Salted Caramel Cupcakes

It's time for a recipe.  This has nothing to do with design but I think you will thank me once you try these puppies.  Seriously, they are so easy to make and really delicious!

I found this recipe on joy's hope and she does an excellent job explaining it with step by step instructions and great pictures!  Here's her recipe (for more detailed instructions check out her post.  I modified the recipe a little bit for what I had on hand and have listed it below.

*One box chocolate cake mix and ingredients to make it (I used Devil's Food)
*Sea salt
*4-5 Heath bars
*Caramel ice cream topping (I used Hershey's, this was good but I may try to make my own next time)
*Buttercream Icing (this is the recipe I always use for buttercream (it's a little different than joy's) and I think it's the best, click here for the recipe.  I make one change and substitute more butter for the shortening, dee-licious!  I may try adding vanilla beans next time, because I love them, but they are expensive!)
*Squeeze bottle

Bake your cupcakes according to package directions.

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 (I used a little more but I didn't measure exactly, I would just do it to taste-some may like it more salty or less salty)

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 Heath bars.

I used a hammer, and like joy, I think this was my favorite part.  It's therapeutic really.

No need to unwrap them, keep them in their packaging and start smashing.  This makes the cleanup much easier too.

Pour the crushed up heath bars into a bowl.  Then, after the cupcakes are cooled, frost them with the buttercream, roll them into the heath bars, then drizzle with more salted caramel.  I also used a decorative tip to pipe the icing on top, just makes it look a little more fancy.

I didn't get a chance to take any fancy pictures of mine once they were finished, but I sneaked a quick iphone picture at our Superbowl party before they were devoured.  Try these, you won't be disappointed I promise.

First 3 pics via joy's hope, last pic via yours truly