Caramel apple pie cupcakes are the perfect seasonal dessert!
Well, now that we got that streak of 75 degree weather out of the way, we are strapping in for all the holiday recipes. Yes, we love sunshine but we also love cold, snowy days where you are forced to stay cozy inside. WE WAIT ALL YEAR FOR THIS. There’s just something so special about the flavors of the holidays. Caramel, apple, gingerbread, pumpkin, turkey, mashed potatoes, corn casserole. mmmm. Delicious. and don’t even get us started on the colors and decorations. My (Lindsay) Christmas tree went up a the day after Halloween.
I tried to hold out. I said I wasn’t going to do it. I’d just put out a few trinkets. Hang some garland – but I would NOT put up the Christmas tree until at least the middle of November. Then, I went on social media and saw that other people were putting up their trees so I decided the hell with these unofficial Christmas rules! The tree makes me happy. So the tree is going up. Holiday decorations are also expensive…so I would like them up as long as possible.
Lauren and I worked in retail for a far too large chunk of our life (customer service is not our strong suit) where we were forced to listen to holiday music 8 hours a day and the complaints of the grumpies that would come into the store on Christmas Eve DEMANDING that the item they wanted be delivered by Christmas. Impossible by the way. Needless to say, our Christmas spirit was quickly sucked away.
Now that we have moved on in our careers to greener pastures, our spirit is coming back! Thank goodness! So let the holiday baking BEGIN!!!!!
Let’s start with our first recipe: Caramel Apple Pie Cupcakes
Oooooooooh..Aaaaaaahhhhh
What are Apple Pie Cupcakes?
So glad you asked! Apple cupcakes are only the greatest cupcake we’ve made all year. It’s a delicious apple filled cake, topped with a brown sugar cinnamon frosting and a healthy drizzle of sticky caramel.
It is literally an apple pie in cupcake form. There’s even a cute little pie crust hat on top of each one. SO CUTE.
Why do we love these?
Lets count the reasons, shall we?
- Just look at them. Real lookers we’ve got here.
- The cake is so moist (sorry) and filled with apple flavor.
- Anything with caramel on it tastes good.
- The pie crust toppers complete the pie flavor and add a nice presentation element to these bad boys.
- They are a perfect addition to your Thanksgiving spread.
- Did we mention they taste really good? Because they do.
Interested in more apple recipes? Try our apple butter pop tarts or our apple cider coffee cake donuts!
Apple Pie Cupcakes with Caramel
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups flour
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp ground ginger
- 1/2 tsp baking soda
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
- 1/4 cup vegetable oil
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 2 eggs
- 1/4 cup + 2 tbsp unsweetened applesauce
- 3/4 cup diced and peeled Granny Smith Apples
Brown Sugar Cinnamon Frosting
- 2 sticks unsalted butter room temp
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 3 cups powdered sugar
- 3-4 tbsp milk
Caramel
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 6 tbsp unsalted butter
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 1 tsp salt
Pie Crust Toppers
- Store bought pie crust or homemade pie crust
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees and line a cupcake tin with 12 liners.
- Stir together flour, baking powder, cinnamon, ginger, baking soda, nutmeg and salt in a bowl
- In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat together the oil and sugar for 2-3 minutes until light and fluffy. Add the eggs one at a time mixing well after each addition.
- Scrape down the sides of the bowl.
- Slowly add the bowl of dry ingredients to the stand mixer alternating with the applesauce. Mix until just incorporated. Stir in the apples.
- Evenly divide batter between liners.
- Bake for 18-20 minutes or until toothpick inserted comes out clean.
for the buttercream
- Beat the butter until light and fluffy. Add in the vanilla and cinnamon.
- Slowly add in the powdered sugar and brown sugar and beat until combined and fluffy. Add in milk a tablespoon at at time until desired consistency is reached.
For the caramel
- In a sauce pan, heat the sugar on medium low until completely melted. Stirring frequently so it doesn’t burn.
- Once melted remove from the heat and stir in the butter. Thie mixture will bubble and this is normal.
- Stir in the heavy cream and salt
- Allow too cool completely. It will thicken as it cools.
For the pie toppers
- Cut into desired shapes and follow the baking instructions on the package.
Assembly
- When cupcakes are cool pipe frosting on top of each one.
- Drizzle with caramel and top with pie crust cut out.