It’s always been about more than just the food, hasn’t it?
Caramel is lovely. Cookies are totally major. But I feel like we’re friends, and that’s what’s been the most amazing part of living in this Internet space for the past few years. You. Your presence. The way you invite me into your kitchen recipe after recipe.
I’ve made an overwhelming amount of friends in people like you. I’ve met you on book tour. We’ve chatted at blog conferences. We blow up Twitter together. In some cases, I’ve stalked your blog, forced my friendship on you, and you were gracious enough to accept.
Because we’re all friends here, I’m ultra excited to bring you a new video series that celebrates these friendships!
It’s called Bonkers Awesome and it’s a part of Ulive.com’s original content. Ulive is part of the Food Network and Cooking Channel family and they’re creating really wonderful online shows. Seriously… they let me make the series I’ve always wanted to make, where I get to learn new things, make friends old and new, and just be generally weird and awkward. I mean…
Here’s a sneak peek at the 14-episode series.
If you happen to follow me on Instagram, you may have seen a few of these behind-the-scenes shots of our video shoots. In reality, the whole series is a behind-the-scenes look into some of my favorite people and new friends.
Matt Bites invites me over to his photo studio and I get to raid his prop room. The ladies of Liddabit Sweet show me how to make Caramel Apples in Brooklyn. I get a peek into the workings of a chocolate factory with Compartes Chocolate. The Pioneer Woman even shows me around the ranch and I eat too much mac and cheese.
Melody from The Sweet and Saucy Shop teaches me how to make a wedding cake. Seriously!? This lady is such an inspiration (and she happens to be the mind behind today’s cupcake recipe). And Alie and Georgia make my cocktail dreams come true.
For the next few months, I’ll bring you a new episode each week. There are two episodes you can already check out, if you’re into binge-watching. In one of them, I visit my favorite bakery in LA. Major.
Next week, you are going to get a total inside look into the incredible studio of Matt Bites. It might blow your mind.. mostly because it blew my mind. We’ve worked really hard on this series over the summer, and our great hope is that you enjoy it, learn a few new things, and feel inspired. This series is the collaborative efforts of Michael Friedman, Hilton Carter, Maia Wagle, Paola Parsons, Jon Melendez, and the wonderful people at Ulive. Thank you forever.
Now it’s time for cupcakes!
It’s high-time we make some candy bar cupcakes! These cupcakes are inspired by an actual wedding cake I made at The Sweet and Saucy Shop with Melody.
As you can see, I’m a caramel enthusiast.
Can you imagine having chocolate and caramel inside your wedding cake? Such a win. I’m getting married mostly for the cake.
These cupcakes begin with a simple brown sugar cupcake base.
The flavors of butter, brown sugar, and vanilla really come through.
While the cupcakes bake, we make the chocolate ganache.
Ganache is totally a secret weapon in the baker’s kitchen. It’s just chocolate melted with warm heavy cream.
The end result is glossy sweet. Ganache will thicken as it cools.
Every good candy bar has a good dose of caramel.
These cupcakes are no exception.
We’re making a super simple caramel sauce. It’s inspired by The Pioneer Woman. Toss it all in a pot and boil a bit.
Creamy amber caramel sauce in seven minutes. It’s almost too good to be true.
Oh! It’s salty too! Just enough salt to offset the sweet.
Cooled cupcakes are topped with chocolate ganache.
Drizzle generously with caramel sauce and sprinkle with coarsely chopped peanuts. It will fee like you’re playing with your food. You’re doing it right.
If you’re feeling extra super awesome and ambitious, you could totally just whip this recipe up into a wedding cake. Right?
Not only did Melody inspire this delicious cupcake recipe, she also helped me tackle my Fear of Fondant. You really must see how this gorgeous cake turned out.
If nothing else, I hope you make a big batch of cupcakes and eat the one with the most caramel sauce.
Bonkers Awesome Candy Bar Cupcakes
makes 24 cupcakes
recipe inspired by Organic and Chic, Alton Brown, and The Pioneer Woman
For the Cupcakes:
2 sticks (1 cup) unsalted butter, softened
1 3/4 cup packed light brown sugar
4 large eggs
1 cup whole milk
1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
1/2 vanilla bean, seeds scraped out
2 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
For the Chocolate Ganache:
1 1/2 cups chopped semi-sweet chocolate
1 cup heavy cream
For the Caramel:
1 cup packed light brown sugar
1/2 cup heavy cream
4 ounces unsalted butter
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
To Make the Cupcakes:
Position a rack in the upper third of the oven and preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line two cupcake pans with paper liners and set aside.
In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder and salt. Set aside.
In a small bowl, whisk together milk, vanilla extract and vanilla bean seeds. Set aside.
In a stand mixer, fit with a paddle attachment, cream the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. This may take 3 to 5 minutes. Scrape down the sides of the bowl to make sure everything is well incorporated.
Add the eggs, one at a time, beating for one minute after each addition. If the batter begins to looks a bit curdled, that’s alright.
With the mixer on low speed, alternately add the flour mixture and the vanilla milk mixture in three batches, starting and ending with the flour. When the batter is almost combined, stop the mixer and finish mixing the batter with a spatula, making sure that any flour bits at the bottom of the bowl are well incorporated.
Divide into the lined cupcake pan and bake for 25 minutes or until golden and a cake tester inserted in the center comes out clean. Allow to cool in the pan for 10 minutes before removing to cool completely before frosting.
To Make the Chocolate Ganache:
Place chopped chocolate in a medium bowl. Bring cream to a low simmer in a small saucepan. The cream should boil, just begin to simmer. Remove from the heat and immediately pour the hot cream over the chopped chocolate. Allow to sit for 1 minute. Carefully stir mixture together creating a glossy chocolate. Allow to rest at room temperature for about an hour and the ganache will begin to thicken.
To Make the Caramel Sauce:
In a medium saucepan, combine brown sugar, cream, butter and salt. Stir over medium heat and bring to a boil. Simmer for 5 to 7 minutes and the caramel will begin to thicken. Remove from heat and transfer to a small bowl. Allow to rest for 30 minutes before drizzling on cupcakes.
To Assemble Cupcakes:
Spoon ganache over cooled cupcakes. Use a fork to drizzle caramel over the chocolate ganache. Sprinkle with coarsely chopped salted peanuts.
146 Responses
for the caramel, the vanilla is not in the recipe?
Wow, the photography in this post is astounding! Wonderful post!
https://findmethoseheels.blogspot.co.uk/
x
My plan was to “listen” to one your videos while working. It was a fail. I watched them all!!! They are “Super” fun and entertaining. Congratulations, and looking forward to watching more!!!!
oh i’m so happy you like them! thank you for watching!
Bonkers Awesome, Joy! Can’t wait to see the shows! Happy Holidays.
Yay! I love seeing you in action. Can’t wait for more Bonkers Awesome :)
I’m so excited about this series and proud of you for making it happen. Pretty major accomplishment and a well deserved one. Can’t wait for the PW episode. And hilarious song – props, michael. Get it!
So I totally binge watched the first couple of episodes (no bigs) and I LOVE IT! It’s so much fun watching you interact with these amazing people and I cannot wait to see the episode with you and Tracey. After listening to your podcast religiously, I wish I could just hang out with you two and drink cocktails and eat delicious finger foods. The Matt episode is fantastic, super helpful photography information and the prop room, whoa! Can’t wait to see more! xoxo
sit down lady
how can anyone say no to caramel, nuts and chocolate? that’s a winning combination, right there.
Ah, Joy! I am so excited for this new web series. You are amazing & I’m so thankful for your blog (and your bake books). Can’t wait to watch each new episode! Congratulations!
I basically want to punch these cupcakes with my mouth.
How exciting is your new series!! Eeek!! I can’t wait to watch all of the episodes!! You truly inspire me!! Keep soaring Joy!! xoxoxo
Aaaaaaaaaaaaaah! This is so exciting! I cannot wait to watch all 14 episodes! Amazing work Joy, congratulations :)
I just made your lemon poppyseed muffins for what feels like the millionth time and ended up watching bonkers awesome while they baked, you’re incredibly awesome! Can’t wait to watch more episodes!! :)
Joy! This looks (bonkers) awesome, I can’t wait to start watching.
Also: you have a theme song!!!!!!!! Does this play through your head all day long?
I didn’t know I could fall in love with you more. I love these cupcakes, and I love the concept of your video series. I can’t wait to see you in action. Let’s be friends. ;)
Really pleased for you. You’re v inspirational. This has clearly been a goal of yours for years and it’s been amazing to watch you get closer and closer step by step with an enormous amount of perseverance and hard work. Congratulations! I’m sure we’ll see you on the food network’s main channel before long. Keep going!!
Wow. Congratulations on the show. I’ve never met you, yet your voice keeps making suggestions in my head while I’m cooking and baking. That sounds a little crazy but I swear it’s true and totally not creepy.
PS. These cupcakes look like my idea of perfection
Joy, this is BONKERS AWESOME!! You go girl! I’m so very excited about this.
OMG YUSS. To all of the above!
Joy, you are my hero!! Congrats on such big and amazing accomplishments. I love the series already, you are totally charming, and I can’t keep this compliment to myself, you look so beautiful! Can’t wait to keep watching!
I’m excited! Your show looks so charming and awesome.
PROUD! can I say this? I’ve been following you for a year now: this, is amazing. this is just SO exceptional. you’re pretty great! and this, seeing your smile, looking at how much fun you have in doing all these things, being part of your happiness, this is totally amazing.
I’d like to say this, and sorry for being inappropriate: I’m so proud of you! really, and I think we all are.
Thank you, for keeping us all company every day and for making us smile.
Say Hi to Jules Stevens :)
these cupcakes have made my day – they look absolutely delicious!!
you’ve done it again Joy :)
and the mini series looks so good! i’m so excited :D
So happy for you, Joy! Congrats on Bonkers Awesome! I’m giggling over and over at the name of it. Love it. And these cupcakes are just gooey, intense, amazingly Bonkers Awesome.
Hi Joy! I am so excited to make these for my mother in laws birthday! How much in advanced you you think I can make them?
That caramel sauce was bonkers easy ;)
I love it! I’m definitely going to have to check out your series!!
ps what is this about going on a first date with JTB??
I have nothing to say other than this is BONKERS AWESOME! So excited to watch!
This is amazing, congratulations Joy!! I just know that your series will be amaze-balls!!
Loved the video, what fun! Can’t wait to see more! These cupcakes will definitely have to be made at my house and soon!
Oh, that’s so great! I just called my husband because he’s the only one who gets my obsession with your podcast/blog. I guess another thing is going on the list. Thanks for being a normal girl who, you know, isn’t afraid to eat a cookie. I love it!
This is amazing!! Congratulations!
These look amazing..totally going to try them out :)
Joy, you are adorable, and I am absolutely thrilled for you and all these exciting things going on! I am so excited about your video series and all the behind the scenes fun! You are such an inspiration and I wish you much success in all you do! Thank you for everything you share, for being incredibly real, and for making everyone feel so welcome to your happenings and recipes! xoxo
I am so excited for these videos! I am from Oklahoma and can’t wait to see your episode with Ree :).
So much fun stuff going on. Wow! I would love to of hung out with any of these amazing people, but especially Ree!! So awesome!
And these cupcakes! Mot much beat the combo of caramel and chocolate!
Thanks for this awesome project!!!! I cannot wait to watch the videos. BUT… I watched the one you included in this page; then tried to watch it from ulive-impossible! Frustration!! :/ anybody in the same situation? Is it because of watching it from a European computer?
You are the queen of cupcakes. Definitely.
Hi. It should work anywhere in the world. We made sure there was no blocking. It may be that your browser is blocking javascript?
Thanks for the answer. It was probably a problem of player. I managed to watch it everything on another computer. Brilliant :))
Joy! You’re the cutest! It’s so awesome to see you and hear your voice..can’t wait for the other videos.. :0)
um…..I would also like my own theme song!
I have read your blog for years now, and it is always a high point in my day. I have been laboring through grad school/life/etc for 3 years and this blog just seriously brings me joy! I kind of maybe teared up during the video because it is like you have arrived! Wishing you more continued growth and happiness in your passion!
(ps. I just ate your Crunchy Kale Coconut bowl for at least the 50th time for dinner. It is the perfect single gal dinner and makes me feel less guilty about eating your Creamy Pumpkin Bar for dessert!)
I absolutely need these cupcakes in my life!
I’m so excited for you, Joy! I’ve really enjoyed the episodes so far, and can’t wait to see more! Congrats!
This is gonna be great! I can already tell!
Joy! I’m so excited for you now that I know the story behind all your awesome Instagram adventures from the past few months. Can’t wait to watch the videos. And these cupcakes look amazing!
Congratulations on the new venture! I can’t wait to catch up the webisodes. Also, these cupcakes look delightful!
Congratulations Joy!
This truly is bonkers awesome (also, now going to add that phrase to my vocabulary) and I can’t wait to get home and have some quiet time to binge watch the first two episodes. Will I make my boyfriend watch them too? You betcha!
He’ll probably forgive me if I also promise to make him the cupcakes too :)
I am mega excited about Bonkers Awesome! It’s gonna be sweet! :)
this new series sounds bonkers awesome! can’t wait to see more. how are you so amazing? teach me your ways!
Yesssssssssssssss! it’s like an early Christmas present!! giving the ppl what they want — Joy Joy Joy!! Congratulations girl!
Joy, *you* are bonkers awesome, and such an inspiration. Blog, podcast, videos – you go girl!
Argh I am the only one who can’t watch the videos? I neeeeeeed to watch, but they aren’t working for me!
I love The Sweet & Saucy Shop. I can’t wait for this series!
I am so so super excited for this series, Joy! Loved meeting you at Blog Her this year. You said you liked my glasses and that made me smile and feel nice. I love your recipes and your style, and this series just looks, well, bonkers awesome. Thank you so much!
Heidi xo
get it girrl!
My mind may have runaway with me (it totally did) but all i’m seeing in this is “Joy the Baker – coming to a tv screen near you…SOON”.
I’m so excited for this series, I just love how much fun you have with food, which is so refreshing at the moment with all this body negativity and food hate. Thank you always Joy for making us (me) realise that life is fun, especially with food.
So much love.
Joy!!!! I just watched your Clementine video. I LOVE Clementine!! I was addicted to their chocolate chip cookies and literally had to wean myself off of them. They are spectacular. I love this series. I will actively look forward to the rest of your adventures. I’ve been hoping over the years to run into you on the bike path or walking along the park overlooking PCH. I think your awesome and I wish you so much success!!!!
Oh Joy. You’re my favorite, always. I can’t wait to see the series!!
Blushing over here!!! I had the best time ever with you!
Hey Joy! I can’t tell you how much I adore your videos, they make me so ridiculously happy and excited for you! You continue to be such an inspiration to me, so thank you!
Also, these cupcakes look bonkers awesome! ( sorry, I had to!)
You know what’s BONKERS AWESOME?! You have a theme song! Hahaha. I LOVE it! I love you! And you’re ten times cooler than I could’ve ever imagined.
Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!!! I am SO excited about this series! Yiiiipppppppeeeeeedoodledandy. (yeah, i said that) – Love the song too :)
Oh my gawd, there is too much awesome in the post!
Congrats Joy! So happy for your and so inspired!
Woah! Joy, this is so awesome! You’re killing it, girl!
One suggestion. I think the title of the show should be changed to, “Joy the Baker Takes Over the World!”
Joy, you’re the best…I’m so excited for this new video series! It looks amazing so far. Congratulations!
Congratulations, Joy! I can’t wait to watch.
P.S. I assume that theme song plays at the start of your day every day.
Yummy!
Could you get anymore interesting?! I can’t wait for the new series! Lets get this on television already..right?! xx
Can I put a Peanut Butter filling in these? PLEASE? Would that be okay? Because then you’d have the trifecta in a cupcake. *pinky swear ;-)*
I love LOVE your videos! So excited to see this. Congratulations on this new venture. :)
Waaaooo Joy! So great! I am going to follow you is this new adventure! Congratulations
ha! i love the name of these cupcakes… they are certainly bonkers x 10 to the power of delicious.
(too much math…) great photos, too!
Joy i love all you recipes!! Question : what is meant by ‘light sugar’ ? Any substitute?
This. This is amazing, Joy! How absolutely wonderful it must have been to visit all of these amazing people! I’ve been following your blog for a long time, and I just feel so happy for you. Excited to watch these videos!
I am totally, absolutely, out of this world excited about this!!!! Joy you are amazing and inspiring and you WORK it girl!
This IS bonkers awesome! I’m watching the video going, “Shutterbean! Ree! Eeeee!!” Good for you! And that song is awesome, especially the “She’s a wedding cake maker, apple taker, cocktail shaker” line was fantastic. Can’t wait for every video!
Congrats Joy on the new series. As a blog and podcast follower, I’m excited to add another item to my list!
I love this recipe and your new series, I can’t wait to catch full length episodes!!
Congrats! So stinkin’ awesome! I can’t wait to watch…though I’m at my day job right now so I guess I have to.
JOYYYYYYYYYY! You are just killing it once again. So excited for this series. It’s pretty amazing how there is no end to learning. Let me know if you want to come bake in my tiny condo kitchen in Long Beach! :)
Joy. I just watched all of the videos, and they are truly bonkers awesome. Congratulations on getting to be you in so many different ways like the videos, your book, the podcast… it’s fun to see you still be Joy the Baker but in ways that make us love you even more. Job well done.
Joy. The baker
. You made me laugh so hard at that video.
I think you’re bonkers awesome.
Wow! How exciting. This is wonderful in so many ways. Your personality shines through. Congratulations!
Joy this is amazing! I’ve been reading your blog and using your book for a long time and have not commented before, but your theme song has sent me over the commenting edge. I love it! It is so creative and quirky. Congratulations on all your success.
Totally a Jon Lajoie-esque theme song. Adorbs.
How awesome!! What a great round up of people you have! The cupcakes look amazing.
They do look CRAZY good!
YOU are bonkers awesome and this video is the best thing ever. I can’t wait to see more! Also, I’m completely obsessed with Alie and Georgia, so I may freak out a little bit when I watch that one. I hope that’s OK.
more than ok! totally understandable.
:)
how fun! I can’t wait to watch the video series and try these cupcakes out for myself!
Joy! So excited for you and this new venture. Can not wait to start watching! Congrats again!
Joy, you call them brown sugar cupcakes yet the recipe calls for granulated sugar???
PS Congrats on the show!
oh that’s my mistake!
Freakin’ out Joy! This really is bonkers awesome. Also you have your own theme song. This may be a sign you’ve made it in life.
Can’t wait to watch the series! :D
So So excited for your new series- I can’t wait to watch! Also- these cupcakes look to die for. Gotta check out that quick caramel sauce!
the caramel sauce is so easy… dangerous.
Haha you look so excited about squeezing the caramel!
more caramel, please!
This is BONKERS AWSOME. SO proud of you mama!
appreciate you, friend! xo
MAJOR congratulations!!!!! This series will be amazing, so excited to watch more.
Just watched the video: my favorite bakery in L.A. loved it, this is so much fun, thank you!
JOY THE BAKER!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am like staring at my screen all stupid happy watching this trailer!!!!!!! It’s BONKERS AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!! I am so effing proud and excited for you!!!! Can’t wait to gobble up all of these episodes and delicious foods! Huge, HUGE hugs and extra kisses for Tron Cat (I sure do miss my lunch dates with him!). Also….Mr. Carter…well done!!!! xoxo -P
giiirrrl! thank you for the kindness! i’m proud and excited for YOU! miss your face. miss it!
I’ve already watched the first two videos and I can’t wait for the rest. This is awesome!!
the SONG!! Ahaaaaa it’s just too cute. Can’t wait to watch :)
First of all I’m super excited about the new series! Yay! And second of all I’m hosting a brunch this weekend and there are some kids invited so thank you for sharing this recipe. All the kids are going to love me. ;)
xx,
E.
http://www.theslowpace.com
your song is the best
You only ever get cooler.
Argh, I’m at work and I can’t watch videos, but I’m super psyched to watch when I get home tonight!
Also, random thing. I was in the grocery store last night and they were all out of buttermilk. A girl overheard when I was begging the stock boy for buttermilk, came up to me, and said “just so you know, Joy the Baker had a post on buttermilk substitutes today.” I was so excited to encounter a fellow JTB fangirl in the wild that I almost hugged her. I ended up using your vinegar + milk trick and it worked like a charm!
this makes me happier than you can even know!
This just made my day! I’m so excited for you, and I can’t wait to see more of these beautiful videos!
Wow!! I love the sneak peek video and can’t wait for the series to start. Your theme song is amazing :)
These look incredible, and since I’ve been on a bit of a cupcake bender lately, they’re definitely on my to-bake list! The videos are great–so fun!
How marvelous! What a great video and recipe! These cupcakes might have to be stored by my nightstand rather than in my fridge…talk about a marvelous midnight snack! Yum!
https://sometimesgracefully.com
Wow this is awesome Joy, very cool! I am a caramel enthusiast too :)
When I saw the title of this post, I was like, JOY! You PROMISED you weren’t going to do the halloween-candy-inside-of-a-dessert thing!! So happy to see that these cupcakes look delicious, and no halloween leftovers in sight. So excited for your new show too, you are one busy lady!
that’s a very serious promise i made. plus, leftover candy bars just aren’t my style. high-five!
The prospect of Joy + Alie and Georgia makes me SUPER excited. Congrats, friend!
they are the funniest ladies on the planet!
Joyyyyyy!!! These cupcakes are AWESOME! I can totally see why you call them bonkers. lol
I need more cupcakes in my life – mainly THESE ones x
Congratulations, Joy! This is so cool! And I love your “theme” song :)
Congrats! What a fun idea for a show. Can’t wait to see the first episode.
I can’t wait, you totally deserve your own Food Network Show. It looks adorable :)
this is so cool! Simply you have experienced such a lovely encounters with chef and foodies alike, I can not wait to see them film. All that talent has got to be placed somewhere
These cupcakes are too cute and they are so perfectly domed too!
You took it to the next level again. This is why I love you. Inspiring to the last!
I haven’t even read through to the end of this post (including the recipe which, judging from the title and pictures, cannot be but spectacular), but after seeing the video sneak peak I had to comment: I am SO excited for you – and for all uf us getting to see these beautiful moments of your totally, inspiringly bonkers awesome life as a baker, cook, photographer, learner, teacher, friend, … ! Congratulations!
i really do appreciate you!
Wow Joy!!!! All this stuff going on – Matt Bites (his studio IS the most amazing place on earth!) and he’s so awesome and so kind! And hanging out on the Ranch with Ree (whoa!!), and all these videos, and new friends and all this great stuff you’ve been up to. Congrats! Can’t wait to hear/see/read more.
These cupcakes. Caramel and chocolate and just too much goodness going on. Pinned!