Moist homemade cinnamon apple butter cupcakes topped off with caramel cream cheese frosting. A fun seasonal dessert!

Moist apple butter cupcakes with caramel cream cheese frosting recipe from @bakedbyrachel

I love Fall, but I kind of have a love/hate relationship with September sometimes. It’s my favorite time of year. Okay, okay… it’s technically not Fall yet, but close enough. I think most people consider post-Labor Day to be Fall or rather, Labor Day weekend to be the end of Summer. Anyway… September… I’ve always loved it. Always. And, I always will. But these days it’s especially busy, not just because it’s back to school season. There is that though, which comes with the usual back to school nights and meetings. But we have birthdays, an anniversary, and multiple days of sports. It’s officially the busy season. A huge contrast from our days of Summer vacation. Oh to enjoy a few more of those days!

Book update… I’ve officially given up on “The Last Letter From Your Lover.” I struggled to get into this book. I honestly had high hopes since I loved “Me Before you.” I guess they can’t all be winners! Have you ready anything amazing lately?

I’m currently having an inner debate over whether or not to set our Keurig back up. I put it in the basement once the weather warmed up. I wanted my counter space back and it was taking up too much space. I don’t like items that take up a ton of space, especially when they’re not used daily AND when they don’t even always work. The only reason I’m even debating on setting it back up, at least temporarily, is to enjoy warm drinks on cold days when we have to be outside for extended times…plus, we still have k-cups to use and it feels like a waste to toss them instead of using them.

Moist apple butter cupcakes with caramel cream cheese frosting recipe from @bakedbyrachel

These cupcakes basically scream Fall and they’re definitely one of my favorite apple cupcakes so far. I can’t get enough apple recipes!

Classic Fall flavors… Apples. Cinnamon. Caramel. What’s not to love?!

Moist cupcakes, flavored with homemade cinnamon apple butter and topped off with sweet caramel cream cheese frosting!

This recipe makes a perfect seven cupcakes. But if you need more, simply increase the ingredients to your reach your desired number!

Be sure to add these apple butter cupcakes to your Fall baking plans! Everyone is guaranteed to love these fun seasonal cupcakes! A perfect treat for any celebration or just because!

Moist apple butter cupcakes with caramel cream cheese frosting recipe from @bakedbyrachel

Moist apple butter cupcakes with caramel cream cheese frosting recipe from @bakedbyrachel
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Apple Butter Cupcakes with Caramel Cream Cheese Frosting

Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 25 minutes
Yield: 7 cupcakes
Moist homemade cinnamon apple butter cupcakes topped off with caramel cream cheese frosting. A fun seasonal dessert!

Ingredients
 

Cupcakes:

  • 1/4 C unsalted butter, softened
  • 1/4 C granulated sugar
  • 1/4 C light brown sugar
  • 1 large egg
  • 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1/2 tsp cinnamon
  • 1/2 tsp baking soda
  • 1/4 tsp baking powder
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  • 1 C all purpose flour
  • 1/2 C cinnamon apple butter

Frosting:

  • 6 oz cream cheese, softened
  • 1/4 C unsalted butter, softened
  • 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
  • 3 Tb caramel sauce, room temperature
  • 4 C powdered sugar
  • Caramel squares for topping

Instructions
 

  • Preheat oven to 350°F. Prepare a cupcake pan with 7 paper liners. 
  • In a large bowl or stand mixer, cream together butter and sugars until light and fluffy. Mix in egg and vanilla, scraping the bowl as needed. Mix in cinnamon, baking soda, baking powder and salt, followed by flour. Mix until smooth and well combined. Finally, mix in apple butter, mixing until fully combined and no streaks remain. Use a large cookie scoop to divide the batter equally between 7 liners, roughly 3/4 full.
  • Bake for 20-22 minutes or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean. Cool in pan for 2-3 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
  • In a large bowl or stand mixer, beat cream cheese for 30 seconds before adding butter. Beat together until light and fluffy. Add vanilla, followed by 1 cup of powdered sugar at a time until fully incorporated. Add 1 tablespoon of caramel sauce at a time, beating well between additions. Transfer frosting to a large piping bag fit with desired piping tip*. Pipe frosting onto cooled cupcakes. Top off with caramel squares. 
  • Store in an airtight container or in the refrigerator. 

Notes

*Thick caramel sauce should be used, not caramel dessert syrup topping.
*A jumbo open star piping tip was used for this recipe.
An original recipe from Baked by Rachel
Nutritional information is provided as a courtesy and is an estimate only. Nutrition information can vary for a variety of reasons. For the most accurate data, use your preferred nutrition calculator with the actual ingredients you used to make this recipe.
Did you make this recipe?I'd love to see it! Snap a picture and tag @bakedbyrachel on Instagram!
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Keywords: Cupcake

Items used in this recipe:

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Moist apple butter cupcakes with caramel cream cheese frosting recipe from @bakedbyrachel