Moose Munch Dark Chocolate Caramel Cupcakes

Ingredients

For cupcakes

• Moose Munch Gourmet Popcorn
• 1-2/3 cup all-purpose flour
• 3/4 cup cocoa
• 1 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 1 tsp. baking powder
• 3/4 tsp. baking soda
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 2 eggs
• 2/3 cup whole milk
• 1/3 cup vegetable oil
• 1 tsp. vanilla
• 1/2 cup hot water

For caramel

• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 4 Tbsp. unsalted butter
• 1/2 cup heavy cream
• 1/4 tsp. salt
• 1 tsp. vanilla

For chocolate ganache

• 3/4 cup heavy cream
• 1/4 cup butter
• 1 cup dark chocolate morsels

For chocolate buttercream frosting

• 1/2 cup unsalted butter
• 3-1/2 cups confectioner's sugar
• 1/2 cup cocoa
• 1 tsp. vanilla
• 1/4 tsp. salt
• 1-3 tsp. milk

Instructions

For cupcakes

1. Preheat oven to 350 F and line cupcake tray with 18 liners.
2. Place dry ingredients in the bowl of a stand mixer. Sift ingredients together with a wire whisk until combined.
3. With mixer on low, add eggs one at a time, mixing until just combined.
4. Add milk, oil, and vanilla, mixing until combined.
5. Slowly add hot water and mix until combined.

For caramel

1. Heat sugar, butter, cream, and salt in a pot over medium heat and cook for about 5 minutes, whisking gently.
2. Stir in vanilla, remove from heat, and let cool.

For ganache

1. Heat cream and butter on medium-high in pot until just before boiling.
2. Remove from heat and pour over morsels.
3. Let sit for one minute and then stir together until completely incorporated and smooth.
4. Sift sugar and cocoa together in a medium bowl and set aside.
5. Using a mixer, cream the butter. Slowly add sugar in intervals on low speed, mixing until combined.
6. Add vanilla, salt, and 1 teaspoon of milk and beat 1-2 minutes. Add more milk, 1 teaspoon at a time, until creamy.

To assemble

1. Core cooled cupcakes and fill center well with caramel filling.
2. Replace removed cupcake section to cover opening.
3. Pipe chocolate buttercream frosting on top.
4. Top with chocolate ganache.
5. Place Moose Munch Gourmet Popcorn on top of ganache and then drizzle with more caramel.

Note: If ganache or caramel started to thicken too much, simply heat slightly and stir to use.