Salted Caramel Frosting (Giant Cupcake Mold Giveaway)

You may recognize this picture from Bits of Sunshine. The very talented Heidi baked and decorated this (and of course is allowing me to use this picture), using a go-to cake recipe for her, and my salted caramel frosting recipe. She came up with the grand idea of having a giveaway for one of these giant cupcake molds, and she asked if I would be a part of it. Of course I couldn't say no! If this is your first time here, hello! And thank you for stopping by. I hope you will come back soon!!

If you are stopping by my blog first, make sure you head over to Heidi's blog to check out the rest of the details on the giveaway. To give you a heads up, you will see some similar pictures here and on her post, and some different ones. You will find the recipe for the cake on Heidi's blog, and the recipe for the frosting here. In order to be a part of the giveaway, you will need to leave a comment both here and on her post. But I will give more details later on. For now, lets get-a-lookin' at the frosting you see in the above picture!

To make the Salted Caramel Frosting, you have to start with some sugar and a small amount of water. You heat this up over medium heat (I think my stove was between medium and medium-high heat. My stove is old), and give a good stir. Let this mixture come to a boil, stirring if the sugar needs help dissolving. When it reaches a boil, stop stirring, and allow to turn deep amber brown. This will take about 7-10 minutes. Don't be tempted to do anything with it, especially touch it! Caramel will do some major damage if you do. Here is what it will look like at each step.

The last picture is what color the caramel should be when you pull it off the stove.

Place on a pot holder and slowly (and carefully - I did sort of get a steam burn from this one) stir in some cream or heavy whipping cream and vanilla. This is what it will look like afterwards. Let this sit for at least 30 minutes to cool down. Then you can get started on making the frosting.

Take some butter and some sea salt or kosher salt and beat together until fluffy. Then add the icing/powdered sugar about a cup at a time and mix until fully incorporated.

Finally, pour in the cooled caramel mixture and beat together.

Here is what it will look like. I made a double batch from last time I made it, just to be safe that I would have enough to pipe onto all of the cupcakes I made for the occasion. I mean, you can't have frosting and nothing to put it on right?! You want to see what I did with my frosting? I mean, I still have a lot of practicing to do with my piping, but I suppose that just means I will keep having to bake cupcakes, doesn't it?!?

I also made a chocolate cake recipe, one that is similar to Heidi's. I will post the combination recipe here one day, but not today. I just thought I would share with you how well my frosting came out. The piping stood up better than other times, so I was completely happy with this recipe! And I had plenty of frosting to pipe all 18 regular size cupcakes and about 20 mini cupcakes. This frosting goes a long way, so don't be shy with it :)

So there you have it, the recipe for the salted caramel frosting. To get the cake recipe, make sure you head over to Bits of Sunshine, and leave a comment on both blogs in order to be a part of the giveaway! You want to see what you could be winning?

Photo courtesy of BitsofSunshine

ONE person will win this red silicone giant cupcake mold. Neither of us are being compensated for this post. We just want to share the love!

Salted Caramel Frosting | Printable Recipe
makes a lot of frosting!

ingredients:

• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 4 Tbsp water
• 1/2 cup cream/heavy whipping cream
• 2 tsp vanilla extract/essence
• 1 1/2 cup butter, softened (salted is ok)
  
• 1/4 tsp sea salt, or kosher salt
• 4 cups icing/powdered sugar

directions:

1. Start out with sugar and water in a small saucepan over medium to medium-high heat. Give a stir or two to help along the dissolving of sugar.
2. Bring the mixture to a boil, and stop stirring. Continue cooking over medium-high heat until the caramel becomes a deep amber brown color, about 7-10 minutes.
3. Pull mixture off the heat, and slowly stir in cream/heavy whipping cream and vanilla. Let cool for at least 30 minutes.
4. Cream the butter and salt in a bowl until fluffy. Slowly add the powdered sugar until fully combined and finish off with adding the caramel mixture until fully combined.

Heidi has all the details on the giveaway, but make sure to comment here (say anything you like- as long as its positive) to be a part of it! You also need to comment on Heidi's post, and for some additional entries you can "like" each of us on facebook, and follow each of us on twitter. That's a total of six entries, so make sure you get in on the action :) Giveaway is open worldwide. Anyone can enter!!! We are both very excited about this giveaway, and we hope that you are too!

Contest is closed! Congrats to Dianna B for winning!!!!! :D Contact Heidi to claim your prize!

Thanks for stopping by!