Irresistibly Gooey Salted Caramel Cream Cheese Cupcakes Recipe

Let me introduce you to these irresistible salted caramel cream cheese cupcakes that dance between sweet and salty sensations.

My kitchen experiment turned into pure magic when I first blended these delectable ingredients.

Creamy textures melt perfectly against the subtle salt crystals sprinkled across each fluffy bite.

Professional bakers might struggle to recreate such a delightful balance of flavors and textures.

Rich cream cheese creates a velvety backdrop for drizzled caramel that cascades elegantly down soft cake edges.

Each cupcake promises a decadent experience that tingles taste buds with unexpected complexity.

Bake these little masterpieces and watch how quickly they disappear from your dessert plate.

Reasons to Try Salted Caramel Cream Cheese Cupcakes

• Experience a delightful combination of sweet caramel, creamy cream cheese, and a hint of sea salt that creates an irresistible taste sensation in every bite.
• These cupcakes look professionally made with their beautiful caramel drizzle and sea salt garnish, making them ideal for gatherings, celebrations, or a special treat that will wow friends and family.
• Store these cupcakes in the refrigerator for up to 3 days, allowing you to prepare them in advance and enjoy a delicious dessert without last-minute stress.

What You’ll Need for Salted Caramel Cream Cheese Cupcakes

• All-Purpose Flour: Light and soft base for cupcake structure, choose unbleached variety for best texture.
• Baking Powder: Helps cupcakes rise and become fluffy, fresh powder ensures good lift.
• Baking Soda: Contributes to cupcake's light texture and balanced chemical reaction.
• Salt: Enhances overall flavor and balances sweetness, use fine table salt.

• Butter, Sour Cream: Rich and creamy base that adds moisture and tender crumb, use full-fat versions for best results.
• Eggs: Binding agent that provides structure and richness, room temperature eggs blend smoothly.
• Vanilla Extract: Adds warm, deep flavor background, pure extract recommended over artificial.

• Sugar, Caramel Sauce: Provides sweetness and signature caramel flavor, use high-quality caramel sauce.
• Cream Cheese: Creates smooth, tangy filling with luxurious texture, full-fat variety works best.
• Sea Salt Flakes: Adds final flavor pop and gourmet finishing touch, flaky texture preferred.

How to Make Salted Caramel Cream Cheese Cupcakes Step-by-Step

Step 1: Warm Up the Oven

Crank the oven to 350F (175C). Tuck cupcake liners into a 12-cup muffin tin.

Step 2: Create Magical Cupcake Base

• Flour
• Baking powder
• Baking soda
• Salt

In a large mixing bowl, whip softened butter and sugar until they transform into a fluffy cloud. Drop in eggs one by one, then splash vanilla extract and sour cream. Stir in caramel sauce. Gently fold dry ingredients into wet mixture, being careful not to overmix.

Step 3: Whip Up Creamy Filling

In a separate bowl, beat cream cheese with sugar, egg, and vanilla extract until silky smooth.

Step 4: Build Cupcake Layers

Scoop a tablespoon of batter into each liner. Plop a dollop of cream cheese filling on top. Cover with another spoonful of batter, filling each cup about 3/4 full.

Step 5: Bake to Perfection

Pop the tin into the oven for 18-20 minutes. Check doneness by inserting a toothpick- it should come out clean when avoiding the cream cheese center. Let cupcakes rest in the tin for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack for complete cooling.

Step 6: Dress Up with Caramel Swirl

Once cooled, drizzle extra caramel sauce over the cupcakes. Sprinkle sea salt flakes for a flavor explosion.

Step 7: Indulge and Share

Serve immediately or store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Watch them disappear quickly!

Expert Notes for Salted Caramel Cream Cheese Cupcakes

• Prevent Overmixing: Gently fold dry ingredients into wet ingredients just until combined to maintain a tender, light cupcake texture without developing tough gluten strands.
• Cream Cheese Filling Trick: Ensure cream cheese is softened at room temperature for smooth, lump-free filling that blends perfectly with the cupcake batter.
• Temperature Control: Allow cupcakes to cool completely before adding caramel drizzle to prevent sauce from becoming runny and maintain beautiful presentation.
• Customize Salt Levels: Adjust sea salt quantity based on personal preference, using flaky sea salt for a delicate crunch and balanced sweet-salty flavor profile.
• Make-Ahead Magic: Prepare cupcakes a day in advance and store in refrigerator, allowing flavors to meld and cream cheese filling to set for enhanced taste and texture.

Storing and Reheating Salted Caramel Cream Cheese Cupcakes

• Store cupcakes in an airtight container for up to 3-4 days, keeping them fresh and preventing moisture loss.
• Place a sheet of plastic wrap or parchment paper between layers to prevent sticking and maintain the delicate caramel drizzle.
• Warm cupcakes at room temperature for 15-20 minutes before serving, or microwave briefly at 50% power for 10-15 seconds to restore softness.
• Wrap individual cupcakes tightly in plastic wrap and aluminum foil, then freeze for up to 2 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before enjoying.

Great Pairings for Salted Caramel Cream Cheese Cupcakes

• Rich espresso or cappuccino complements the cupcake's sweet caramel notes, cutting through the richness and enhancing the dessert's complex flavors.
• Smooth vanilla milkshake or horchata creates a harmonious blend with the cream cheese and caramel, offering a complementary creamy texture.
• Salted caramel martini or butterscotch liqueur highlights the dessert's salty-sweet profile, creating an elegant adult pairing that echoes the cupcake's sophisticated taste.
• Earl Grey or chai tea provides a spicy, aromatic counterpoint to the cupcake's sweetness, cleansing the palate between bites and adding depth to the dessert experience.

Different Takes on Salted Caramel Cream Cheese Cupcakes

• Gluten-Free Caramel Cream Cheese Cupcakes: Replace all-purpose flour with a gluten-free flour blend, ensuring the texture remains soft and moist while accommodating those with gluten sensitivities.
• Dairy-Free Alternative: Swap butter with coconut oil, use dairy-free cream cheese substitute, and replace sour cream with coconut yogurt to create a delicious lactose-free version.
• Vegan Caramel Cupcake Adaptation: Use plant-based egg replacer, coconut cream instead of dairy products, and create a vegan caramel sauce using coconut milk and maple syrup for a completely plant-based treat.
• Low-Sugar Option: Substitute sugar with monk fruit sweetener or stevia, reduce caramel sauce quantity, and use a sugar-free caramel alternative to create a lighter, less caloric dessert for health-conscious bakers.

Gooey Salted Caramel Cream Cheese Cupcakes Recipe

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4.8 from 10 reviews

• Total Time: 35 minutes
• Yield: 12 1x

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Description

Gooey salted caramel cream cheese cupcakes deliver a luxurious dessert experience that blends sweet and salty perfection. Rich cream cheese and golden caramel create an irresistible treat for those craving an indulgent culinary moment.

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Ingredients

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Main Ingredients:

• 1 ½ cups (190 grams) all-purpose flour
• ½ cup (115 grams) unsalted butter, softened
• 1 cup (200 grams) granulated sugar
• ½ cup (120 milliliters) sour cream, room temperature
• 2 large eggs, room temperature

Cream Cheese Filling:

• 8 ounces (225 grams) cream cheese, softened
• ¼ cup (50 grams) granulated sugar
• 1 large egg, room temperature

Additional Ingredients:

• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• ½ teaspoon baking soda
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• ½ cup (120 milliliters) caramel sauce (store-bought or homemade)
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
• ¼ cup (60 milliliters) caramel sauce
• ½ teaspoon sea salt flakes (for sprinkling on top)

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Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 350F (175C) and prepare a 12-cup muffin tin with cupcake liners, ensuring even spacing for uniform baking.
2. Combine the dry ingredients in a medium bowl, whisking flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt until thoroughly integrated.
3. In a large mixing bowl, cream butter and sugar until the mixture becomes pale and fluffy, creating a smooth base for the cupcakes.
4. Incorporate eggs individually into the butter mixture, ensuring each is fully blended before adding the next, then mix in vanilla extract and sour cream until the batter achieves a silky consistency.
5. Gently fold caramel sauce into the batter, creating swirls of golden sweetness throughout the mixture.
6. Gradually introduce dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, stirring carefully to maintain a light texture and prevent overmixing.
7. Prepare the cream cheese filling by beating cream cheese, sugar, egg, and vanilla extract until achieving a velvety smooth consistency with no lumps.
8. Layer the cupcake batter strategically: place a tablespoon of batter in each liner, top with a dollop of cream cheese filling, then cover with another spoonful of batter, filling each liner approximately three-quarters full.
9. Slide the muffin tin into the preheated oven and bake for 18-20 minutes, monitoring until a toothpick inserted near the center (avoiding the cream cheese) emerges clean.
10. Allow cupcakes to rest in the tin for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack for complete cooling.
11. Once cooled, embellish cupcakes with an elegant drizzle of caramel sauce and a delicate sprinkle of sea salt flakes for a sophisticated flavor contrast.
12. Serve immediately or refrigerate in an airtight container, where they will remain delectable for up to 3 days.

Notes

• Precise Mixing: Avoid overmixing the batter to prevent dense, tough cupcakes by gently folding dry ingredients until just combined.
• Temperature Matters: Ensure butter and cream cheese are at room temperature for smoother, lump-free mixing and better incorporation of ingredients.
• Cream Cheese Technique: Carefully layer cream cheese filling to create a surprise center, using a small spoon or piping bag for even distribution.
• Altitude Adjustment: For high-altitude baking, reduce sugar slightly and increase oven temperature by 25 degrees to compensate for lower air pressure.

• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Cook Time: 20 minutes
• Category: Desserts, Snacks
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 12
• Calories: 320
• Sugar: 24g
• Sodium: 180mg
• Fat: 16g
• Saturated Fat: 10g
• Unsaturated Fat: 6g
• Trans Fat: 0g
• Carbohydrates: 39g
• Fiber: 1g
• Protein: 4g
• Cholesterol: 70mg