Salted Caramel Frosting
I knew before I made this frosting that {Salted + Caramel = Frosting} it was going to be a good thing. However, I had no clue that it was going to be a great thing: an almost indescribably awesome frosting. I’m not usually a big fan of frosting, but I am a huge fan of homemade caramel sauce. So, pouring caramel sauce into a whipped cream cheese frosting sounded too delicious not to try.
I am a big fan of real flavors. It can take a bit longer to develop those flavors sometimes – but it is truly just minutes in many cases. Caramel is one of those. Water and sugar simmer slowly in a simple syrup. No need for a candy thermometer, just keep cooking until the sugar dissolves. Once that happens turn up the heat and keep cooking until it turns an amber color. Caramel can be tricky because you want to keep it moving to prevent burning but not really get any of the sugar crystals that might form on the sides of the pan back into the caramel. Those pieces will make little crunch bits in the caramel sauce. Once it achieves that rich amber color, add the butter, cream, vanilla, and salt. Stir them in gently and let the sauce cool before refrigerating.
Salted Caramel Cream Cheese Frosting
To turn that amazing caramel sauce into frosting first make sure it has cooled completely. I can not emphasize that enough. It must be room temperature to make smooth and creamy frosting. Beat the butter and cream cheese until combined and smooth and creamy. Then add your powdered sugar. Once that has been incorporated add just one cup of the salted caramel sauce. I paired this frosting with the best gluten free chocolate cake that you can imagine. The combination of caramel and chocolate was everything I wanted it to be. I have to admit that one of my favorite things about this frosting is that it requires nothing fancier than a knife to decorate the cupcakes. No piping tools were required and the frosting stayed soft enough to look pretty without any effort or skill on my part.
Recipe for Salted Caramel Frosting
Recipe inspired by Eats Well With Others and adapted from Life on Blackberry Farm
Frosting Recipes
Condiments are one of my favorite ways to add new flavors and change recipes up. Frosting and icing fall into that category, delicious on cake, and cookies, or just dipping cookies or pretzels in it for a sweet snack. Fresh Blueberry Frosting is a light and creamy frosting, whipped into fluffy blueberry loveliness. A dollop of this frosting is sweet heaven on a cupcake. On a spoon, on a cracker, or on an actual cake this blueberry buttercream frosting is irresistible. Given the chance, I could do some serious damage to a bowl of this fluffy chocolate frosting without even slathering it on the cake. This is everything I wanted in chocolate buttercream frosting. Grab a spoon, you are going to want to eat this Whipped Cream Frosting straight from the bowl, or go ahead and dive in with fresh strawberries. {originally published 3/8/12 – recipes updated 1/26/23}
