Best Caramel Filling Recipes

COCONUT PECAN SHORTBREAD COOKIES WITH CARAMEL FILLING

Steps:

• To make the shortbread: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Place coconut on a baking sheet, and toast until golden brown, 5 to 7 minutes, stirring halfway through. Transfer the coconut to a cutting board, and finely chop. Transfer to a bowl; set aside.
• Spread the pecans on the baking pan, and toast until fragrant and golden brown, 5 to 7 minutes, rotating pan halfway through. Transfer the pecans to a cutting board, and finely chop. Add to bowl with the coconut.
• In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream the butter and sugar on medium speed until light and fluffy. Add vanilla extract, flour, and salt; beat to combine. Stir in coconut and pecans.
• Form the dough into a disk, and wrap in plastic. Transfer to refrigerator, and chill until firm, 30 to 45 minutes.
• Line 3 baking sheets with parchment paper; set aside. On a lightly floured surface, roll out dough 1/4-inch-thick. Using a 2 1/4-inch fluted pastry cutter, cut out 68 rounds. Place the rounds, spaced 1 inch apart, on the prepared baking sheets. Refrigerate dough 5 to 10 minutes. Using a 3/4-inch round aspic cutter, or the large end of a pastry tip, cut out and discard the centers from 34 cookies, making top halves.
• Bake until golden brown, about 12 minutes, rotating baking sheets halfway through baking time. Transfer cookies to a wire rack, and let cool completely. Store in an airtight container, at room temperature until ready to use
• To make the filling: Place the sugar and 3 tablespoons water in a small saucepan. Set over medium-high heat, and stir to combine. Bring the mixture to a boil, and cook until dark amber in color, about 5 minutes. Use a pastry brush, dipped in water, to wash down sides of pan to prevent crystallization as the mixture boils. Remove saucepan from the heat, and gradually whisk in the cream and butter. Transfer to a medium bowl, and let cool.
• To assemble the cookies: Spoon or pipe about 1/2 teaspoon caramel in the center of each of the bottom halves, and sandwich both halves together. Drizzle remaining caramel over the tops of the cookies. Let the caramel set at least 2 hours, and up to overnight.

CHOCOLATE CUPCAKES WITH SALTED CARAMEL FROSTING AND CHOCOLATE FUDGE FILLING

Steps:

• For the chocolate cupcakes: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line a 24-cup muffin pan with cupcake liners.
• Cream the granulated sugar, butter and oil in a large bowl. Beat in the eggs, one at a time, until fluffy. Add the vanilla and blend well. Sift the flour, baking soda and sea salt and gradually add to the sugar mixture, alternating with the milk.
• Whisk the cocoa and water until smooth in a small bowl. Add to the mixture and continue beating until well blended.
• Fill each muffin cup three-quarters full with batter. Bake the cupcakes until baked through the center, about 15 minutes. Remove the cupcakes from the pan and cool on wire racks.
• For the chocolate fudge filling: Melt the butter in a microwave-safe bowl. Whisk the cocoa and water until smooth in a separate bowl. Whisk the cocoa mixture into the butter until blended and smooth. Whisk in the powdered sugar until fluffy. Yield: 2 cups.
• For the buttercream base frosting: Whip the powdered sugar, milk, vanilla and sea salt with a whisk attachment on low until smooth and creamy. Add the butter one slice at a time until well blended. Add the shortening and blend well. Whip on high until the mixture doubles, 10 to 12 minutes. Yield: 8 cups.
• For the salted caramel: Combine 1/4 cup room temperature water and the granulated sugar in a small saucepan. Cook over medium-low heat until the sugar dissolves. Increase the heat to medium-high and bring to a boil. Boil without stirring, until the mixture is approximately 325 degrees F and a deep amber color, 5 to 6 minutes.
• Remove the caramel from the heat and whisk in the cream. The caramel will bubble violently. Once smooth, stir in the butter and fine sea salt. Transfer the caramel to a heat safe container and allow cooling for 15 minutes. Cover and refrigerate for up to 2 weeks. Yield: 1 1/2 cups.
• For the salted caramel frosting: Whip 2 1/2 cups buttercream base frosting, the powdered sugar and 1/2 cup salted caramel with a whisk attachment until fluffy. Yield: 3 cups.
• Once the cupcakes are cool, cut out the center of each cupcake and fill with the chocolate fudge filling. Top each cupcake with the salted caramel frosting.

CHOCOLATE CAKE WITH CARAMEL-COCONUT-ALMOND FILLING

Steps:

• For Cake:
• Preheat oven to 350°F. Butter three 9-inch-diameter cake pans with 1 1/2-inch-high sides. Line bottoms with waxed paper. Butter waxed paper. Combine chocolate, 1 cup water and espresso powder in heavy small saucepan. Stir over low heat until chocolate melts and mixture is smooth. Remove from heat. Cool completely, stirring occasionally.
• Using electric mixer, beat brown sugar and butter in large bowl until light and fluffy. Add eggs 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. Add chocolate mixture and vanilla and beat until blended. Sift four, baking soda, baking powder and salt into medium bowl. Add dry ingredients to butter mixture alternately with sour cream in 3 additions, beginning with dry ingredients and beating well after each addition.
• Divide batter equally among prepared pans. Bake cakes until tester inserted into center comes out clean, about 30 minutes. Cool cakes in pans on racks 10 minutes. Using small knife, cut around sides of pans to loosen cakes. Turn cakes out onto racks. Remove waxed paper; cool completely.
• For filling:
• Combine sugar and 1/4 cup water in heavy medium saucepan. Stir over low heat until sugar dissolves. Increase heat to high and boil without stirring until syrup turns deep amber, brushing down sides of pan with wet pastry brush and swirling occasionally, about 10 minutes. Remove from heat. Carefully add cream (mixture will bubble vigorously). Place pan over medium low heat and stir until caramel bits melt, about 5 minutes. Stir in coconut and 1 cup almonds. Cool filling until thick enough to spread, stirring occasionally, about 45 minutes.
• For Frosting:
• Melt butter and chocolate in heavy small saucepan over low heat, stirring until smooth. Transfer to large bowl. Stir in vanilla. Whisk in 1 cup powdered sugar and 1/4 cup sour cream. Whisk in remaining powdered sugar and sour cream.
• Place 1 cake layer on platter. Spread half of filling evenly over top, leaving 1/2-inch border. Top with second cake layer. Spread with remaining filling, leaving 1/2-inch boarder. Top with remaining cake layer. Spread frosting over sides and top of cake. Press 2 cups sliced almonds onto sides of cake. Using pastry spatula, swirl frosting on top of cake decoratively. (Can be made 1 day ahead. Cover with cake dome; store at room temperature.)

SWEET POTATO CAKE WITH COCONUT FILLING AND CARAMEL FROSTING

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Coat 3 (9-inch) cake pans with cooking spray; dust lightly with flour. Set aside.
• Beat butter and sugar at medium-high speed with an electric mixer until fluffy. Add egg yolks, 1 at a time, beating until blended after each addition. Beat in sweet potatoes and next 6 ingredients, adding each ingredient 1 at a time. Add pecans and 3 cups flour, beating just until blended.
• Beat egg whites in a separate bowl at high speed with an electric mixer until stiff peaks form; fold into batter. Spoon batter evenly into prepared pans.
• Bake for 25 minutes or until wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pans on wire racks 10 minutes; remove and cool completely on wire racks.
• Spread Coconut Filling evenly between cake layers. Gradually pour about 1/2 cup Caramel Frosting on top of cake, spreading over top and sides with a small spatula. Place cake in refrigerator. Chill remaining Caramel Frosting 45 minutes. Pour another 1/2 cup Caramel Frosting on cake, spreading over top and sides. Repeat procedure with remaining frosting, using 1/2 cup frosting at a time and chilling every 15 minutes. Store cake in refrigerator.
• Combine first 3 ingredients in a heavy 2-quart saucepan; gradually stir in milk, and cook, stirring constantly, over medium heat 3 minutes or until thickened.
• Stir about one-fourth of hot milk mixture gradually into egg; add egg mixture to remaining hot milk mixture, stirring constantly. Return to a boil, and cook, stirring constantly, 1 minute or until thickened. Remove from heat; stir in coconut and vanilla. Place heavy-duty plastic wrap directly on warm filling. Cool completely; chill 1 hour.
• Whisk together cream cheese and cream in a small bowl until smooth.
• Cook sugar and 2/3 cup water in a heavy 3 1/2-quart saucepan over medium-low heat, stirring constantly, 5 minutes or until sugar dissolves. Increase heat to high, and bring mixture to a boil without stirring. Using a pastry brush dipped in hot water, wash down any sugar crystals on sides of pan. Cook, without stirring, 10 minutes or just until syrup turns a deep amber color.
• Whisk in butter gradually; gradually whisk in cream cheese mixture until smooth. Remove from heat; cool 10 minutes, whisking occasionally.

PUMPKIN ROLL CAKE WITH TOFFEE CREAM FILLING AND CARAMEL SAUCE

Steps:

• For Cake:
• Preheat oven to 375°F. Spray 15x10x1-inch baking sheet with vegetable oil spray. Sift flour, cinnamon, ginger and allspice into small bowl. Using electric mixer, beat egg yolks, 1/3 cup sugar and 1/3 cup brown sugar in large bowl until very thick, about 3 minutes. On low speed, beat in pumpkin, then dry ingredients. Using clean dry beaters, beat egg whites and salt in another large bowl until stiff but not dry. Fold egg whites into batter in 3 additions. Transfer to prepared pan. Bake cake until tester is inserted comes out clean, about 15 minutes.
• Place smooth (not terry cloth) kitchen towel on work surface; dust generously with powdered sugar. Cut around pan sides to loosen cake. Turn cake out onto kitchen towel. Fold towel over 1 long side of cake. Starting at 1 long side, roll up cake in towel. Arrange cake seam side down and cool completely, about 1 hour.
• For Filling:
• Pour 2 tablespoons rum into heavy small saucepan; sprinkle gelatin over. Let stand until gelatin softens, about 10 minutes. Stir over low heat just until gelatin dissolves. Beat chilled whipping cream and 3 tablespoons powdered sugar in large bowl until firm peaks form. Beat in gelatin mixture. Fold in 6 tablespoons English toffee pieces.
• Unroll cake; sprinkle with 4 tablespoons English toffee pieces. Spread filling over. Starting at 1 long side and using kitchen towel as aid, roll up cake to enclose filling. Place cake seam side down on platter. (Can be prepared 1 day ahead. Cover with foil and refrigerate.)
• Trim ends of cake on slight diagonal. Dust cake with powdered sugar. Spoon some of warm sauce over top of cake. Sprinkle with 1/2 cup toffee. To serve, cut cake crosswise into 1-inch-thick slices. Pass remaining sauce.

CARAMEL APPLE PIE FILLING (OAMC)

Steps:

• Peel, core, and slice apples. Should be about 6 cups of apples when sliced. Toss with lemon juice, cinnamon, and nutmeg.
• Cover or place into a resealable bag and allow flavors to mingle for 30 minutes.
• In a heavy bottomed saucepan, melt butter and brown sugar together. Stir frequently. Heat on medium heat until mixture starts to bubble. Add salt.
• Add apple mixture and all of the juices. Allow mixture to come to a gentle boil, lower heat and allow to simmer, stirring often, until the firmest apples start to soften. Cooking time can be adjusted to suit your preference for apple texture. My family likes their apples on the softer side, so I let it cook until the firmest apples are fork tender.
• If there is a lot of liquid, add 1 teaspoon of cornstarch and stir through. Let this simmer a bit longer because the cornstarch will not thicken unless the liquid is at a boil.
• Ladle into a prepared quart jar with at least 1" headspace and proceed with sealing. Or ladle into a container for freezing. 1 quart will fill one pie generously.

COCONUT CUPCAKES WITH CHOCOLATE GANACHE FILLING, TOPPED WITH CARAMEL BUTTERCREAM FROSTING AND TOASTED COCONUT

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Line a regular-size cupcake pan with 18 cupcake liners.
• Sift together flour, baking powder, salt, and sugar. In the bowl of an electric stand mixer with a paddle attachment, add the sifted dry ingredients and mix on low speed for 30 seconds. Slowly add oil to the mixture until fine crumbs are formed. Add the eggs, milk, and coconut extract and mix on low speed for 1 minute. Stop and scrape the bowl and paddle, and then mix on medium speed for 2 minutes.
• Fill the cupcake liners three-quarters full with batter and bake until baked through, about 20 minutes. Do not open the oven during this time. Cool the cupcakes completely after baking.
• To assemble, core each cupcake with an apple corer to create a pocket for the filling. Put the Chocolate Ganache Filling into a pastry bag and cut 1/2-inch off the tip. Fill each cupcake with the filling. Put the Caramel Buttercream Frosting into a pastry bag and cut 1/2-inch off the tip. Pipe the frosting on top of the cupcakes in a circular motion until completely covered. Once frosted, dip the cupcakes in a bowl of the toasted coconut and serve.
• Melt the ingredients in a saucepan over low heat. Stir the mixture constantly until melted and smooth. Be careful not to burn. Remove from the heat to cool completely.
• Stir 1 cup butter, heavy cream, brown sugar, white sugar, and vanilla together in a microwave-safe dish. Microwave at 1 to 2 minute intervals, stirring between intervals. The caramel will be thick and bubbly when done. The caramel must sit and cool completely in order to incorporate into the buttercream.
• In the bowl of an electric stand mixer with a whisk attachment, whip the remaining 1 pound butter until creamed. Add the powdered sugar and 1/4 cup cooled caramel and mix until the ingredients are evenly incorporated and the frosting is smooth and creamy.

CARAMEL FILLING

Steps:

• Cook butter, sugar and cream together until it threads.
• Add caramelized sugar and vanilla.
• Cool and fill cake.
• How to caramelize sugar:.
• Melt sugar in a fry pan, stirring constantly, until a golden brown.
• Add to mixture at once or it will harden.

CHOCOLATE LIZZIE CAKE WITH CARAMEL FILLING

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). Grease and flour four 8-inch round cake pans.
• Mix the flour, baking soda, and salt in a bowl. In a large bowl, cream together the butter and sugar. Beat in eggs one at a time. Alternately beat in flour mixture and buttermilk until smooth.
• Place unsweetened chocolate in a small bowl. Pour the boiling water over the chocolate, and stir until melted. Mix chocolate, vanilla, and lemon juice into the buttermilk batter. Divide batter evenly into the prepared cake pans.
• Bake 15 minutes in the preheated oven, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool 10 minutes in pans, then turn out onto wire racks to cool completely.
• Caramel Filling: Mix the butter, confectioners' sugar, vanilla, lemon juice, superfine sugar, and milk in a heavy saucepan. Stirring constantly, bring to a boil, and cook until temperature reaches 225 degrees F (110 degrees C) on a candy thermometer. Remove saucepan from heat, and set in a large bowl filled with ice water. Beat filling with an electric mixer until spreadable. At first this seems to be just hot, hard work, but the filling will suddenly start to thicken as it begins to cool. Transfer filling to a clean bowl, and it will continue to cool as you frost the top of each cake layer. Stack the frosted layers atop each other.

KING CAKE WITH BANANA CARAMEL PECAN FILLING

Steps:

• 1. Prepare the caramel sauce for the filling. In the top of a double boiler, pour in the condensed milk, place over the bottom portion of boiling water, cover, reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer, stirring occasionally, until thick and caramel-colored, about 2½ hours. Cool 20 minutes before using. 2. Prepare the cake. In a bowl, whisk milk with sugar, yeast and 1 heaping tablespoon flour until smooth and the yeast is dissolved. Let rest until the mixture gets bubbly, then whisk in butter, egg yolks, vanilla, and orange zest. 3. In a separate bowl, mix remaining flour, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Fold this mixture into the wet ingredients with a rubber spatula. Once combined and the dough begins to pull away from the bowl, turn it out onto a lightly floured surface and knead by hand until smooth, about 20 minutes of kneading. Form into a ball and place in a clean bowl, covered with plastic wrap, and allow it to rise until doubled in size, about 2 hours. 4. Preheat the oven to 375 F. 5. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured work surface. Using your fingers pat it out into a rectangle about 30 inches long and 6 inches wide. Spoon and spread some caramel sauce across the bottom lengthwise half of the dough rectangle then sprinkle the pecan bits and banana pieces on top. Flip the top half over the filling. Seal the edges, pinching the dough together. Shape the dough into a ring and pinch the ends together so there isn't a seam. 6. Carefully transfer the ring to the prepared baking sheet and cover with plastic wrap allowing the dough to rise until doubled in size, about 45 minutes. Bake until light golden brown, about 20 minutes. (Be careful not to overcook!) Remove and allow to cool completely on a wire rack before decorating. Gently lift up the edge of the cake, and hide the plastic baby somewhere through the bottom. Decorate with icing in alternating colors of Green, Purple and Gold.

CARAMEL-CREAM FILLING

Steps:

• Heat sugar and 4 teaspoons water in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat, stirring until sugar has dissolved. Continue to cook, without stirring, until very deep amber. Carefully pour in 1 cup cream, whisking. Whisk in milk.
• Put gelatin and 6 tablespoons water into a small bowl. Let stand until gelatin has softened, about 7 minutes.
• Prepare an ice-water bath; set aside. Whisk egg yolks into caramel mixture. Cook over medium heat, stirring, until mixture registers 165 degrees on an instant-read thermometer. Add gelatin, and whisk until smooth. Pass through a fine sieve into a bowl set in ice-water bath. Let cool, stirring occasionally, until thickened.
• Beat remaining cup cream until soft peaks form. Fold the whipped cream into caramel cream. Cover, and refrigerate at least 30 minutes (or overnight).

CARAMEL GANACHE (FOR FILLING CHOCOLATES)

Steps:

• 1. Rub lemon juice into the sugar.
• 2. In a saucepan, caramelize the sugar until amber, using the dry method.
• 3. Add glucose syrup to the caramelized sugar.
• 4. Heat the heavy cream. With the caramelized sugar over low head, stream in the hot cream, making certain that the caramelized sugar mixture is entirely incorperated into the cream. Remove from heat.
• 5. Pour the hot warm cream/caramel mixture over the chocolate and butter. Allow to sit at least 2 minutes before stirring. If the chocolate does not melt completely, place the bowl over a pot of lightly simmering water, stirring until the chocolate is melted and no lumps remain.

THICK CARAMEL FILLING AND SAUCE

Steps:

• In a heavy saucepan, bring butter, brown sugar, corn syrup and sweetened condensed milk to a boil over medium heat, stirring. Carefully stir in whipping cream. Attach a candy thermometer to your pan. Continue to stir until the caramel reaches 238 degrees, or the soft ball stage. Remove from heat and add vanilla and salt.

CHOCOLATE MACAROONS WITH CHOCOLATE OR CARAMEL FILLING

Steps:

• For chocolate filling:
• Bring milk and butter to simmer in heavy medium saucepan. Remove from heat. Add chocolate; whisk until melted and smooth. Transfer to small bowl. Cool. Cover and refrigerate until thick and cold, at least 1 day and up to 3 days.
• For caramel filling:
• Place yolks in medium bowl. Bring 4 tablespoons butter and cream to simmer in heavy small saucepan. Gradually whisk hot cream mixture into yolks. Anchor bowl with yolk mixture by placing bowl on wet kitchen towel; set aside.
• Stir sugar and 6 tablespoons water in heavy medium saucepan over low heat until sugar is dissolved. Increase heat and boil without stirring until syrup is deep amber color, occasionally brushing down sides of pan with wet pastry brush and swirling pan so caramel will color evenly, about 10 minutes. Slowly whisk hot caramel into yolk mixture, then whisk until smooth. Transfer caramel mixture to small bowl; let stand until no longer warm to touch (caramel will become too thick if it cools too long), about 1 hour. Whisk in remaining butter. Cover and chill until thick and cold, at least 1 day and up to 3 days.
• For macaroons:
• Preheat oven to 400°F. Line 2 large baking sheets with parchment paper. Blend powdered sugar and almonds in processor until nuts are ground to powder, scraping sides of bowl often, about 8 minutes. Add cocoa and blend 1 minute more. Using electric mixer, beat egg whites in large bowl until stiff but not dry. Fold nut mixture into whites in 4 additions, making thick batter.
• Spoon half of batter into pastry bag fitted with 1/2-inch plain round tip. Pipe batter onto each prepared sheet in 12 walnut-size mounds, spacing mounds apart (cookies will spread slightly).
• Bake cookies, 1 sheet at a time, until firm to touch in center and dry and cracked on top, about 11 minutes. Slide parchment with cookies onto work surface; cool cookies. Repeat with remaining batter, cooling sheets completely and lining with clean parchment for each batch.
• Assembly and serving:
• Arrange 1 macaroon, flat side up, on work surface. Drop 1 scant tablespoon filling onto cookie. Top with second macaroon, flat side down. Press lightly to adhere, making sandwich. Repeat with remaining macaroons and filling. Arrange macaroons on platter. Cover; chill at least 2 hours and up to 1 day. Serve cold.

BANANA CAKE WITH CARAMEL FILLING

Steps:

• 1. preheat oven to 350.
• 2. line 2 6 inch round cake pans with parchment paper and butter and flour them or use floured cooking spray.
• 3. you will have some batter left over. you can also use 2 8 inch pans or 2 9 inch pans for thinner layers.
• 4. mix cake mix, water, oil, eggs and baking soda in a large bowl on low for 1 minute.
• 5. increase speed to medium and beat for 2 minutes. reduce mixer back to low or stir for a stand mixer and mix in bananas.
• 6. fill prepared pans 2/3 full. (if you are using 6 inch pans you will have some batter left over. make cupcakes.
• 7. make the caramel: while the cake is in the oven add the caramels and whipping cream to a microwave safe bowl.
• 8. heat on high in 30 second increments, stirring between each to help melt caramel.
• 9. once caramel is completely melted, place in the refrigerator to cool completely.
• 10. note: this makes enough caramel filling for a 6 inch layer cake. double recipe for a larger cake.
• 11. when getting ready to frost the cake, remove cooled caramel from the refrigerator.
• 12. it will be stiff. beat with a hand mixer until the caramel becomes more creamy, only a few minutes.
• 13. now it is like a thin frosting you can fill your cake with.
• 14. make the frosting: beat butter and cream cheese until fluffy.
• 15. slowly beat in powdered sugar, 1 cup at a time, mixing until frosting has formed.
• 16. mix in vanilla. if needed for consistency, add heavy cream, 1 tablespoon at a time.
• 17. to assemble your cake, place some frosting in a pastry bag fitted with your choice of tip (i used a 1M).
• 18. if needed, trim the top of your cake layers to make them level. place 1 layer on cake pan.
• 19. pipe a rim around the edge with cream cheese frosting, creating a barrier for the caramel filling.
• 20. evenly spread caramel on the bottom layer. place top cake layer on the caramel.
• 21. frost the cake as directed. ( i frosted the entire cake with a thin crumb coat of frosting and then piped rosettes on the sides with my 1M tip.
• 22. i didn't have enough frosting to do rosettes on the top, so i made it smooth and added sprinkles.
• 23. Note: to decorate the entire cake with rosettes or similar or for a larger cake, double the frosting.

CARAMEL TART FILLING

Steps:

• Put brown sugar, plain flour, butter, vanilla essence and egg yolks into a medium saucepan and mix well together.
• Slowly add milk beating well (don't worry if mixture appears to curdle - it usually does).
• Put over a medium heat and stir continuously until it thickens and has a rich glossy brown colour, about 10 to 15 minutes.
• Let cool and pour into ready made cooked pie pastry shell.
• OPTIONAL EXTRA (MERINGUE TOPPING).
• Beat 2 egg whites till soft peaks form, slowly add in 4 tablespoon sugar until glossy and have stiff peaks.
• Spoon meringue onto caramel, making sure it covers the pastry.
• Put into a hot oven (200 degree C) and bake till golden - should only take a few minutes.
• Cut and serve with thick cream.

COCONUT & PECAN CARAMEL FROSTING/FILLING

Steps:

• In medium saucepan combine sugar and the 2 tablespoons Butterscotch Dessert Mix.
• Stir in evaporated milk, water, butter, and egg.
• Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly until thick.
• Remove from heat.
• Stir in coconut, pecan, and Caramel Flavor; cool.
• Spread frosting/filling between and on top of cake layers or as frosting on a 9 X 13 single layer cake.

NUTS FOR PEANUT BUTTER CUPCAKES WITH SALTED CARAMEL FILLING

Steps:

• For the cupcakes: Preheat the convection oven to 325 degrees F or a standard oven to 350 degrees F.
• In large mixer bowl, cream together the granulated sugar, butter and peanut butter until light and fluffy with heavy duty mixer. Add the eggs, one at a time, and mix thoroughly after each addition. Add the vanilla and mix well. Combine the flour, baking soda and salt. Add half of the flour to the mixer bowl along with 1/2 cup of the half-and-half. Mix until the flour is mixed in, scraping the sides of the bowl with a rubber spatula. Add the rest of the flour and the other 1/2 cup half-and-half. Mix until the batter is smooth and all of the flour lumps are gone.
• Fill 24 cupcake liners half full and bake for 20 minutes in the convection oven or 28 minutes in the standard oven. The tops of the cupcakes should be lightly browned. Check the cupcakes to make sure no batter sticks to a wooden toothpick when inserted into the cupcake. Cool the cupcakes completely.
• For the salted caramel filling: In heavy medium saucepan, cook the granulated sugar by itself over medium-high heat. As the sugar starts to melt, stir continuously until all the sugar is melted and is a dark amber color. Remove from the heat. Stir in the butter until it is completely melted; the mixture will bubble up. Then add the cream and stir until smooth. Sprinkle in the sea salt and stir slightly. Cool to room temperature. Refrigerate until ready to use.
• For the peanut butter buttercream: In large mixer bowl, beat together the butter, peanut butter and half of the powdered sugar using heavy duty mixer. Add the half-and-half and the rest of the powdered sugar, along with the vanilla, and mix well. If the frosting is thicker than you would like, add 1 teaspoon of additional half-and-half at a time, mixing well after each addition until the frosting reaches the correct consistency. The thickness may depend on the humidity levels in your region.
• To assemble: When cupcakes are cooled to room temperature, make a 3/4-inch hole in the middle of each cupcake using a sharp knife. Leave a small amount of cake in the bottom of each cupcake so that your filling doesn't fall out the bottom of the cupcake. Using a small zipper bag, fill each cupcake to the top with salted caramel filling. Then frost with peanut butter buttercream. You may top cupcakes with chopped peanuts and a salted caramel drizzle as desired.

CARAMEL PIE FILLING

Steps:

• In a bowl, dissolve the cornstarch with 3/4 cups water. Beat the egg yolks and stir them into the cornstarch mixture. Set aside.
• In a saucepan, cook 3/4 cup sugar over low to medium heat until it is completely melted and a golden-brown colour. Add the remaining 3/4 cup sugar, 1/2 cup butter, and the remaining 3/4 cup water.
• Bring the mixture to a boil and stir the until butter has melted and the sugar has dissolved completely.
• Stir the cornstarch and egg mixture into the saucepan and bring the mixture to a low boil, stirring it constantly. Continue to boil slowly until the mixture thickens.
• Take the mixture off the heat, stir it until smooth, and let it cool. Stir in the vanilla and pour the pilling into a baked pie crust.

PASSION-CARAMEL FILLING

Steps:

• Place chocolate and butter in a medium bowl and set aside. In a small heavy-bottomed saucepan, heat sugar over high heat without stirring until sugar begins to melt and turn golden at the edges, about 4 minutes.
• Carefully pour the passion fruit puree down the side of the saucepan in a slow, steady stream (it will spatter) and stir with a wooden spoon to combine. Cook until mixture reaches 116 degrees on a candy thermometer. Add heavy cream, corn syrup, and salt; stir to combine.
• Pour caramel mixture over chocolate, and stir until chocolate is melted and mixture is well combined; let cool slightly.