If cupid delivered cupcakes to a woman, to make them fall in love with a man, these would be them.  Seriously.

Chocolate, salted caramel, cake, cookies, buttery creamy frosting…   What more could a woman want on Valentines Day?  If its not on that list, they don’t need it.  Exceptions being wine, steak, and a tall dark handsome man.

Alternatively, if cupid isn’t delivering these on behalf of a hot man, you could always make them yourself.  Nothing quite like getting up to your elbows in cake batter and frosting when you are spending Valentines Day alone.

Be warned, by the time you have finished baking them, you will more likely be ready for bed than for devouring the chocolately heaven you just created.  But don’t panic.  These are amazing for breakfast.  With a strong cup of coffee, according to my coworkers anyway.

I used my standard chocolate cupcake recipe, a Martha Stewart cookie recipe, and a Brown Eyed Baker salted caramel recipe (her cupcakes are prettier than mine!).  I’m not going to write them all out again, I’m still exhausted from making the cupcakes!  So just click on the following links to get the recipes.

Chocolate Caramel Cupcakes

Cooking time: pretty much all night
Serves: 12 pretty hefty cupcakes

My standard Chocolate Cupcake recipe

Martha Stewart Chocolate Sweet Hearts recipe

Brown Eyed Baker Salted Caramel recipe

Brown Eyed Baker Salted Caramel Frosting recipe

I filled the baked, cooled cupcakes with a good spoonful of the caramel, topped with frosting, drizzled with more caramel, and stuck a heart shaped cookie in the top for good measure.  If anyone has ever doubted that chocolate is better than sex,  I urge you to try this cupcake.