Salted Caramel Buttercream Frosting

a swirl of caramel buttercream frosting
Recipe Source: 

Ingredients

  •  6 Tbsp coconut sugar
  •  3 large egg whites
  • 1 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature
  • 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
  • 5 Tbsp agave caramel

Directions

  1. Combine coconut sugar with egg whites a heatproof bowl of a stand mixture and set over a pan of simmering water; whisk by hand until the mixture is warm and the sugar has dissolved, 2 to 3 minutes.
  2. Attach mixing bowl to a stand mixer fitted with a whisk attachment and beat, starting on low then increasing the speed to medium-high, until the mixture is thick, fluffy and glossy and completely cool, about 6 minutes.
  3. Reduce the speed to medium-low and add the butter, 1 tablespoon at a time, beating well after each addition. Add the vanilla and caramel and beat on medium high until the caramel is fully incorporated.
  4. Remove the bowl from the mixture and stir the frosting vigorously with a spatula to knock out some of the air and make sure all the caramel is fully mixed in. Let sit at room temperature if using the same day.

Here's the caramel...

You can make your own caramel for a truly from-scratch frosting!