Apple Cinnamon Cupcakes
Our Apple Cinnamon Cupcakes recipe is the ultimate fall treat, combining the warm, comforting flavors of fresh apples and cinnamon in a soft, moist cupcake. Topped with a rich cinnamon cream cheese frosting, these cupcakes are perfect for any autumn occasion. Easy to make and even easier to enjoy, this recipe will quickly become a seasonal favorite. Discover how to make these delicious cupcakes and explore fun variations on 'Satisfy Your Cravings'!
Equipment
- Muffin Tin: A 12-cup muffin tin for baking the cupcakes.
- Cupcake Liners: Paper or silicone liners to line the muffin tin.
- Mixing Bowls: At least two mixing bowls – one for dry ingredients and one for wet ingredients.
- Electric Mixer: A hand mixer or stand mixer to cream the butter and sugar and mix the batter.
- Spatula: For scraping down the sides of the bowls and folding in the apples.
- Whisk: To mix the dry ingredients together.
- Measuring Cups and Spoons: For accurately measuring out your ingredients.
- Cooling Rack: To allow the cupcakes to cool completely before frosting.
- Piping Bag and Tip (optional): If you want to pipe the frosting onto the cupcakes in a decorative swirl.
- Paring Knife and Cutting Board: For peeling and finely chopping the apples.
- Spoon or Ice Cream Scoop: To evenly distribute the batter into the cupcake liners.
Ingredients
For the Cupcakes:
- 1 1/2 Cups All-purpose flour
- 1 Tsp Baking powder
- 1/2 Tsp Baking soda
- 1/2 Tsp Salt
- 1 Tsp Ground cinnamon
- 1/4 Tsp Ground nutmeg (optional for an extra spice kick)
- 1/2 Cup Unsalted butter, room temperature
- 1 Cup Granulated sugar
- 2 Large eggs, room temperature
- 1 Tsp Vanilla extract
- 1/2 Cup buttermilk, room temperature
- 1 1/2 Cups Peeled and finely chopped apples (Granny Smith or Honeycrisp work best)
For the Cinnamon Cream Cheese Frosting:
- 8 Oz Cream cheese, softened
- 1/2 Cup Unsalted butter, room temperature
- 3 Cups Powdered sugar
- 1 Tsp Ground cinnamon
- 1 Tsp Vanilla extract
- A pinch of salt
Instructions
- Prepare the Oven and Pans:Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a 12-cup muffin tin with cupcake liners.
- Mix Dry Ingredients:In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Set aside.
- Cream Butter and Sugar:In a large bowl, use an electric mixer to cream the butter and sugar together until light and fluffy, about 3-4 minutes. This step is crucial for achieving that perfect cupcake texture.
- Add Eggs and Vanilla:Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Mix in the vanilla extract.
- Alternate Adding Dry Ingredients and Buttermilk:Gradually add the dry ingredients to the butter mixture in three additions, alternating with the buttermilk. Start and end with the dry ingredients. Mix just until combined—overmixing can result in dense cupcakes.
- Fold in the Apples:Gently fold in the chopped apples until evenly distributed throughout the batter.
- Fill and Bake:Divide the batter evenly among the cupcake liners, filling each about ¾ full. Bake for 18-22 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
- Cool Completely:Allow the cupcakes to cool in the pan for 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
- Make the Frosting:While the cupcakes cool, prepare the frosting. In a large bowl, beat the cream cheese and butter together until smooth. Gradually add the powdered sugar, one cup at a time, beating on low until combined. Add the cinnamon, vanilla extract, and salt, and beat on high until light and fluffy.
- Frost the Cupcakes:Once the cupcakes are completely cool, frost them with the cinnamon cream cheese frosting. You can use a piping bag for a decorative swirl or simply spread it on with a spatula.