Chocolate Dulce de Leche Cupcakes

September 29th, 2009 by justJENN

When I recently made Dulce de Leche cupcakes, I thought nothing could be better. Then I added chocolate and the whole game changed! I also found these adddooorable Alphabet Pretzels which not only made great toppers but was the best salty compliment to the sweet cupcake.

It’s tough looking for letters, I don’t know how Vanna White does it. I spelled out “HELLO” and “LOVE” and got both the kid’s names but that’s about it. I just wish I’d named the kids something short like ‘AL’ – I could have saved a good 10 mins of digging through pretzel remnants…

cupcake ingredients:
2 cups all purpose flour
1/4 cup cocoa powder
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
pinch of salt
1/2 cup butter (1 stick)
1-1/2 cups sugar
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 cup buttermilk
Dulce de Leche

Chocolate frosting ingredients:
6 Tablespoons butter
2-1/2 cups powdered sugar
1/3 cup cocoa powder
pinch of salt
1 teaspoon vanilla
4 Tablespoons milk

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Prep a cupcake pan with paper liners.

In a large bowl whisk together flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda and salt.

In the bowl of an electric mixer cream the butter and sugar until combined. Add the eggs and vanilla.

Alternate the dry ingredients with the buttermilk until just combined.

Divide the batter among the cupcake pan, filling about 2/3 of the way. Bake for 15 minutes, depending on your oven. Test with a toothpick for doneness and let cool on a wire rack.

While the cupcakes are cooling, start the frosting. In the bowl of an electric mixer, beat the butter, powdered sugar, cocoa powder, salt and vanilla. Add the milk until combined, turning the mixer up to medium high and beat until nice and fluffy.

Once the cupcakes are cooled, hollow out a center from each cupcake and fill with prepared Dulce de Leche. This will provide a sweet surprise at first bite.

Frost with chocolate frosting, right over the dulce de leche and decorate with pretzels.