Love from Germany
Posted by: Anna | Oct 06, 2011 at 01:10 PM
Those look wonderful.
Posted by: Megan Spalding | Oct 06, 2011 at 02:48 PM
there goes my diet!
Posted by: faigy | Oct 06, 2011 at 03:22 PM
Me please, please, please!
Posted by: Sarah C. | Oct 06, 2011 at 04:02 PM
My sister is obsessed with pumpkin-flavored things. We came home from the grocery store today with pumpkin cream cheese, ice cream, coffee creamer, bread, and just a can of pumpkin. If I don't win this, I'll have to go buy it!
Posted by: Ally | Oct 06, 2011 at 04:23 PM
Some of my favorite things: cupcakes, caramels, and pumpkin! i CANNOT wait to make these!
Posted by: Tay D | Oct 06, 2011 at 04:24 PM
They look soooo yummy. I love anything pumpkin!
Posted by: Shanna Stanaford | Oct 06, 2011 at 04:39 PM
That looks absolutely scrumptious! I have got to try that!!! Not to mention, your caramel looks divine!
Posted by: Christina Khem | Oct 06, 2011 at 06:15 PM
Your cupcakes look to-die-for! I'd love to learn how to make my own candy at home!
Posted by: Alisa | Oct 06, 2011 at 06:44 PM
Oh those look so yummy! Pumpkin and chocolate is not a combination that I have tried before.
Posted by: Christine | Oct 06, 2011 at 06:51 PM
Not sure when the contest closes, but I wanted to enter just in case :)Hope I'm not too late! I'd love to try out a new cookbook.
Posted by: Janet | Oct 06, 2011 at 07:15 PM
Beautiful cupcakes! I want to try the cinnamon buttercream. Yum!
Posted by: Erin | Oct 06, 2011 at 07:55 PM
Yeah for fall baking! Your cupcakes look great!
Posted by: Kate Perkins | Oct 06, 2011 at 08:16 PM
Thank you for the awesome recipe! I am going to make a test batch this weekend so I can be ready for Halloween. Thank you so much. They look great!
Posted by: | Oct 06, 2011 at 08:28 PM
Long time reader, first time poster. BUT THERE'S A CONTEST GOING ON, SO...
Those look delicious!
As does everything in this blog.
I've always wanted to try homemade caramels. They look so divine.
It'd be even more awesome if I could make my own. :)
If I don't win, can you send me some caramels anyway? Haha~ joking. I think.
Posted by: Leanne F. | Oct 06, 2011 at 09:00 PM
That sounds so wonderful I can't believe it, I love salted caramels so these must be amazing!
{laura mae}
http://lauramaecreates.blogspot.com/
Posted by: Laura Mae | Oct 06, 2011 at 09:08 PM
that looks awesome, cause sugar runs in my blood (a lot). i wonder if you can use those little tiny pumpkins for pumpkin puree in a recipe? i guess i'll try it and find out!
Posted by: martata | Oct 06, 2011 at 09:48 PM
Those caramels look delicious. :)
Posted by: Celina Vigil | Oct 06, 2011 at 09:56 PM
I never made caramels before either, but those look so good I'm gonna have to give them a try! Thanks for the inspiration!
Posted by: Molly | Oct 06, 2011 at 10:23 PM
I love pumpkin and chocolate....what's better than having both together?!?!?!?
Posted by: Kristin Kunoff | Oct 06, 2011 at 10:32 PM
I love pumpkin. I have been baking all kinds of pumpkin things.. I may just give these a try as well!
Posted by: Heidie | Oct 06, 2011 at 11:20 PM
Cinnamon and buttercream! Two great loves in one!
Posted by: Tiffany S. | Oct 06, 2011 at 11:21 PM