Caramel Hot Chocolate Cupcakes

Yes that delicious goodness up there is a Caramel Hot Chocolate Cupcake. It was freezing and snowy on NYE so I thought I should bake something. Awhile back A got a mini size maker, I don't really know what brand but basically it has interchangeable plates that you can make mini brownies, cupcakes, donuts and such. Well the cookbook has some awesome recipes but I didn't want to spend all night making 48 mini cupcakes when you can only bake 6 at a time. So I just made regular size cupcakes (because guess who finally got a new cupcake pan for Christmas, this girl!) and I got about 18 cupcakes.

The original recipe called for regular hot chocolate but that sounded boring after I had just received some caramel hot chocolate as a gift (I'm considering mint for next time or maybe raspberry). They also wanted you to make marshmallow frosting which I'm sure would be amazing but I just used what I had on hand which was cream cheese frosting from the can, yep we are fancy.

Here's what you'll need:
3/4 cup butter, softened
3/4 cup milk
2 packets (1 oz each) hot chocolate mix any flavor of your choosing, I used caramel
1 1/2 cups flour
3/4 cups sugar
2 Tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
2 eggs, room temp
1 tsp vanilla extract

In a small saucepan combine butter and milk and heat over medium heat until butter melts. Remove from heat and let cool. 
Meanwhile in a large bowl, combine hot chocolate mix, flour, sugar, cocoa and baking powder and salt. 
Add the butter mixture, eggs and vanilla and beat on low speed for 30 seconds. Then beat on medium for about 1 minute until everything comes together.
Fill your cupcake wells and bake at 350* for about 8-10 minutes. Check doneness with a toothpick. Let cool on wire rack. Once completely cooled you can frost with frosting of your choice. I think a marshmallow frosting with caramel drizzle would've been great but I didn't have any so feel free to use what you have on hand.
Enjoy!