Frito Caramel Cupcakes

by Lora Wiley-Lennartz
Most likely I have too many guilty pleasures to mention in one post. The Real Estalker is one. Mama keeps me rolling with laughter over her diatribes on celebrity dee-Kor and high profile cases of real estate fickle-dom. 

I am pretty sure I just made up that word, fickle-dom. Anyway, guilty pleasures help ward off the January post holiday doldrums. When visiting the States over the years I lived in overseas, I always tucked big bag of another guilty pleasure, Fritos, in my suitcase to bring back. Germany is a Frito free country. No corn chips either. And what look like Cheese Doodles taste of peanut butter. They are called Flips and my husband loves them. Don’t ask. It’s a sad state of snack affairs in German supermarkets. 

I bookmarked these fabulous frito cupcakes on Beantown Bakers site awhile back and I’ve been meaning to make my own version. So let’s perk things up with some guilty pleasure inspired fun flavored cupcakes.

Salty corn chip and sweet caramel flavors blend perfectly here. A cupcake and a snack in one.

Frito Caramel Cupcakes

For the Frito Cupcakes:
(Adapted from Magnolia Bakery’s Vanilla cupcake recipe)


Ingredients:

  • 1+1/2 cups AP flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 2 sticks (1lb) butter, softened
  • 1 cup white granulated sugar
  • 1 cup dark brown firmly packed brown sugar
  • 4 eggs, room temperature
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • 1 cup buttermilk
  • 1 +1/2 cups crushed Fritos or corn chips
  • 1 jar of caramel sauce

Directions:

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
  • Line two cupcake pans with liners.
  • Whisk together flour, baking powder and salt in a separate bowl and set aside.
  • Pulverize the Fritos/corn chips in a food processor. Set aside 1/2 cup for decoration.
  • Cream butter and sugar together until fluffy.
  • Add eggs one at a time and combine thoroughly.
  • Mix in vanilla.
  • Add flour mixture and buttermilk alternating each, starting and ending with the dry ingredients.
  • Mix in one cup of the crushed Fritos/corn chips.
  • Spoon or use a pastry bag or pipe batter into the liners.
  • Bake about 20 minutes or until a knife inserted in the middle comes out dry.
  • Remove and transfer cupcakes to cool completely.
  • Use a teaspoon to create a shallow hole of the center of each cupcakes and fill with caramel sauce.
  • Makes 24 cupcakes

For the Caramel Buttercream:
(Adapted from Magnolia Bakery’s Vanilla Buttercream recipe)


Ingredients:

  • 2 sticks softened butter
  • 6-8 cups powdered sugar
  • 1/2 cup buttermilk
  • 4 tablespoons caramel sauce plus some for decoration
  • 1/2 cup crushed Fritos or corn chips (see above) for decoration
Directions:
  • Mix together butter, buttermilk and two cups of the powdered sugar.
  • Gradually add the rest of the sugar one cup at a time until you reach the desired consistency.
  • Mix in the caramel sauce.
  • Load into a pastry bag and swirl the frosting onto the cupcakes.
  • Sprinkle the crushed chips over the top and then drizzle the caramel.
  • If you like, push in a single Frito/corn chip on the peak of the frosting.

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11 comments

Cupcake Ideas | January 4, 2023 - 6:19 am

[…] my entire like and never thought – even once- that I should put Fritos in a cupcake? From Diary of a Mad Haus Frau comes these Fabulous Frito Caramel Cupcakes. They look so unbelievably good, I want to bake them […]

Reply
Cupcake Ideas - June 23, 2020 - 7:21 am

[…] my entire like and never thought – even once- that I should put Fritos in a cupcake? From Diary of a Mad Haus Frau comes these Fabulous Frito Caramel Cupcakes. They look so unbelievably good, I want to bake them […]

Reply
Lauren January 14, 2012 - 11:34 pm

My mom is a Fritos freak–these would be a perfect birthday treat for her. On top of it, these cupcakes are so darn cute!

Reply
Joanne January 13, 2012 - 12:36 pm

I'm generally not really into snack foods but Fritos are one of the few that once I start eating..I just can't stop. I'm sure it would be the same with these cupcakes!

Reply
angela@spinachtiger January 12, 2012 - 1:09 pm

Something that shows your sense of whimsy…

Reply
Sue January 12, 2012 - 7:07 am

A unique cupcake that I'm sure I can fall in love with! 🙂

Reply
C&C Cakery January 12, 2012 - 3:51 am

Now nothing is holding me back from serving a giant tub of warm caramel next to an open bag of fritos. This shit is bananas.

I wonder what you could do with the BBQ version of Fritos? Eh? EH?

Reply
Pacheco Patty January 11, 2012 - 4:20 pm

Fritos are my favorite snack when I play golf, I feel like they give me energy but don't weigh me down! I would love to try a cupcake these are very fun;-)

Reply
SprinkleBakes January 11, 2012 - 7:35 pm

OH. I think I love you.

Reply
James January 11, 2012 - 4:01 pm

I love salty and sweet – these are wild cupcakes! Also love Real Estalker! 🙂

Reply
Paula January 11, 2012 - 3:45 pm

I haven't eaten Fritos for years and can't think of a better way to get back to them than these very tempting looking cupcakes. Love the look of these.

Reply

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