Kid & Caramel Overload

Do you ever have days where you just wish you could call a do-over.

I'm having one of those days.

Since becoming a parent 7 years ago I've learned that sleep is never a given. Especially sleep on the weekend. I don't know why in the last seven years I've fooled myself by thinking, "oh they'll sleep in tomorrow I'm sure!" It never happens that way. I've so badly wanted to sleep in the last couple of days, but dear little Sophie decided that she wants to be up early, and has all of a sudden decided naps are no longer part of her schedule.

She has been fighting a nap for the last hour or so, no matter what I do. I'm about to loose my mind. So what do I do? I sit down at the computer and begin to type.

Because I know that most of you can relate.

I know that like me, you too have had those never ending, tear filled days where you just want to throw in the towel and scream,

"I QUIT!"

But we can't quit. We can't give up on our kids or ourselves.

We have to trek on, apron strings tied and smile on our faces.

It's not always fun, but it's defnitly rewarding. That the Kid Overload part.

If I had a gallon of Peanut Butter Buttercream today, I'm sure I'd have already eaten the entire container.

But instead of Peanut Butter today, I've got Caramel.

Caramel Cupcakes filled with Caramel and topped with Caramel Buttercream

Yep, that's the Caramel Overload part.

I know some of you have never attempted the whole homemade caramel process. And trust me, as many times as I've attempted it, I'd rather buy it in a jar at the grocery.

I was searching for a caramel recipe and that's when I found the greatest way to do this EVER!

I'm not sure if this really counts as "caramel" or not, you decide, I really don't care, I refer to it as the sweetest, yummiest, carmaliest thing I've ever made or tasted.

Okay, so here's what you need to do first.

Simple Homemade Caramel Sauce

1 can Sweetened Condensed Milk

1 Crock Pot

That's it!

Peel the label off of the Sweetened Condensed Milk.

Lay it in your crock pot.

Completely cover it with water.

Cook on Low for 8 hours.

Remove from Crock Pot and Voila! Caramel Sauce!

I told you! It is so easy! And no, I did not eat it right off of that spoon. I wanted to. But I practiced self control in this particular case!

Now, once you have your caramel sauce made, it's time to bake up the cupcakes.

Caramel Cupcakes

1 Golden Butter or Yellow Cake Mix

1/2 cup unsalted butter, room temperature

2/3 cup milk

3 eggs

1/2 can caramel sauce (homemade kind works best!)

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line 2 (12-cup) muffin tins.

In a large mixing bowl, combine the cake mix, butter, milk, and eggs until everything is incorporated. Slowly add in caramel sauce and mix well.

Using an ice-cream scoop, fill the muffin tins 2/3 full.  Bake for 15-18 minutes or until tops bounce back.

Remove from pans and cool completely on a cooling rack.

Once cupcakes are cooled, pipe some of the left over caramel sauce into the top of each cupcake. I used a large round decorating tip for this.

Caramel Buttercream

1/2 cup unsalted butter
1/2 cup shortening
1 teaspoon vanilla
4 cups powdered sugar
3-4 Tablespoons milk
Caramel Sauce

In a large mixing bowl combine butter and shortening. Add in vanilla. On slow speed begin adding in powdered sugar. Add milk one Tablespoon at a time if needed. Add in caramel sauce to your liking Continue mixing until frosting is piping consistency.

Pipe frosting onto cupcakes. And then as if that wasn't enough caramel, melt some remaining caramel sauce and drizzle over the top of each cupcake.

I'm feeling much better just thinking about these cupcakes. Enjoy!