These apple pie cupcakes are a fun new take on a classic treat. They taste like a comforting apple pie but come in the form of a cupcake. The cake is moist and flavored with apples, and the frosting is creamy and salted caramel. This apple pie with a twist is great for fall or any time you want something warm, sweet, and slightly salty.
Ingredients: 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour. 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder. 1/2 teaspoon baking soda. 1/2 teaspoon salt. 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon. 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg. 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves. 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened. 3/4 cup granulated sugar. 2 large eggs. 1 teaspoon vanilla extract. 1 cup apples, peeled, cored, and finely chopped. 1/4 cup milk. For the Salted Caramel Buttercream Frosting:. 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened. 1 cup confectioners' sugar. 1/4 cup salted caramel sauce. 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract. 1/4 teaspoon salt. Additional salted caramel sauce for drizzling optional. Sliced apples and cinnamon for garnish optional.
Instructions: Warm up your oven to 350F 175C and put cupcake liners in a muffin tin. Mix the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves in a medium-sized bowl with a whisk. Put away. Melt the butter and mix it with the sugar in a separate large bowl until the mixture is light and fluffy. One at a time, add the eggs and beat well after each one. Add the vanilla extract and mix well. Slowly add the dry ingredients to the wet ones, mixing in the milk every so often. Mix the dry ingredients in at the beginning and end, until they are just combined. Add the chopped apples and mix them in well. Fill each muffin cup about two thirds of the way to the top with cupcake batter. After the oven is hot, bake the cupcakes for 18 to 20 minutes, or until a toothpick stuck in the middle comes out clean. After the cupcakes have cooled in the pan for a few minutes, move them to a wire rack to cool all the way down. To make the Salted Caramel Buttercream Frosting, soften the butter and beat it in a different bowl until it is smooth and creamy. Add the vanilla extract, salt, confectioners' sugar, and salted caramel sauce little by little. Beat until everything is well mixed and fluffy. You can use a piping bag or a spatula to frost the cupcakes with the Salted Caramel Buttercream Frosting once they are completely cool. For extra flavor, drizzle more salted caramel sauce over the frosted cupcakes. If you want, you can decorate them with sliced apples and a sprinkle of cinnamon. Serve your Apple Pie Cupcakes with Salted Caramel Buttercream Frosting and enjoy them!
