Description
Moist apple cupcakes topped with a tangy cream cheese frosting.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 and 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
- 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
- 1/2 cup buttermilk
- 1 cup finely chopped peeled apples (about 1 medium apple)
- For the Cream Cheese Frosting:
- 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
- 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 cups powdered sugar
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a 12-cup muffin tin with paper liners.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves.
- In a large bowl, cream together the softened butter and granulated sugar until light and fluffy.
- Beat in the eggs one at a time, then stir in the vanilla extract.
- In a small bowl, whisk together the applesauce and buttermilk.
- Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, alternating with the applesauce mixture, beginning and ending with the dry ingredients. Mix until just combined.
- Gently fold in the chopped apples.
- Divide the batter evenly among the prepared muffin cups, filling each about two-thirds full.
- Bake for 18-22 minutes, or until a wooden skewer inserted into the center of a cupcake comes out clean.
- Let the cupcakes cool in the muffin tin for a few minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
- While the cupcakes cool, prepare the frosting. In a large bowl, beat the softened cream cheese and butter until smooth.
- Stir in the vanilla extract.
- Gradually add the powdered sugar, beating until the frosting is smooth and creamy.
- Once the cupcakes are completely cool, frost them generously with the cream cheese frosting.
Notes
- For extra flavor, you can add 1/4 cup of chopped walnuts or pecans to the batter.
- Ensure your cream cheese and butter are at room temperature for the smoothest frosting.
- You can use a stand mixer or a hand mixer for creaming the butter and sugar and for making the frosting.
- Prep Time: 20 min
- Cook Time: 20 min
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cupcake
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 45g
- Sodium: 150mg
- Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 11g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 48g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 4g
- Cholesterol: 60mg
Keywords: apple cupcakes, cream cheese frosting, homemade cupcakes, fall baking, dessert recipe