Best Salted Caramel Buttercream Recipes

ALMOND CUPCAKE WITH SALTED CARAMEL BUTTERCREAM FROSTING

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Line 12 cupcake cups with paper liners. In a bowl, whisk together the flour and baking powder.
• In a mixing bowl, thoroughly cream together the sugar and 1/2 cup of margarine until very well blended. Beat in the eggs, one at a time, until thoroughly combined, and stir in the vanilla and almond extracts. Gradually beat in the flour mixture, alternating with the milk, in several additions. Spoon the batter into the prepared cupcake cups, filling them about 2/3 full.
• Bake the cupcakes in the preheated oven until a toothpick inserted into the center of a cupcake comes out clean, 20 to 25 minutes.
• To make caramel, Place the brown sugar, 1/2 cup margarine, corn syrup, and vanilla into a large saucepan over medium heat, and bring the mixture to a boil. Reduce heat, and simmer until thickened, 3 to 4 minutes; remove from heat and allow to cool to warm (not hot) temperature. Add the cream, a little at a time, until the caramel has the consistency of honey. Mix in the pinch of salt, and allow to cool to room temperature.
• Beat the salted butter with confectioners' sugar in a bowl with an electric mixer on medium speed until the mixture is fluffy; slowly add and beat in the caramel, a tablespoon at a time, beating until the frosting is smooth.

SALTED CARAMEL CUPCAKES WITH PECAN COCONUT BRITTLE CRUMBLE AND CARAMEL SWISS BUTTERCREAM

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line two standard muffin pans with 24 cupcake liners.
• For the salted caramel: Combine the sugar, 1/3 cup water and the corn syrup in a small saucepan. Stir with a wooden spoon and bring to a simmer over medium heat. Simmer, swirling the pot occasionally, until the mixture is a beautiful amber color (watch closely). Once the desired color is reached, immediately add the butter and stir with a wooden spoon until completely incorporated. Remove from the heat. Add the heavy cream and stir to incorporate. Stir in the coarse salt. Pour 1/2 cup of the salted caramel into a small bowl or measuring cup, and the remainder into another bowl. Cool completely, stirring occasionally. (You can speed up the cooling by putting the caramel into the refrigerator, but it must be pourable when you are ready to assemble the cupcakes.)
• For the brittle: Butter a small baking sheet and set aside. In a small but deep saucepan, combine the sugar, corn syrup, butter and 2 tablespoons water. Bring to a full boil over high heat, and boil until a candy thermometer reaches 280 degrees F. Remove from the heat and immediately stir in the baking soda, and then the pecans. Pour onto the prepared pan and spread with a rubber spatula. Top with the coconut. Allow to cool. Break the brittle into pieces of desired size.
• For the cupcakes: In a medium bowl, sift together the all-purpose flour, cake flour, baking powder and kosher salt and set aside. Combine the milk and vanilla and set aside. In the bowl of an electric stand mixer with the paddle attachment, cream the butter and sugar at medium speed until light and fluffy, about 5 minutes, scraping down the sides of the bowl as necessary. Once incorporated, add the eggs, one at a time, at low speed. Be sure to incorporate after each addition, scraping down the sides of the bowl as necessary. Do not over beat. Once incorporated, add the flour mixture and the milk mixture. Alternate with three parts flour and two parts milk, being sure to scrape down the sides of the bowl as necessary (we don't want any butter chunks stuck to the bottom). Using a 1/4-cup ice cream scoop, fill each cupcake liner with batter.
• Bake until a skewer inserted in the center comes out clean, 18 to 20 minutes. Transfer the pans to cooling racks and cool for about 5 minutes, and then transfer the cupcakes to the racks to cool completely before filling and frosting.
• While the cupcakes are baking, make the buttercream: Combine the sugar and egg whites in the bowl of a stand mixer. Place the bowl over simmering water and whisk continuously until the sugar is melted. Remove from the heat, place under the mixer with a whisk attachment and whisk at medium-high speed until soft peaks form and it cools to room temperature. Add the butter and beat until incorporated. With the mixer running, slowly beat in the 1/2 cup reserved salted caramel until the mixture is homogenous. Set aside at cool room temperature until you are ready to frost the cupcakes.
• To assemble: Use a small serrated knife, core each cupcake about 1 1/4 inches wide at the top and halfway into the cake. (Discard the cores-or nibble while you work.) Fill each with about 1 tablespoon of the remaining salted caramel. Sprinkle with about 1/4 teaspoon coarse salt. Frost each cupcake with a generous amount of caramel Swiss buttercream and garnish with crumbled pecan coconut brittle. Eat.

VEGAN CHOCOLATE GANACHE CUPCAKES WITH SALTED CARAMEL AND DARK CHOCOLATE BUTTERCREAM

Steps:

• For the cupcakes: Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Line standard-size cupcake pans with 16 cupcake liners.
• In a medium bowl, whisk together the soy milk, agave nectar, canola oil, cane sugar, vanilla extract and apple cider vinegar, and set aside. In a large bowl, sift the flour, cocoa powders, baking powder, baking soda and salt and whisk them together. Add your wet mixture to the dry and whisk until the mixture is evenly moist and only a few lumps remain. Set aside.
• For the ganache: Whisk together the chocolate chunks, soy milk and agave nectar in a microwave-safe bowl. Place the bowl into a microwave and heat for 1-minute increments, whisking in-between, until the mixture is thick and smooth.
• Take your cupcake batter and start to stream in about 1 cup of the chocolate ganache and gently fold it into the batter. Do not fully mix it into the batter, it should be swirled in.
• Fill the liners three-quarters full and bake until a toothpick comes out clean, 12 to 15 minutes. Cool the cupcakes completely.
• For the salted caramel sauce: In a nonstick saucepan, add the coconut milk fat. Add in the brown sugar, vanilla and salt, and whisk well. Bring the mixture to a boil on medium-high heat, whisking occasionally. Once the mixture starts to boil, reduce the heat to a low bowl and cook for 35 to 45 minutes, whisking every couple of minutes, until the sauce has reduced by half. The resulting mixture will be thick and golden. Allow the caramel to cool slightly and use immediately.
• For the buttercream: Whip the shortening and margarine together in a mixer bowl with the paddle attachment until fluffy. Scrape down the bowl and put back onto the mixer on low-speed and slowly add the powdered sugar and cocoa powder. Once the mixture is fully incorporated, stream in 1 cup of the chocolate ganache. Once the ganache is added, you may turn the mixer to medium-high and whip until the buttercream is very fluffy.
• To assemble: Poke a hole in the center of each cupcake using the end of a wooden spoon or small offset spatula. Fill the hole completely with salted caramel sauce. Using a round frosting tip, generously frost the top of each cupcake with the dark chocolate buttercream. Drizzle the top of each cupcake with more salted caramel sauce.

BUTTER PECAN CUPCAKES WITH SALTED CARAMEL BUTTERCREAM FROSTING RECIPE - (4.1/5)

Steps:

• HOMEMADE SALTED CARAMEL SAUCE: Heat sugar over medium-high heat in 1 to 1 1/2 quart heavy saucepan or saute pan. When sugar starts to melt, start whisking the sugar. It will clump up, but keep whisking. It will continue to melt. When the sugar is melted, stop whisking and instead swirl the pan to move the sugar around. Continue cooking sugar until it is completely melted and reaches a deep amber color. Carefully whisk in the butter, whisking till melted. The caramel may clump at the sides. Remove pan from heat and carefully pour in the heavy cream. Whisk until cream is incorporated and caramel is smooth. Whisk in salt. Let sauce cool for about 10 minutes in the pan, then pour into a pint mason jar and cool to room temperature. Yield: about 1 1/2 cups CUPCAKES: Heat oven to 350°F Cut 1 tablespoon. butter into small pieces; add to pecans in oven-proof dish. Bake, stirring after butter melts, 5 to 7 minutes, or till pecans are nicely toasted and butter is absorbed. Cool. Line muffin tin with 12 paper liners. Whisk flour; lightly spoon and level to measure, then sift twice into medium bowl with baking powder and soda. In bowl of stand mixer, combine sugar, salt and 1 stick butter. Beat at medium speed 5 minutes, till light and fluffy, scraping sides and bottom of bowl as needed. Add eggs, one at a time, adding vanilla with last egg and beating till yellow disappears after each addition. Using lowest speed of mixer, add flour mixture alternately with milk, beginning and ending with flour and adding nuts with last addition of flour. Stir batter with spatula, briefly, to be sure everything is mixed well. Fill muffin cups with about 1/4 cup batter. Bake 15-17 minutes or till a toothpick inserted near center returns with just a few crumbs. Cool on wire rack completely before frosting. SALTED CARAMEL BUTTERCREAM FROSTING: In medium bowl, beat butter till light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Scrape bottom and sides of bowl; gradually add sugar and beat till smooth and creamy. Add salted caramel sauce and cream on low speed until incorporated. Increase speed gradually to high and beat till frosting is light and smooth, about 2 minutes. Refrigerate frosting at least 1/2 hour, or longer. (Can be made the day before.) If desired, garnish frosted cupcakes with additional toasted chopped pecans. Refrigerate leftovers and allow to sit at room temperature one hour before serving.

NANA'S BANANA CAKE WITH SALTED CARAMEL BUTTERCREAM

Steps:

• For the cake: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Prepare three 8-inch cake pans with baking spray and parchment liners.
• Using a stand mixer with a paddle attachment, cream together the granulated sugar, light brown sugar and butter on medium-high speed until light and fluffy. Slowly add the eggs, one at a time, mixing each fully before adding the next.
• With the mixer on low, slowly trickle the oil into the mixture. Once added, increase the speed to medium-high and continue to mix until the mixture thickens and begins to look like mayonnaise. Using a silicone spatula, scrape down your bowl, making sure to get anything at the bottom of the bowl that has not been mixed well.
• In a small bowl, combine the buttermilk and vanilla extract. In a medium bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon and salt. Add a third of the flour mixture to the butter mixture and beat on medium high speed for 90 seconds. Bring the speed down to low and, alternately, add the buttermilk mixture and remaining flour mixture in 4 stages, beginning with the buttermilk mixture and ending with the flour mixture. Fold in the mashed bananas. Mix only enough to incorporate the ingredients after each addition.
• Pour the batter into the prepared pans, filling two-thirds full. Bake until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, 35 to 40 minutes. The top of the cake should spring back slightly after a gentle tap with your finger. Allow to cool for 10 to 15 minutes before removing from the pans. Allow the cakes to cool completely before frosting.
• For the salted caramel Swiss meringue buttercream: Using a stand mixer with a paddle attachment, beat the egg whites and confectioners' sugar on medium-high until the mixture thickens to fluffy white, 3 to 4 minutes. Reduce speed to medium and gradually add the softened butter. Increase the speed to medium-high and continue mixing for 5 to 7 minutes. Reduce the speed and add the prepared caramel sauce, vanilla and salt. Mix until combined.
• To assemble the cake: Frost the top of 1 cake round with some salted caramel Swiss meringue buttercream. Drizzle with some prepared caramel sauce and sprinkle with some pecans. Add a second round and repeat with the buttercream, caramel sauce and pecans. Top with the remaining cake round and frost the entire cake with the buttercream.
• Combine the sugar, corn syrup and 1/4 cup water in a saucepan, making sure the sugar is completely wet, but being careful not to let the sugar water coat the sides of the pan. Turn the heat to medium-high and cook for about 4 minutes. The cooking process is done when the sugar has reached a nice amber color. Do not stir during the cooking process. Quickly remove the sugar from the heat and add the heavy cream. The mixture will bubble. Stir to combine. Whisk in the butter, sea salt and lemon juice. Allow to cool completely before use.

SALTED CARAMEL VANILLA BUTTERCREAM

Steps:

• Beat the butter with a mixer on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, 2 minutes. Reduce the speed to low and gradually add the confectioners' sugar 1 cup at a time. Then mix in the caramel, vanilla and salt. Mix in the cream to loosen the frosting.

SPICED APPLE CUPCAKES WITH SALTED CARAMEL BUTTERCREAM

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Prepare muffin pans with cupcake liners.
• In large bowl, combine flour, sugar, brown sugar, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger and cloves.
• In a medium bowl, whisk eggs. Then whisk in oil, milk and vanilla.
• Add wet ingredients to dry ingredients and beat at medium speed until combined.
• Fold in chopped apples.
• Fill cupcake liners 2/3 full with batter.
• Bake for 18-19 minutes, until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean or cakes bounce back when pressed lightly.
• Allow cupcakes to cool completely.
• Meanwhile, prepare your caramel buttercream.
• In saucepan over medium heat, melt butter. With a wooden spoon, stir in brown sugar and continue to stir until dissolved. Then stir in heavy cream, vanilla and salt. Once mixture reaches a slow, rolling boil, cook for 5-7 minutes or until mixture begins to thicken to a syrupy consistency. Remove from heat and set aside to cool. Once cooled to a manageable temperature, transfer to a mixing bowl.
• With an electric mixer, gradually beat in confectioner's sugar until mixture is smooth and velvety. If necessary, use a little more or less to reach the desired consistency.
• Frost cupcakes using your desired method. I prefer to pipe it in a thick swirl, using a wide round tip or spreading with a flat spatula.

ALMOND CUPCAKE WITH SALTED CARAMEL BUTTERCREAM FROSTING

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Line 12 cupcake cups with paper liners. In a bowl, whisk together the flour and baking powder.
• In a mixing bowl, thoroughly cream together the sugar and 1/2 cup of margarine until very well blended. Beat in the eggs, one at a time, until thoroughly combined, and stir in the vanilla and almond extracts. Gradually beat in the flour mixture, alternating with the milk, in several additions. Spoon the batter into the prepared cupcake cups, filling them about 2/3 full.
• Bake the cupcakes in the preheated oven until a toothpick inserted into the center of a cupcake comes out clean, 20 to 25 minutes.
• To make caramel: Place the brown sugar, 1/2 cup margarine, corn syrup, and vanilla into a large saucepan over medium heat, and bring the mixture to a boil. Reduce heat, and simmer until thickened, 3 to 4 minutes; remove from heat and allow to cool to warm (not hot) temperature. Add the cream, a little at a time, until the caramel has the consistency of honey. Mix in the pinch of salt, and allow to cool to room temperature.
• Beat the salted butter with confectioners' sugar in a bowl with an electric mixer on medium speed until the mixture is fluffy; slowly add and beat in the caramel, a tablespoon at a time, beating until the frosting is smooth.
• Note: Butter can be substituted for margarine, of course, but that's just what I used. The milk could be any type; I used whole milk.
• Note: If desired, save back a tablespoon or so of the caramel from the frosting, for a drizzle over the top of the cupcakes.

CHOCOLATE CAKE WITH SALTED CARAMEL AND WHITE CHOCOLATE BUTTERCREAM

Steps:

• Preheat a convection oven to 350 degrees F. Whisk the vinegar into the milk in a medium bowl and set it aside to curdle for 5 minutes.
• Add the granulated sugar, oil and vanilla to the milk mixture and beat by hand with a whisk until foamy.
• Sift together the flour, cocoa, baking soda, baking powder and salt in a large bowl. Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients in 2 batches, beating with an electric mixer fitted with a whisk attachment until no lumps.
• Grease three 6-inch cake pans with nonstick cooking spray. Divide the batter among them and bake until a toothpick inserted in the center of each cake comes out clean, about 20 minutes
• Let cool slightly, then remove the cakes from the pans. Cool the cakes in the refrigerator for 30 minutes. Soak the cake rounds with Coffee Simple Syrup by brushing about 1/3 cup onto each layer as you build the cake. To build: Spread the White Chocolate Buttercream on one soaked cake round, then add a heavy drizzle of Caramel Sauce. Add a second layer and repeat. Add the last layer and frost the whole cake with White Chocolate Buttercream.
• Add the sugar to a small saucepan fitted with a lid. Pour in the coffee and stir. Bring the mixture to a rolling boil over medium heat, stirring constantly, until sugar completely dissolves. Turn off the heat. Cover immediately and let cool for 15 minutes.
• Put the white chocolate chips in a metal bowl. Bring the granulated sugar and 3 cups water to a boil in a large saucepan. Reduce the heat. Mix the cornstarch with 1 cup of water in a small bowl to combine. Stir it into the sugar mixture. Bring to a boil. Pour the sugar mixture over the white chocolate. Stir by hand with a whisk to combine. As mixture cools, stir 2 more times over the next 40 minutes. Let cool to room temperature.
• Transfer to the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a whisk attachment, add the butter and vanilla and mix until light and fluffy.
• Combine the light brown sugar, butter, evaporated milk, vanilla and salt in a small saucepan over medium heat. Cook, stirring, until thickened.

ALMOND CUPCAKE WITH SALTED CARAMEL BUTTERCREAM FROSTING [61]

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Line 12 cupcake cups with paper liners. In a bowl, whisk together the flour and baking powder. In a mixing bowl, thoroughly cream together the sugar and 1/2 cup of margarine until very well blended. Beat in the eggs, one at a time, until thoroughly combined, and stir in the vanilla and almond extracts. Gradually beat in the flour mixture, alternating with the milk, in several additions. Spoon the batter into the prepared cupcake cups, filling them about 2/3 full. Bake the cupcakes in the preheated oven until a toothpick inserted into the center of a cupcake comes out clean, 20 to 25 minutes. To make caramel, Place the brown sugar, 1/2 cup margarine, corn syrup, and vanilla into a large saucepan over medium heat, and bring the mixture to a boil. Reduce heat, and simmer until thickened, 3 to 4 minutes; remove from heat and allow to cool to warm (not hot) temperature. Add the cream, a little at a time, until the caramel has the consistency of honey. Mix in the pinch of salt, and allow to cool to room temperature. Beat the salted butter with confectioners' sugar in a bowl with an electric mixer on medium speed until the mixture is fluffy; slowly add and beat in the caramel, a tablespoon at a time, beating until the frosting is smooth.

SALTED CARAMEL SWISS MERINGUE BUTTERCREAM AND GANACHE RECIPE - (4.5/5)

Steps:

• Bring 1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons sugar and the water to a boil in a medium saucepan over medium heat, cooking slowly. Cover with lid to prevent sugar crystals from forming around edges, occasionally swirl pan. Cook until caramel just turns dark amber (darker pans are more difficult to tell when caramel has turned). Remove from heat, and slowly add cream and heaping pinch of salt. Stir until smooth. Let cool. Meanwhile, beat butter with a mixer on medium speed until pale and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Transfer to a separate bowl. Place egg whites and remaining sugar in a heatproof mixer bowl set over a pot of simmering water (double boiler). Whisk until sugar dissolves and mixture is warm to touch. Mixture will feel smooth and silky between the fingers when ready. Over cooking will scramble the eggs (no beuno). Remove from heat, and pour eggs in bowl of standing mixer being sure not to drip any water into the mixture. Whisk on medium speed for 5 minutes. Increase speed to medium-high, and whisk until stiff, glossy peaks form, about 6 minutes. Reduce speed to medium, and add beaten butter a little at a time, whisking well after each addition. With mixer on low speed, add caramel, and beat until smooth, 3 to 5 minutes. Set aside. Print Ganache Yield: 3 cups Ingredients 1 1/4 c. (10 oz.) dark chocolate 2/3 c. powdered sugar, sifted 3/4 c. + 1 tbsp. heavy cream 2 large egg yolks 3 tbsp. unsalted butter, room temperature heaping dash of sea salt Instructions Combine chocolate and powdered sugar in a heat proof bowl. Whisk together yolks in a small bowl and set aside. Add heavy cream to a small saucepan and bring to a gentle simmer. Pour cream over chocolate and carefully stir until sugar is dissolved. Place bowl over a pan with simmering water (double boiler) and heat until chocolate is melted and mixture is smooth. Remove from heat being careful not to get any water in the mixture. Pour 1/2 cup of the hot chocolate mixture into the yolks and whisk quickly to temper. Add mixture back into the chocolate and whisk well. Add butter and salt. Stir until smooth. Pour through a fine mesh sieve to catch any clumps. Allow to cool before icing, about 1 hour. Whisk before using. Assembly 1. If necessary, level the cakes. 2. Evenly spread buttercream between layers. 3. Slowly pour ganache over cake. Carefully spread around the cake using an offset spatula being sure not to spread crumbs into the frosting. 4. Pull the back of a spoon to create the swirl at the top of the cake. 5. Sprinkle with sea salt. 6. Serve or store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to a week. Salt will melt the longer it sits.

CHELSWEETS CHOCOLATE CAKE WITH SALTED CARAMEL VANILLA BUTTERCREAM

Steps:

• Position 2 oven racks in the upper and lower thirds of the oven and preheat to 350 degrees F. Line four 7-inch cake pans with parchment rounds and spray them with nonstick spray; set aside.
• Mix together the flour, granulated sugar, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda and salt in a large bowl or the bowl of a stand mixer. Stir in the buttermilk and vegetable oil. Dissolve the espresso powder in 1 cup boiling water, then stir into the mixture. Add the eggs, vanilla and vinegar and mix together on medium speed until well combined. Distribute the cake batter evenly among the prepared baking pans and bake, switching and rotating the positions of the cake pans halfway through, until a cake tester inserted in the centers comes out clean, 25 to 30 minutes. Remove from the oven and allow to cool for 10 minutes, then remove from the pans and cool completely.
• Place 1 cake layer on a cake plate and frost with the Salted Caramel Vanilla Buttercream. Top with another cake layer and buttercream, and continue in this manner until you have used all the layers. Frost the cake with the remaining buttercream and serve.
• Beat the butter with a mixer on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, 2 minutes. Reduce the speed to low and gradually add the confectioners' sugar 1 cup at a time. Then mix in the caramel, vanilla and salt. Mix in the heavy cream, to loosen the buttercream.
• 4 cups buttercream (enough to decorate one 7-inch cake)

FUDGE BROWNIES WITH SALTED CARAMEL BUTTERCREAM

Steps:

• 1. Melt the butter and chopped chocolate in a medium saucepan on medium heat, stirring constantly, about 5 minutes
• 2. Melt the butter and chocolate in a saucepan over a medium heat, stirring constantly, takes about 5 minutes. You can also melt it in the microwave however you need stop and stir every 15 seconds so it does not burn. Pour melted butter and chocolate mixture into a mixing bowl, and allow to cool down for 10 minutes. In another bowl combine flour, cocoa powder, and salt, set aside.
• 3. Using a wire whisk, whisk white and brown sugar into the cooled chocolate mixture. Add the eggs, one at a time to the chocolate mixture, whisking until smooth after each addition. Whisk in the vanilla extract. Now gently fold in the flour mixture, being careful not to over mix.
• 4. Pour batter into the prepared baking pan and bake for 28 to 35 minutes, when the brownies begin to pull away from the edges of the pan they are done. Watch them closely after 28 minutes so they don't over cook. If they over cook they will be hard and not moist and chewy. Set pan on cooling rack and make your caramel buttercream icing.
• 5. For caramel buttercream, combine butter and brown sugar in a sauce pan and bring to a boil. Add cream and bring to a boil again. Remove from heat and add sifted powdered sugar, now stir till smooth. Quickly pour onto your cooled down brownies, I put it on when the brownies are warm but not hot. Spread on evenly, now sprinkle lightly with course sea salt. Gently pat the sea salt so it sticks to your buttercream icing.
• 6. Cut and serve, store any leftovers in airtight container, that is if you have leftovers! Bet you can't eat just one!

SALTED CARAMEL BUTTERCREAM

Steps:

• Combine 2 1/2 cups sugar and 3/4 cup water in a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil over high, stirring just until sugar dissolves. Cook, swirling the pot occasionally (not stirring), until dark amber, about 10 minutes. Remove from heat; slowly stir in cream until caramel is smooth (mixture will splatter). Set aside to cool.
• Whisk together egg whites, kosher salt, and remaining 1 cup sugar in the bowl of a stand mixer set over (not in) a pot of simmering water. Whisk until sugar is dissolved and mixture is smooth and warm to the touch. Transfer bowl to mixer fitted with the whisk attachment; beat on medium-high speed until mixture is fluffy and cool, and stiff peaks form, about 10 minutes. Add butter 2 tablespoons at a time, whisking well after each addition. Whisk in vanilla. Slowly pour in 1 1/2 cups caramel with mixer on medium speed, and whisk until incorporated. Increase to high speed (the mixture will look curdled), and continue to whisk until smooth, about 3 minutes. Switch to the paddle attachment and beat on low speed for 2 minutes to remove air bubbles. Frost cake or cupcakes. Drizzle remaining caramel over the top, then swirl with a skewer or toothpick. Sprinkle with flaky salt, if desired.