Apple Butter Cupcakes with Caramel Cream Cheese Frosting
Moist homemade cinnamon apple butter cupcakes topped off with caramel cream cheese frosting. A fun seasonal dessert!
Servings: 7 cupcakes
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