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Mini Caramel Streusel Cakes recipe, an easy homemade breakfast, snack, or dessert! I have been looking for Kraft’s Caramel Bits for a lonnnnnnng time now. I have even searched in several states (thanks to a cross-country move last year) and never had any luck. I finally broke down and just bought some from Amazon (partly because I needed to buy something else and it wasn’t over the $25 to get free shipping and I just couldn’t stand the thought of paying for shipping so why not buy some Caramel Bits, right????). I wish I had broken down a long time ago!
In order to buy them from Amazon, I had to buy a case, so now I have 12 bags of caramel bits and couldn’t be happier! Well except for one small problem. I went to Target the day AFTER receiving my Caramel Bits and guess what they had??? Yep, right there with the other baking items. I wish I was making this up, because I have looked THERE many times! But I have my caramel, and lots of it, so all is good.
Since I found the caramel AFTER I bought it, I’m going to take that as a sign that I was MEANT to have 12 bags of Caramel Bits at one time rather than just one or two from Target! :)
I had a Pillsbury Cake Mix and some Philadelphia Cream Cheese on hand so thought I’d do a little experimenting. Next thing I know I was making these cute little caramel stuffed streusel topped cakes.
Perfect for breakfast as a coffee cake, perfect for a mid-afternoon snack, perfect for dessert…c’mon it’s cake, it’s perfect anytime! :) When you bite into these cute little cakes you get a great caramel surprise!
The streusel topping makes quite a bit because I like streusel and hate when something just has a little on top! It should be crumbly when you’re done with it.
The cake batter is a bit on the thick side. I like to use a small ice cream scoop to spoon it into the muffin pan.
Use about half of the batter to form the bottom layer of each mini cake. Then place some caramel bits on top and in the middle. Use the rest of the cake batter to cover the caramel. You may need to use your finger to spread the batter around to cover all the caramel. Then sprinkle the streusel on top. Lightly press the streusel down to stick to the batter.
Mmmmmm, love the caramel surprise in the center!
These little cakes are great warm out of the oven or at room temperature. Great for breakfast, for a snack, for dessert, and I think topped with ice cream would be my personal fave!
Hope you enjoy!
Mini Caramel Streusel Cakes
Ingredients
- 1 (18.25 oz.) box yellow cake mix, divided
- 1/2 cup brown sugar divided
- 2 teaspoons cinnamon divided
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter melted; divided
- 4 ounces cream cheese softened
- 3 tablespoons milk
- 2 large eggs
- 1 cup caramel bits
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Spray mini muffin pan(s) with nonstick spray including top of pan.
- In small bowl mix together 1 cup of cake mix, 3 tablespoons brown sugar, and 1 teaspoon cinnamon until combined. Mix in 3 tablespoons of melted butter until crumbly. Set aside.
- In a large bowl best together the rest of the cake mix (about 2 1/2 cups), 5 tablespoons brown sugar, 1 teaspoon cinnamon, 5 tablespoons butter, cream cheese, milk, and eggs with an electric mixer until just combined.
- Spoon half of cake batter into mini-muffin pan. Sprinkle caramel bits on top of batter trying to keep the caramel bits in center of each cake. Cover caramel with remaining cake batter, then sprinkle crumb mixture on top (carefully push down on the crumb mixture so that it sticks to the batter).
- Bake at 350 degrees F for about 15-20 minutes. Cool slightly then remove from pan and cool completely on wire racks. You may need to run a knife around the edges to get the cakes to pop out.
Recipe Notes
SNAPPY TIPS: Be sure to spray the top of the pan because these little cakes will expand over the sides a little to form a top like a muffin. If you want smaller cakes, use less batter for each one and use a second pan or bake in batches to make more cakes.
SNAPPY SUBSTITUTIONS: I used lowfat cream cheese and skim milk because that’s what I had on hand, but I’m sure regular cream cheese or a higher fat content milk would work fine. Instead of cinnamon you could use any kind of spice mixture such as apple /pumpkin pie spice, allspice, nutmeg, cardamom, etc.
Cindy Ryans says
You can also get smaller quantities of caramel bits at nutsonline.com! I bought a 3 lb. bag and they last a real long time!
Love your website – thanks for the recipe!
Lisa Huff says
Thanks for the link! Looks like a great site! My husband is not going to be too happy with me! :)
Beth at HungryHappenings.com says
I’ve been using the caramel bits for many years now (I buy them from a wholesaler) and was happy to see they finally starting selling them in retail stores. I found them in Target during Halloween the last two years. They are great – no unwrapping! Your muffins look delicious. You are doing such a nice job with your new blog. The pictures are fantastic and the recipes look great. Keep having fun!
Meagan says
These look so yummy! I have a slight caramel obsession. I may have to make them for myself for my birthday treat next month:)
Snappy Gourmet says
I have some in the freezer if you’re in the neighborhood in the next few weeks before your birthday. :)
Angela FRS says
If you do blog awards, I just passed one on to your blog. Loving the posts!
Snappy Gourmet says
Angela, I have no idea what you’re talking about. You’re much further along with this blog stuff than me. :)
raja ali says
hey these look great i was wondering what do yu use as a nonstick agent cause nothing ive tried works quite like what i see yu’ve achieved
Snappy Gourmet says
Hi Raja! Thanks for stopping by Snappy Gourmet! If I had to guess, I would say it more likely your pan then the spray. If your pan is old, warped, or was really inexpensive you won’t get great results. Been there, done that! :) A nice pan makes a huge difference and worth the money! I just used Pam nonstick spray and lightly sprayed the top of the pan as well as the inside of each cavity. They stuck a little but no probably getting them out running a knife around them. They popped right out. There is also a nonstick spray for baking that you may want to try. If you don’t want a new pan I would suggest using paper liners.
Cassie says
These look incredible! I absolutely love caramel and this is really creative way to use boxed cake mix!
Snappy Gourmet says
Thanks Cassie!
karen says
This is a must try. Now I think I am going to go on a mission for caramel bits this weekend. Do you think I can substitute with something else if I can’t find the caramel?
Snappy Gourmet says
Hi Karen! I think the caramel bits are more widespread now so you may have better luck. Now that I’ve ordered them off of Amazon I’m sue they will show up everywhere because tha would be just my luck! My mom just told me this morning that she just saw them at Walmart. You could probably use butterscotch or cinnamon chips instead. Or you could unwrap the regular caramels and cut them into small pieces but that’s a lot of work. :)
Karen Harris says
I’m with Danielle. Sounds like a great contest recipe. I’m so busy trying to brainstorm and make recipes for Pillsbury, I hardly have any ideas for my blog. This one is inspired.
Snappy Gourmet says
That’s funny Karen, becaue I’ve been so busy with the blog that I haven’t entered many contests or even thought about them! LOL But I did enter my first Pillsbur recipe this morning! Good luck on your entries!
Danielle says
sounds like a rwop contest entry to me :)
Snappy Gourmet says
Thanks Danielle! Not sure I’m going to enter that one. Tried it last year and the videos are a pain. We’ll see. :)