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Caramel Apple Pie Cupcakes

October 20, 2011 17 Comments

So, Sheryl over at Lady Behind the Curtain has started hosting a monthly Improv Cooking Challenge on her blog. The idea is that two ingredients will be assigned each month, and every participant is supposed to create something delicious with those ingredients. This is my first time being invited to do something like this, and I’m super excited — I think it’s going to be a lot of fun! I can’t wait to see what everyone comes up with.

This month’s ingredients = caramel + apple. Caramel and apples are two ingredients that go together so well, and are paired in dishes all the time, but I was seriously stumped for a while about what to do. I thought about making caramel candied apples, but that seemed boring, and just a little too literal. So, I headed online to search for inspiration, and finally narrowed my choices down to three recipes: caramel apple tarts, gooey caramel apple cookies, or caramel apple pie cupcakes. They all looked and sounded great, but in the end, I settled on cupcakes because the recipe seemed so intriguing — cinnamon-y cupcakes stuffed with apple pie filling, topped with creamy frosting, and drizzled with caramel sauce. Mmm…

In the original recipe, these cupcakes were topped with a buttercream frosting; however, after looking at my fridge full of banana cake and whoopie pies, I decided there was enough butter-based frosting in my life for now. Instead, I topped my cupcakes with whipped cream for a slightly lighter, airy-er treat.  The result was that these cupcakes tasted kind of like warm apple pie served with whipped cream and melted caramel sauce.

I love apple pie, so I was surprised to find that I wasn’t crazy about these cupcakes. The cakes were soft and cinnamon-y, the filling was thick and sweet, and the whipped cream frosting just melted in my mouth, but…I would have preferred a stronger apple flavor overall. On the other hand, Dan loved these cupcakes — he came home from work and inhaled six in a row. He thought the apple flavor was just right, and especially loved the surprise pie-filling center. In his words, “they’re just so light and fluffy, and easy to eat.” So, maybe it’s just me. But, I’d still like to see what happens if I add apple sauce to the batter and making my own filling. Next time!

The Improve Cooking Challenge

Click here to enter your link and view this Linky Tools list…

Caramel Apple Pie Cupcakes (Adapted from the Craving Chronicles recipe)

Ingredients:
(Cupcakes)
– 1 cup milk
– 1 stick butter
– 2 cups all purpose flour
– 2 teaspoons baking powder
– 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
– 1 pinch nutmeg
– 1 pinch ginger
– 1/2 teaspoon salt
– 4 large eggs
– 1-1/2 cups sugar
– 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

(Filling)
– 2 cups store bought apple pie filling

(Frosting)
– 2 cups heavy cream
– 3 to 4 tbsp powdered sugar
– 1/2 cup caramel sauce (store bought)

Steps:
(1) Preheat oven to 350. Line two muffin tins with cupcake liners
(2) Heat milk and butter in a small saucepan over medium heat until butter melts. Remove from heat.
(3) In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, cinnamon and salt.
(4) In a separate, large bowl, beat eggs and sugar until thick ribbons form, about 5 minutes. Add dry ingredients and mix until just until incorporated.
(5) Add milk mixture and vanilla, then mix until blended.
(6) Divide evenly among baking tins, about 1/4 cup per tin.
** The original recipe said this should make 24 cupcakes…I somehow only had enough batter for 20.
(7) Bake for 16-18 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean. Cool in pans for 5 minutes, then transfer to wire racks to cool completely.
(8) When cupcakes are cool, use a cupcake corer or spoon to scoop a hole out of the center of each cupcake. Fill each hole with as much apple pie filling as it can handle.
** I used about 1-1/2 tsp filling per cupcake.
(9) Using an electric mixer, beat whip cream and powdered sugar until stiff peaks form. Transfer into a piping bag with star tip, and frost each cupcake.
** I don’t like my whipped cream to be too sweet, so I don’t use a ton of powdered sugar. You should add more or less based on your own personal tastes.
(10) Dip a fork into your caramel sauce, and drizzle caramel on top of each cupcake. The more the better!
(11) Serve and enjoy!

For other great dessert ideas, click here or here.

  

You may also like:

  • Apple Cider Cocktail…and a GIVEAWAY! {GIVEAWAY CLOSED}
  • Chocolate Dream Cupcake Bites with Whipped Chocolate Frosting
  • Fresh Strawberry Pie

Filed Under: Apples, Autumn, Cake, Cupcake, Dessert, Frosting, Fruit, Kid-Friendly, Pies Tagged With: apple treat, cupcakes, pie

Comments

  1. The Outlaw Mom says

    October 20, 2011 at 9:58 am

    I was drawn in by the photo in the linky and these look so scrumptious! Just reading the ingredients is making my mouth water. I’ll probably try these for Thanksgiving! Thanks for sharing 🙂

    Reply
    • justputzing says

      October 20, 2011 at 10:21 am

      Thanks 🙂

      Reply
  2. Lindy@ItsyBitsyPaper says

    October 21, 2011 at 8:23 am

    I featured this recipe on Fun Friday Finds today. I hope you can stop by and grab a featured button.

    http://www.itsybitsypaperblog.com/2011/10/funfridayfinds-caramel-apple-recipes.html

    Reply
    • justputzing says

      October 21, 2011 at 10:06 am

      Thank you! I have grabbed a button 🙂

      Reply
  3. Patty says

    October 21, 2011 at 12:14 pm

    Beautiful cupcakes & they look delicious! I made the Caramel Apple Scones.

    Reply
  4. Pup Fan says

    October 21, 2011 at 3:23 pm

    Drool… these look fab!

    Reply
    • justputzing says

      October 21, 2011 at 4:39 pm

      Thanks! Your trifle looks delicious too 🙂

      Reply
  5. Rebekah says

    October 22, 2011 at 10:05 am

    YUM! Your photos are amazing!

    Reply
    • justputzing says

      October 22, 2011 at 10:51 am

      Thank you!

      Reply
  6. Kim McCallie says

    October 22, 2011 at 6:32 pm

    These cupcakes look amazing! I love caramel and apples together. I’d like to invite you to share your recipe on Sweet Indulgences Sunday.

    http://www.wellseasonedlife.com/2011/10/sweet-indulgences-sunday-27.html

    Reply
  7. BreAna {Sugar & Spice & All Things Iced} says

    October 24, 2011 at 7:12 pm

    Amazing! What a fun idea for this month’s challenge! I love cupcakes and I’ll definitely have to try these sometime!

    Reply
    • justputzing says

      October 24, 2011 at 7:18 pm

      Thanks! I love your caramel apple pie popcorn idea too — such a creative twist on a classic favorite 🙂

      Reply
  8. Desi says

    October 26, 2011 at 1:57 pm

    Gorgeous! Sorry to hear you didn’t like them as much. They sure are pretty 🙂

    http://steaknpotatoeskindagurl.blogspot.com/2011/10/caramel-apple-marshmallow-dip-improv.html

    Reply

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Hi! I'm Tina - D.C. based attorney, lover of reality and food-related television, stress-eater, and unabashed fantasy/sci-fi dork. Read More…

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