Tag: apple cider cupcakes

Apple Cider Cupcakes with Caramel Buttercream

spicedapplecupcakesLet’s talk about fall spice mixes for a minute. Thrilling stuff, I know. Pumpkin spice is on every menu right now, and it’s a blend of cinnamon, ginger, allspice, nutmeg, and cloves. Its cousin, apple pie spice, has everything but the ginger. You can buy spice mixes or make your own and naturally, I make my own.

These cupcakes use apple pie spice instead of just cinnamon, along with apple cider and a caramel buttercream. I thought the caramel/apple combination would work well, and they taste just fine – but they’re not exactly what I wanted. Next time, I’ll go with a cinnamon buttercream instead, or apple pie spice buttercream. We’ll see.

Ingredients

For the cupcakes

  • 2 cups flour
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon apple pie spice
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 8 tablespoons butter, softened
  • 2/3 cup sugar
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 cup apple cider

For the frosting

  • 12 tablespoons butter
  • 2 1/2 cups powdered sugar
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 4 tablespoons salted caramel sauce
  • Apple chips, for garnish

Preparation

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line two cupcake tins with paper liners; this recipe makes 18 cupcakes.

In a medium bowl, stir together flour, baking powder, apple pie spice, and salt; set aside. In a mixer, cream together butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add vanilla and apple cider and beat on low to combine, then stir in flour mixture.

Using a two-inch cookie scoop, fill cupcake wells about 2/3 full with batter. Bake for 17-20 minutes, until a cake tester comes out clean. Remove from oven and remove cupcakes from tins; cool on a wire rack before frosting.

To make frosting, beat butter and powdered sugar on low speed until all of the sugar is incorporated into the butter. Add vanilla and caramel sauce and beat to completely combine. Fit a large piping bag with a large open start tip (I use the Wilton 1M) and pipe swirls of frosting onto cupcakes. Garnish with an apple chip.

Apple Cider Cupcakes

apple cider cupcakesApples are cultivated throughout the world, from the United States to Italy to India. There are literally thousands of different cultivars of apples, ranging in color, flavor, texture, and usage. For the same kind of fruit, it’s pretty amazing to think about how different each apple can taste from the next, from a tart Granny Smith to a sweet Honey Crisp. I’m a fan of the Rome, Gala, and Golden Delicious varieties, but I always prefer to bake with a blend of sweet and tart apples in pies.

To me, apple cider is like apple juice’s tangy sibling, and I’ve seen it in a variety of recipes lately, mostly for doughnuts. I came across this cupcake recipe on Pinterest, though the original was paired with a caramel buttercream. I’ve frosted these cupcakes with my traditional caramel frosting, but I have to admit: I think a simple glaze icing, or even just a sprinkling of sifted powdered sugar, would have been a better choice. The cupcakes themselves are light and spongy, and while the caramel flavor in the frosting pairs well with the spicy apple flavor in the cupcakes, it’s a bit denser than necessary. Next time, I’ll likely opt for a different frosting, if I frost them at all.

Ingredients

  • 1 2/3 cups flour
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 8 tablespoons butter, at room temperature
  • 2/3 cup sugar
  • 2 eggs, at room temperature
  • 1 cup apple cider

Preparation

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Line one 12-count cupcake tin with paper liners.

In a small bowl, sift together flour, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt; set aside.

In a mixing bowl, cream together butter and sugar until light and fluffy.

Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Scrape the bowl frequently.

Add flour mixture and cider alternatively, in thirds, beating until just combined after each addition and ending with the flour.

Scoop batter into prepared tin, filling cups about 3/4 full.

Bake for 20-22 minutes, until a cake tester comes out clean.

Cool completely before frosting or serve plain. These cupcakes are tasty enough on their own!