For my birthday Heather baked cupcakes that nearly made me pass out.
They were that good.
Salty.  Caramel.  Chocolate.
Are there three better words?
How badly do you want to make them right now?

Preheat your oven.
It is Salted Caramel Cupcake time.
Cheaty, cheater style.

You will need:

One box chocolate cake mix and ingredients to make it
(My fave is German Chocolate.)
Sea salt
4-5 Skor bars
(Heath bars will suffice, but Skor has my heart.)
Caramel ice cream topping
Vanilla Bean Buttercream 
(Recipe below)
Squeeze bottle
*****

Bake your cupcakes according to package directions.

Want to know a random fact about me?
I crack eggs with one hand.
I know.  Hardcore, right?

{Here comes the cheaty part.
You can make your own caramel.
Martha would.
Or you can salt up store bought caramel.
I promise that I won't tell.}

When the cupcakes are almost done you will make the salty caramel goodness.
Pour caramel into a measuring cup.
Add 1/2 teaspoon of sea salt per 8oz. of caramel.
Warm in the microwave for one minute.
Stir.

Pour the now warm and salted caramel in to a squeeze bottle.

As soon as the cupcakes come out of the oven,
inject caramel into each one.
Then move them on to a cooling rack.

While the cupcakes are cooling it is time to smash the Skor bars.

It is really easy if you use a hammer.
In fact it is my favorite part.
Smashing things is awesome.
Cooking always should involve a little chaos.

You don't even need to unwrap the bars.  Just hammer away.
Then when they are good and destroyed, open the wrapper and pour the pieces into a bowl.  
Then I set aside all of the big chocolate chunks, since they look weird on top of the cupcakes.  
At this point,  I may or may not eat them.  I'd hate to be wasteful!

I love Heather's buttercream recipe.
It is dreamy.
She makes her own caramel too.
Whatevs.

I'm jealous.

While I am cool with store bought caramel, I am not cool with store bought frosting.
EVER.
Once you make your own you will become a total frosting snob.
I am just being honest.
It is very, very easy and tastes so much better.
None of the chemical after taste.  
Ewww.
Trust me.  It is worth it.

After the cupcakes are cooled, frost them with the buttercream happiness, roll them into the Skor bar happiness, then drizzle the salted caramel happiness on top.

Happy baking.
Let me know how they turn out!


90 Comments

  1. Mmmm! There's a local bakery that makes salted caramel cupcakes (although the base is not chocolate) and they are HEAVEN!! Thanks for the recipe... I'll have to try these!

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  2. I was drooling just waiting for your page to load!

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  3. ahh!! I can't wait to make these!!

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  4. Want these. NOW.
    (adding all ingredients to grocery list...)

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  5. Oh my!! I think I know what I'll be making this weekend! Love Heather's blog.. I'm a follower now!

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  6. Yum! Loved Heather's version, but I'll be trying these too!

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  7. I also need that cake stand! it's beautiful!

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  8. ooooh mama. i'm so making these this weekend for my craftymama night. my mouth is still watering. i've been waiting patiently for this recipe. :)

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  9. I am so glad that you posted this - I perused Heather's site looking all over for this recipe! Yum - can't wait to make these...okay I just want to eat the little bits of skor bar too!

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  10. Holy cupcakes Batman!!! I can't wait to try these, thanks for sharing!!!

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  11. Those look AWESOME!! Thanks for sharing :)

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  12. These were SO good when Heather made them, I am pretty sure I ate 2 of them :) Love your non homemade caramel option, totally trying that!

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  13. I have never heard of salted caramel cupcakes! They look and sound pretty amazing! WOW!

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  14. I just ate 6 oreos, but I could totally go for one of those right now.

    I actually looked at the ingredients on a store-bought frosting label the other day... SCARY!!!

    And because I am too lazy to blog, I'll be linking to this today.

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  15. You may have just ended me. oh man.

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  16. I'm not sure I can still be friends with you after sharing these. They look *amazing* and I know if I make them I will eat 14. Yum.

    ~Keri

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  17. I love you and hate you all at the same time.

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  18. O.M.G. I need those NOW. :)
    xo! -Holly

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  19. Um, thanks I am now starving and it's not for dinner! ;)

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  20. Sweet Jesus I think I gained ten pounds just by reading this post. I can't wait to make these! It's like all my favorite things in one. And on a turquoise platter. Perfection.

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  21. Mmmm ... could these be a replacement for SB's "Salted Carmel Hot Chocolate" that they so rudely introduced one season and then left us high and dry the next?!?!
    I like the cheater version ... I'm all about boxed mix, but ONLY homemade frosting.

    Now I better go run ... so I can eat dessert :D.

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  22. i know what i'm making this weekend.
    yummy!
    p.s. i like your cake stand. :)

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  23. will you please make those for me when I come to your church? please. we can eat them together and talk about cool things. please.

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  24. So creative! I don't care much for cake or chocolate (I know, take away my girl card now!). But I love the idea of jazzing up caramel with salt. I bet it will be awesome on ice cream this summer!

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  25. Man, I could really use one of those today - actually, after the day I've had if the entire tray was put in front of me I'd probably eat it. LOL

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  26. sounds amazing! will hold onto this recipe when i'm not dieting.

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  27. holy crap.
    i think i found my own personal craft thursday project. :)

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  28. Oh my word. Totally not fair to do to the 30-week pregnant lady at 11:30 PM with husband out of town (meaning I can't leave the 3 sleeping children to go buy missing ingredients). So going on the shopping list for this weekend - thank you!!!

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  29. Bought the same cake plates at good ol Costco...Love! And, will def. be making the sweet salty goodness

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  30. Y.U.M. Want some right now. I just might need to make these for Father's Day!

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  31. i think i may have just fainted...and i have always cracked eggs with one hand...even when i was a kid. when i try it with two hands i always end up with shells falling in. lol HARDCORE!!!

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  32. wow they look yummy. Between you and Meg Duerksen's post today on cheesecake the two of you are going to kill me! Thanks, I will definitely try these.

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  33. OH MY YUM!!!!!!!! These look heavenly! Thanks for sharing a cheater version... I'm all about cheating in this case :)

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  34. I was just craving the salted caramels that Trader Joes gets during the holidays! These may just satisfy that craving!
    Love the injecting the cupcakes technique!

    Cant wait to try these!
    xoxo

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  35. stop it!! how cruel!
    this title just made my mouth start to water!! but we don't have half the ingredients here in south africa!
    well, I'm just gonna have to get creative and figure something out!!
    those SKOR bars look terribly yummy! drooldrool

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  36. Hey chicklet! Love the recipe. I think you meant tsp on the vanilla in the buttercream recipe though. Can't wait to try it!

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  37. Hey chickie....haven't been able to get these out of my mind, so I just posted over at http://itisagoodday.blogspot.com/2010/06/caution-following-recipes-may-cause.html. When I actually MAKE them, you'll probably hear me hoot and hollar all the way in Cali. :)

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  38. just looking at them i am going to pass out...yummy! thanks for sharing!

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  39. I am so TOTALLY with you on the frosting. I am proud to be a frosting snob.
    And those cupcakes look pretty darn amazing. I can't wait to try them. Thanks for sharing!
    Love from,
    Greta

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  40. Thanks for making a very pregnant girl hungry...
    ;)
    Elise

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  41. I'm a new follower from Tatertots & Jello! I love your blog!

    ♥fashionintheforest.blogspot.com

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  42. Wow, these look wonderful! Can't wait to try them!

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  43. Um yeah...looks super yummy! By the way, I know you are a huge fan of toffee crack too. I add skor/Heath bar crumble on the top of my toffee crack while the chocolate is still melty. It makes it even more yummy...if that is possible! :)

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  44. Oh I really, really need to make these! Thanks for the recipe!

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  45. Hi Julie~

    Those cupcakes look delish! Thanx for stopping by my blog! You've been entered 2x, good luck!

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  46. Um .. those look so sinfully delicious! =) I will at some point HAVE to make these! Wow! and the frosting is a must try ~ I have not mastered a favorite frosting just yet! =) Bless you!

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  47. Just made my first batch...

    http://buggieandjellybean.blogspot.com/2010/06/mom-in-shot-jun-10th-and-julies.html

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  48. What are you doing to us!
    This is too fantastic, thank you for sharing.

    Felicity

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  49. Thank you for sharing! Looking forward to making them for a special familiy get together.

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  50. salt and sweet together!! OMG, heaven. thx <3

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  51. I made these over the weekend for a party I went to and everyone loved them!!!! :)

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  52. i made them on Friday night and everyone LOVED them!!!

    i blogged about them here...
    http://cstandsforcarrie.blogspot.com/2010/06/salted-carmel.html

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  53. Made them! Along with a few mistakes... haha :) But SO good! Thanks for sharing the recipe!

    http://keepupwiththejs.wordpress.com/2010/06/16/salted-caramel-cupcakes/

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  54. just printed (here from rachel!). i'm in LOVE.

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  55. i featured this post on my Bloggy Shout Outs today!

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  56. Want to know a total mistake I just made? Reading this without having eaten since 11:30. 7 hours ago!! I'm starving.

    And now I am starving for cupcakes.
    I am keeping this recipe. And soooooo making them for my fiance's birthday! (sssshhhhh don't tell).

    You are HILARIOUS too. So entertaining! =)

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  57. LOVE the cake plates, can you tell me where you got them? I've been looking everywhere for turquoise ruffle ones.

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  58. Oh My Oh My Oh My.....I would be loved by all forever if I could pull this one off. YUM YUM YUM!!!! I can't wait to try them.

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  59. good heavens... i feel a sugar high just reading! LOL!

    now, for the real thing....... :-)

    thank you for sharing the recipe!

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  60. Gina- Comment number 61...I looked on your blog to e-mail you but didn't see one. I searched for turq. cake plats high and low it is my fav color. I ended up finding mine at HomeGoods I am not sure if you have those out in Cali I am all the way in Tampa, FL but just thought I would let you know since I had been looking for the same thing. I also had googled it and found a few places that had had them! :o)

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  61. I had to make these last night. which meant I had to eat them this morning. I. Died.

    http://metamorphosisandmarshmallowfluff.blogspot.com/2010/06/i-wanna-bake-with-somebody.html

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  62. I finally made these. holy sweet cow. I brought them to our VBS volunteers snack room at church this morning and was declared a rock star by 10am. thanks for that. Posted about it here: http://itisagoodday.blogspot.com/2010/06/she-wasnt-kidding-folks.html

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  63. I hate you for posting this.
    I now feel the urge to make these for our trip to the Lake this weekend and I will eat 10 I'm sure. This is why I hate you.

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  64. Hi Joy! You joined my blog and I have been so blessed to have been connected to YOU! This recipe sounds delish and you speak my language!
    You ROCK!

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  65. made em! i sent my husband to the store to pick up everything and he forgot the candybars so i used crushed chocolate chips and we really liked it that way. i will be making them again!

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  66. Oh my!!! This was the hit of my 4th of July party!!! Thanks so much for the recipe!!! I posted about it on my blog. Thanks!!!

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  67. i just made some of these today and they are SUPER yummy! posted pictures on my blog :).. THANKS FOR SHARING!

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  68. OH YIKES!! I saw this post way back and kept forgetting to get powdered sugar at the store... finally got it - I made them for a friend for tommorow, I hope I am able to bring her some - my kids (ok and me too) are in LOVE!! Thanks for sharing!

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  69. I took these to a high rollin photo club meeting tonight and everyone was in love! One girl said she felt like she should be paying $5 for one! Thanks for making me look good!

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  70. I just made these little treasures tonight and they were SO good! Thanks for the inspiration.

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  71. Been wanting to make these since the minute you posted..FINALLY did tonight for a potluck! Wow- at first i thought I'd screwed it up and put too much salt in the caramel..but wow, with the frosting and all they are delish!
    Thanks!

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  72. Wow thanks for posting this recipe. I just made them for a pool party and am fighting to keep my family from eating them all right now- we all split one to taste test and now they want to eat them all!!
    GREAT recipe!! Thanks

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  73. I made them this weekend and they were a hit. http://familylifein2010.blogspot.com/2010/09/call-me-domesticated.html

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  74. Hubba hubba! I made these last week, and they were so good. Your buttercream icing is so good! Someone at my husband's work said that they were the best cupcakes they ever had.

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  75. i made these for my small group the other night and they were a HIT! SO DELISH.
    but, for the life of me, i couldn't find a squeezy bottle, so i had to make do with a pastry bag. which resulted in caramel gooeyness all over my hands. which i may or may not have licked off.

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  76. Has anyone tried making this with fluer de sal? I have a ton of it and got rave reviews last time i made carmel cupcakes with it sprinkled on top, but i gotta tell you this recipe looks way better than the one i made. I making them tomorrow for my final "teaching special populations" class. We do potlucks every saturday class meating and i promised these amazong people something amazing and sweet. Hope they work out well as mini's. I will keep everyone posted!

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  77. Just made these and they are DELICIOUS! Thanks for sharing - I can always trust you for great recipes. Happy Friday! :)

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  78. The whole idea of these cupcakes is awesome! I made the buttercream frosting to put on plain chocolate cupcakes, and it's delicious! I won't go back to the tub! I will attempt the homemade caramel soon. I also plan to make the salted caramel cupcakes as soon as I get the stuff I need. Has anyone tried adding a sprinkle of sea salt on top? I am going to try it. I bought this super cool Pink Himilayan sea salt at Trader J's that I'm anxious to use! Thanks for your fab ideas!

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  79. Do you know where I can find these cake stands?! I love them and have been looking everywhere!

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  80. I just made these cupcakes and will be sending you the bill for my future enrollment in Weight Watchers. Oh my! How yummy!

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  81. YUM! Love salted caramel anything. Definitely have to try making these with the boyfriend. Thanks for the recipe!

    Sharon | www.365daysofusblog.wordpress.com

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  82. I have a SUPER easy caramel recipe that is fanastic... I thought I would share in case you ever want to try to make your own. Cannot wait to make your cupcakes... and I'm not one to bake so that say A LOT!

    Caramel ingredients
    1c. Karo syrup
    1c. Brown sugar
    1c. White sugar
    1 stick of butter
    1 can sweetened condensed milk (it was the typical smaller can – probably about 5oz)

    To make a batch of caramel, put 5 caramel ingredients in a large sauce pan over medium heat and stir until melted and combined. Turn up the heat a little to bring to a boil for five minutes stirring constantly. Be careful to keep stirring so that it doesn't start to burn on the bottom of the pan. Take caramel off the burner after 5 minutes. Many recipes said overcooking caramel makes it hard so I used a timer so I didn’t go over.

    I ran across your site while looking for birthday party ideas. I LOVED it and will be back to read more soon. Thanks for making me laugh and feel all warm and fuzzy tonight. :)

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  83. I made these and they were AMAZING!!!!!

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  84. hey just wondering is smuckers sundae syurp okay to use?

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