Toasted Almond Cupcakes With Caramel Frosting Recipes

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°F (325°F for dark or nonstick pans).
• Place paper baking cup in each of 24 regular-size muffin cups.
• In shallow pan, bake almonds 6 to 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until golden brown: cool 15 minutes.
• Reserve 1 cup almonds for garnish.
• In food processor, grind remaining almonds until finely ground.
• In large bowl, beat cake mix, water, oil, eggs and almond extract with electric mixer on low speed 30 seconds.
• Beat on medium speed 2 minutes, scraping bowl occasionally (Batter will be lumpy.)
• Fold in ground almonds.
• Divide batter evenly among muffin cups.
• Bake 15 to 20 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.
• Cool 10 minutes.
• Remove from pan to cooling rack.
• Cool completely, about 30 minutes.
• In 2-quart saucepan, melt butter over medium heat.
• Stir in brown sugar.
• Heat to boiling, stirring constantly.
• Reduce heat to low; boil and stir 2 minutes.
• Stir in milk.
• Heat to boiling.
• Remove from heat.
• Cool to lukewarm, about 30 minutes.
• Gradually stir powdered sugar into brown sugar mixture.
• Place saucepan of frosting in bowl of cold water.
• Beat with spoon until smooth and spreadable.
• If frosting becomes too stiff, stir in additional milk, 1 teaspoon at a time.
• Frost a few cupcakes at a time with 1 tablespoon frosting each; press reserved almonds lightly into frosting.
• Store loosely covered at room temperature.

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Line 12 cupcake cups with paper liners. In a bowl, whisk together the flour and baking powder.
• In a mixing bowl, thoroughly cream together the sugar and 1/2 cup of margarine until very well blended. Beat in the eggs, one at a time, until thoroughly combined, and stir in the vanilla and almond extracts. Gradually beat in the flour mixture, alternating with the milk, in several additions. Spoon the batter into the prepared cupcake cups, filling them about 2/3 full.
• Bake the cupcakes in the preheated oven until a toothpick inserted into the center of a cupcake comes out clean, 20 to 25 minutes.
• To make caramel, Place the brown sugar, 1/2 cup margarine, corn syrup, and vanilla into a large saucepan over medium heat, and bring the mixture to a boil. Reduce heat, and simmer until thickened, 3 to 4 minutes; remove from heat and allow to cool to warm (not hot) temperature. Add the cream, a little at a time, until the caramel has the consistency of honey. Mix in the pinch of salt, and allow to cool to room temperature.
• Beat the salted butter with confectioners' sugar in a bowl with an electric mixer on medium speed until the mixture is fluffy; slowly add and beat in the caramel, a tablespoon at a time, beating until the frosting is smooth.