Chocolate Cupcakes with Caramel Filling and Caramel Sauce 🧁✨
When a rich, moist chocolate cupcake meets a gooey caramel core and a luscious drizzle on top—you know you’ve struck dessert gold. These Chocolate Cupcakes with Caramel Filling and Caramel Sauce are a sweet tooth’s dream, combining deep cocoa flavor with buttery caramel in every bite. Whether you’re baking for a birthday, celebration, or late-night craving, these indulgent treats deliver a bakery-level experience right from your kitchen.
Why I Love This Recipe
These cupcakes are everything: soft, chocolaty, filled with a surprise caramel center, and crowned with a warm, glossy caramel drizzle. The texture contrast alone—moist crumb, creamy center, sticky topping—is worth the effort. And if you’re into rich, nostalgic desserts like Caramel Apple Pie Cookies or Brownie Batter Dip, this one will instantly become a favorite.
Ingredients 🛒
For the Chocolate Cupcakes:
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- ½ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- ¾ tsp baking soda
- ¼ tsp salt
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- ½ cup brown sugar
- ½ cup vegetable oil
- 2 large eggs
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- ½ cup buttermilk (or milk + 1 tsp vinegar)
- ½ cup hot water (or hot coffee for enhanced cocoa flavor)
For the Caramel Filling:
- ½ cup caramel sauce (store-bought or homemade)
- Pinch of sea salt (optional, for salted caramel)
For the Caramel Sauce Topping:
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- 2 tbsp butter
- ¼ cup heavy cream
Instructions 👩🍳
1️⃣ Make the Cupcakes
Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a cupcake tray with paper liners.
In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, cocoa, baking soda, and salt.
In a separate bowl, mix both sugars, oil, eggs, and vanilla until smooth. Add the buttermilk.
Gradually stir in the dry ingredients, then mix in hot water (or coffee). Batter will be thin—this is good!
Fill cupcake liners about ⅔ full. Bake for 18–22 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Let cool completely.
2️⃣ Fill the Cupcakes
Once cool, use a cupcake corer or a small knife to remove the center from each cupcake.
Fill each hole with about 1 teaspoon of caramel sauce. Return the cake plug (trimmed) to the top to seal it.
3️⃣ Make the Caramel Sauce
In a small saucepan over medium heat, melt the sugar until it turns a deep amber.
Add butter and stir until fully melted. Carefully pour in heavy cream (it will bubble up) and stir until smooth.
Remove from heat and let cool slightly.
4️⃣ Assemble the Cupcakes
Drizzle cooled caramel sauce over each cupcake using a spoon or piping bag.
Optional: sprinkle with sea salt or chocolate curls for extra flair.
Tips for Sweet Success
- Use Hot Coffee: Enhances the depth of the chocolate without tasting like coffee.
- Don’t Overfill: Keep liners at ⅔ full to avoid overflow.
- Cool Completely Before Filling: Warm cupcakes will melt the caramel center.
- Use a Fork to Drizzle: If you don’t have a piping bag, a fork makes beautiful streaks.
Storage & Make-Ahead Tips
- Room Temp: Store covered at room temp for up to 2 days.
- Fridge: Store for up to 5 days, especially if using homemade caramel.
- Freezing: Freeze unfilled cupcakes for up to 2 months. Add filling and drizzle after thawing.
Serving Suggestions & Pairings
Serve these decadent cupcakes with:
- A scoop of vanilla bean ice cream
- A drizzle of chocolate ganache for extra richness
- A cookie board featuring Chocolate Chip Cookie Bites and Old-School No-Bake Cookies
- A fun dessert spread with Edible Cookie Dough for a crowd-pleasing twist
More Recipes You’ll Love
Craving more indulgent sweets? Try these:
- Brownie Batter Dip – a must for chocolate lovers
- Caramel Apple Pie Cookies – fall vibes in cookie form
- Chocolate Chip Cookie Bites – mini, chewy, and irresistible
Final Thoughts
These Chocolate Cupcakes with Caramel Filling and Caramel Sauce are rich, gooey, and a total crowd-pleaser. Whether you’re a caramel fan, a chocolate devotee, or both, this recipe satisfies every craving in one indulgent bite. Make them for birthdays, holidays, or just because—you won’t regret it.
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