Samoa Cupcakes
All the flavors of those crave-able samoa cookies in soft and fluffy cupcake form! Two of the best desserts in one!
Servings: 12
Ingredients
- 1 1/3 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 1/2 Tbsp cornstarch
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1/8 tsp baking soda
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1/3 cup unsalted butter
- 3 Tbsp vegetable oil
- 3/4 cup granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/4 cup milk
- 1/4 cup buttermilk
Caramel Sauce
- 3/4 cup granulated sugar
- 3 Tbsp water
- 3 Tbsp salted butter
- 1/4 cup + 2 Tbsp heavy cream (poured into the same cup so it can be added all at once)
Caramel Buttercream Frosting
- 1/2 cup butter , at room temperature (I used 1/4 cup unsalted 1/4 cup salted)
- 1/4 cup + 2 Tbsp caramel sauce
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
Topping
- 1 cup chocolate chips (I used 1/2 cup semi-sweet and 1/2 cup milk chocolate)
- 1/4 cup heavy cream
- 1 cup shredded unsweetened coconut, toasted, cooled and slightly crushed into smaller pieces
Instructions
- FOR THE CUPCAKES: Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a mixing bowl, whisk together flour, cornstarch, baking powder, baking soda and salt for 30 seconds, set aside.
- In the bowl of an electric stand mixer, fitted with the paddle attachment, whip together 1/3 cup butter and 3/4 granulated sugar until pale and fluffy, occasionally scrapping down the sides and bottom of bowl. Blend in vegetable oil.
- Add in eggs one at a time mixing just until blended after each addition and adding in vanilla with second egg. Whisk together milk and buttermilk in liquid measuring cup.
- Working in three separate batches and beginning and ending with flour mixture, add 1/3 of the flour mixture followed by 1/2 of the milk mixture and mix just until combined after each addition. Spoon batter into paper lined muffin cups filling each cup nearly 2/3 full (about 1/4 cup batter in each).
- Bake in preheated oven 16 - 19 minutes until toothpick inserted into center comes out clean. Remove from oven and allow to cool in muffin tin several minutes then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
- FOR THE CARAMEL SAUCE: Gather all of your ingredients and have them nearby ready to add to the mixture as needed. In a heavy-bottomed saucepan, heat sugar and water over moderately high heat whisking constantly to dissolve sugar.
- Once mixture reaches a boil, stop whisking and allow mixture to boil until it reaches a dark amber color, carefully swirling pan occasionally. Once mixture reaches a dark amber color, immediately add butter and whisk until butter has melted then immediately remove from heat.
- Wait 3 seconds then carefully pour in cream and immediately whisk to combine (it will bubble vigorously). Whisk until mixture is smooth. Allow caramel to cool several minutes then pour into a glass jar to cool completely.
- FOR THE FROSTING: In the bowl of an electric stand mixer fitted with paddle attachment, whip butter on medium-high speed until pale and fluffy. Add powdered sugar and blend on low speed until mixture comes together.
- Add 1/4 cup + 2 Tbsp completely cooled caramel sauce and vanilla and whip on medium-high speed until pale and fluffy (you can add another 1 Tbsp caramel sauce as needed to thin if desired).
- To assemble the cupcakes:
- Add chocolate chips and heavy cream to a small microwave safe bowl and heat mixture on 50% power in 20 second intervals, stirring after each interval until melted and smooth and stirring well once it's fully melted (about 30 seconds) to cool slightly.
- Dip tops of cupcakes in melted chocolate mixture and allow excess to run off, the return upright to wire rack and allow chocolate to cool, about 10 - 20 minutes. Pipe caramel frosting over tops then sprinkle with a spoonful of toasted coconut.
- Drizzle tops with remaining chocolate and caramel sauce. Serve while chocolate is melty or allow to set at room temperature. Store in an airtight container at room temperature.