The Ultimate Rocky Road Cupcake: Chocolate Cupcake with Caramel Buttercream Frosting [Marshmallow, Pecan, Chocolate Chip]


Hi friends! It's a multiple cupcake kind of week! Since the deadline for Cupcake Hero is fast approaching, I needed to get my recipe in. I have always liked Rocky Road ice cream, Rocky Road brownies, Rocky Road anything! This cupcake is a really tasty creation but unlike traditional Rocky Road with walnuts, I used pecans.

This moist chocolate cupcake is only a bigger slice of Heaven when you taste the frosting. It is a creamy caramel buttercream loaded with marshmallows, pecans, mini chocolate chips, then drizzled with caramel and chocolate to complete the ultimate Rocky Road experience!

Best!

Chocolate Cupcakes

2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
1 cup granulated sugar
1 cup firmly packed light brown sugar
4 large eggs, at room temperature
6 ounces unsweetened chocolate, melted (see Note)
1 cup buttermilk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

2. Line two 12-cup muffin tins with cupcake papers. Set aside.

3. In a small bowl, sift together the flour and baking soda. Set aside.

4. In a large bowl, on the medium speed of an electric mixer, cream the butter until smooth. Add the sugars and beat until fluffy, about 3 minutes.

5. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Add the chocolate, mixing until well incorporated.

6. Add the dry ingredients in three parts, alternating with the buttermilk and vanilla. With each addition, beat until the ingredients are incorporated, but do not overbeat.

7. Using a rubber spatula, scrape down the batter in the bowl to make sure the ingredients are well blended and the batter is smooth.

8. Carefully spoon the batter into the cupcake liners, filling them about three-quarters full. Bake for 20–25 minutes, or until a cake tester inserted in the center of the cupcake comes out clean.

9. VERY IMPORTANT: Cool the cupcakes completely before icing.

Caramel Buttercream Frosting

1/2 cup vegetable shortening
1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
1 tsp. cocoa powder (for color)
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1/2 tsp. caramel flavoring
4 cups confectioners' sugar, sifted
3 Tbsp. heavy cream

1. With an electric mixer, cream shortening and butter together in a large mixing bowl.

2. Add vanilla and caramel flavoring to mixture and beat well on medium speed.

3. Add cocoa powder and confectioners' sugar (1 cup at a time). Beat on low to avoid powdered sugar from flying all over the place. Once everything is incorporated into the butter mixture turn the mixer to medium speed and beat for 30 seconds. Mixture will be dry.

4. Add cream, 1 tablespoon at a time, until a medium consistency is achieved. Keep beating for 5 minutes until frosting is light and fluffy.

5. Once icing is piped onto completely cooled cupcakes, sprinkle with mini marshmallows, chopped pecans, mini chocolate chips then drizzle with caramel and chocolate sauce.

Comments

CWYT said…
oh my god that looks absolutely delicious! the frosting especially since caramel is one of my favorite sweets, next to only chocolate, which is ALSO in this cupcake! just wondering: is caramel flavoring something that can be found at the grocery store along with all of the other flavorings like vanilla, mint, etc.?
Wendy Joan said…
CUNTSTORM: Hi! This frosting is really delicious and stands up quite well with all the toppings!Check out "Fancy Flours" http://www.fancyflours.com/caramel-flavor.html which is a really great bakers resource. The link is under "BAKING RESOURCES" on the left hand side of my blog. It is rather difficult to find caramel flavoring in the grocery store, but specialty baking stores do carry flavorings also. Fancy Flours does have a nice selection of great flavors and I like their quality. Thanks for stopping by! xoxo
Toxiferous said…
Your cupcakes look beautiful and they sound like they'd taste fantastic. :)
Wendy Joan said…
TOXIFEROUS: Thank you for checking in! These cupcakes were delicious and the caramel frosting was a different one than I normally make, so, so good! I hope you try it sometime, if you do let me know! Best! xoxo
Unknown said…
My wife will go crazy for these. I am going to try these this weekend. They look so good i might have to keep them away from her!
Wendy Joan said…
Hi BRYAN: These cupcakes are delicious!! The icing is very special - let me know how your wife likes them! Best! xoxo
Oh these look super, I have just been googling rocky road cupcakes to find something to bake for a charity coffee morning. Im straight off to buy the ingredients I dont have in my baking presss :) xxx
Wendy Joan said…
Hi PRINCESS: I hope they turned out better than you expected. These are some very YUMMY cupcakes and my little guy LOVE LOVE LOVED them when I made them. Good luck!! xoxo

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