Cream Soda Toffee Cupcakes with Buttermilk Brown Butter Frosting

I saw this recipe in my Better Homes and Garden magazine, and I have been wanting to try it ever since.  A Suzanne Conrad won a prize for it, and I must say I think she deserved it!  I finally had toffee bits, buttermilk, and cream soda at the same time.  So after a night out to dinner with my husband, I decided to give them a try.  My husband was waiting for me to start a movie, so I didn't end up waiting long enough for the butter to brown and they were still fabulous!  Very different and delicious.  I will definitely be making these again... but with true brown butter frosting.

Cream Soda Toffee Cupcakes with Buttermilk Brown Butter Frosting
Submitted by Mindy ~ The Sisters Cafe

Cream Soda-Toffee Cupcakes:
2 cups flour
1 1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/4 tsp. salt
1/2 cup butter, softened
3/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup packed brown sugar
3 eggs
1 Tbsp. molasses
1 1/2 tsp. vanilla
1/2 cup buttermilk
1/2 cup cream soda (not diet)
3/4 cup toffee pieces

Preheat oven to 350 F.  Line eighteen 2 1/2-inch muffin cups with paper bake cups; set aside.  Combine four, baking powder, baking soda, and salt; set aside.  In large bowl beat butter with electric mixer on medium to high 30 seconds.  Add sugars; beat until well combined.  Beat in eggs, one at a time, on low until combined.  Beat in molasses and vanilla.  Alternately add flour mixture, buttermilk, and cream soda to butter mixture, bating on low speed after each addition until combined.  Stir in 1/2 cup of the toffee.  Fill cups 3/4 full.  Bake about 18 minutes or until tops spring back when lightly touched.  Cool in pans on racks 5 minutes.  Remove from pans; cool.  Frost; top with remaining toffee.

Buttermilk Brown Butter Frosting:
1/2 cup butter
2 cups powdered sugar
1/2 tsp. vanilla
1/8 tsp. ground nutmeg
dash of salt
1-2 Tbsp. buttermilk

In saucepan, heat 1/4 cup butter over medium-low heat until lightly browned, about 8 minutes; cool.  In bowl beat 1/4 cup softened butter with mier on medium 30 seconds.  Add cooled brown butter; beat until combined.  Add powdered sugar, vanilla, nutmeg, and dash of salt.  Beat in 1-2 Tbsp. buttermilk until spreadable.  Use immediately.  If frosting begins to set up, stir in a small amount of boiling water.