Sticky Date Cupcakes With Caramel Icing Recipes

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 180°C Line 18 holes of muffin pans (1/3 cup measure) with paper cases. This recipe uses 'regular' muffin pan size not the Texan/large style.
• Combine the dates and 1 1/4 cups boiling water in a small saucepan, Bring to the boil over low-medium heat and simmer for 3 minutes.
• Remove from the heat and mash lightly with a potato masher. Stir in the bicarb/baking soda and allow to stand for 5 minutes.
• Stir in the butter and brown sugar into the warm date mixture until the butter melts and the sugar dissolves.
• Stir in the eggs until combined.
• SIft in the flour and ginger, then fold in with a metal spoon until combined.
• Divide the mixture into the paper cases and smooth the mixture over with the back of a spoon.
• Bake 15 minutes or until the tops are firm when touched.
• Remove from the oven and cool in the pan for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool.
• To make the icing- combine the butter, brown sugar and the cream in a small saucepan over a low heat, stir until the sugar dissolves.
• Bring the mixture to just below boiling point, then reduce the heat to low-medium and simmer for 2 minutes, stirring until thickened.
• Remove from the heat and gradually beat in the ising sugar until smooth.
• Spread the icing onto cakes and decorate by sprinkling with the optional sugar.

Steps:

• For the cupcakes: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line the cups of two 12-cup muffin tins with cupcake liners.
• Whisk together the flour, baking powder, salt and baking soda in a medium bowl.
• Put the chocolate in a microwave-safe bowl and microwave, stirring every 30 seconds, until melted, about 1 1/2 minutes (or melt it in a double boiler).
• Put the granulated sugar, brown sugar and butter in the bowl of a stand mixer and beat until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Add the melted chocolate and beat to combine. Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in the vanilla. Add the flour mixture in 3 batches, alternating with the milk, and beat on low until just combined.
• Divide the batter evenly among the cupcake liners, about 1/4 cup batter in each. Bake until the cupcakes are domed slightly and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, about 18 minutes. Cool completely on a rack.
• For the icing: Make the icing right before you are ready to frost the cupcakes. Combine the granulated sugar, buttermilk, butter, baking soda and vanilla in a medium to large heavy-bottomed saucepan (the liquid will double in volume). Insert a candy thermometer, bring to a boil and boil over medium-high heat until the mixture reaches soft-ball stage (235 degrees F), 10 to 15 minutes. Remove from the heat as it hits the soft-ball stage to avoid over caramelizing.
• Working very quickly but carefully, pour the caramel into the bowl of a stand mixer and beat on medium-high speed until cooled to warm, about 5 minutes. Working quickly, spoon about a tablespoon of the caramel icing onto each cupcake. (Caramel hardens a little as it cools; whip in a splash of heavy cream to loosen it up if needed.) Let stand until set, about 5 minutes. Decorate with edible silver dragees.