Chocolate Cupcakes with Salted Caramel Frosting

INGREDIENTS

2/3 cup

cocoa powder

1 tsp

baking soda

1 cup

boiling water

1/2 cup

butter (, melted)

1/3 cup

vegetable or canola oil

1 3/4 cups

granulated sugar

1 1/2 tsp

vanilla extract

3/4 tsp

salt

large eggs

large egg yolks

1/2 cup

heavy cream

1 3/4 cups

all-purpose flour

recipe Caramel Frosting (, recipe follows)

1 cup

salted butter (, at room temperature)

4 cups

powdered sugar

3/4 cup

Caramel Sauce (, recipe follows (cooled completely))

1 tsp

vanilla extract

1 tsp

coarse sea salt (, for sprinkling)

1 /2 cups granulated sugar

1/4 cup

+ 2 Tbsp water

6 tbsp

salted butter

1 cup

heavy cream