Salted Caramel Tea Cup Cupcakes

My niece, who lives in Australia, recently shared photos of her visit to a local cafe called The Silva Spoon.  More specifically, she posted a photo of a yummy-looking cupcake served in a tea cup...and she assured me that those alone were worth a visit to Australia.  Since I don't think I'll be in Australia anytime soon, I just borrowed the concept of serving a special dessert in a tea cup.  We had some birthdays to celebrate over here...and had a girls' luncheon.  For dessert, we each had our own wee cake served in a family heirloom tea cup.

I used our family favorite apple cake recipe...which made 18 large cupcakes.  I made a Caramel Butter Cream frosting (recipe to follow)...and piped it onto the cupcakes with a tip of my choice.  Make that my second choice...since I couldn't locate the tip I was after.  I drizzled a little caramel sauce on top...and added a sprinkle of sea salt.  And those were our Salted Caramel Birthday Cupcakes-in-a-Teacup.

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Caramel Buttercream Frosting

• 1 cup salted butter, at room temperature
• 4 cups icing sugar (powdered sugar)
• 3/4 cup Caramel Sauce, cooled completely (recipe below)
• 1 tsp vanilla extract 

Whip butter on medium-high speed until light and fluffy (several minutes).
Add icing sugar and blend on low speed until combined.
Add caramel sauce and vanilla and beat until well blended.

Caramel Sauce

• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1/4 cup water
• 1/4 cup salted butter
• 2/3 cup heavy cream

1. In a large heavy-bottomed saucepan, heat sugar and water over medium heat, whisking constantly to dissolve sugar. 
2.  Once mixture reaches a boil, stop stirring and allow mixture to boil until it turns amber, swirling pan occasionally. 
3. Add butter; whisk until butter has melted then remove from heat. 
4. Wait 3 seconds then carefully pour in cream, whisking until smooth. 
5. Allow caramel to cool completely. 

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Use your imagination.  Find a cupcake liner that fits nicely into your teacups (likely extra-large).  Bake your favorite cupcake; cool, then transfer to a tea cup and decorate as you please.  They will want to have dessert first.  I know! 
 

That is why, one of the wee birthday cakes seemed to have a piece missing when it came time for dessert!