Caramel Apple Cupcakes Recipe

I couldn’t help it, I’m ready to start fall baking, so I wanted to bake one of our favorite cupcakes. These Caramel Apple Cupcakes with Caramel Frosting not only taste amazing but fill my house with one of my favorite fall smells.   

I know isn’t fall yet, but the kids are in school, mornings are cooler, and it’s just a constant reminder of what’s right around the corner.  I tend to get a jump start on fall, because I’m so ready for it to start cooling off after a long hot summer and there’s nothing better than the beautiful fall scents that come from the oven.   

If you’re looking for an awesome cupcake recipe, then you can’t go wrong with apple cupcakes with caramel frosting!  I typically make everything from scratch, but wanted to try something new with both the apple cupcakes and caramel frosting.  I’m pretty happy with the results.  

Caramel Apple Cupcakes Recipe

You’ll need:

• 1 box white cake mix
• 1 can apple pie filling
• 1/2 teaspoon apple pie spice
• 1 Tablespoon Country Crock Spread (softened)
• 3 eggs

Let’s make your Caramel Apple Cupcakes

• Prepare cupcake pan with cupcake liners.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees
• Cup apple pieces into smaller pieces, then place them in a medium bowl and mix with electric mixer.  It will help mash everything together.  I used my KitchenAid mixer; it did an awesome job. 

• Add cake mix, spread, spice and eggs to the bowl of apple mixture and mix.
• Fill cupcake liners
• Bake for 12 to 14 minutes or until cupcakes are done.  To test use a toothpick, poke it into the center of the cupcake.  If it comes out clean, they’re finished.
• Remove from oven, allow to cool, and prepare your caramel frosting.

Let’s make these yummy caramel apple cupcakes:

I normally make caramel to put on the top of my cupcakes, but I had Country Crock in my fridge so I decided to make my own fluffy, yummy Caramal Frosting.  It’s so much faster than making caramel.  Plus, with four kids running around I think it’s safe to say making caramel frosting is safer lol.  I can’t count the number of times I’ve burned caramel or fudge because my kids start fighting or something lol. 

Caramel Frosting

I’ve made the caramel apple cupcakes 100 times, but I typically make my caramel topping.  Since I didn’t have everything I needed to make the caramel topping I decided to grab my container of Country Crock, brown sugar, and a few other ingredients and make my caramel frosting, which turned out AMAZING!   

• ½ cup of Country Crock Butter
• 1 Cup dark brown sugar
• 1/3 cup heavy cream
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 2 ½ cups powder sugar (sifted you may need to add a little more for stiffer frosting)

How to make caramel frosting:

• Once cupcakes are removed from the oven and cooling it’s time to start your frosting.  Your caramel frosting isn’t hard, let’s get started.
• In a medium saucepan melt butter, once melted add the brown sugar & heavy cream.  Allow to cook on medium until sugar is dissolved, stirring consistently. 

• Add salt and allow mixture to boil, on medium heat for 2 ½ to 3 minutes.  You’ll want to stir continuously. 
• Remove from heat, allow mixture to sit for about 10 minutes. 

• Using an electric mixer on medium slowly add in powdered sugar until you get the consistency you are looking for. (I always start by adding 1 1/2 cups of powder sugar and gradually adding more until I reach desired consistency.)

• Put frosting in a piping bag and pipe on frosting.
• Enjoy your yummy caramel apple cupcakes!

TIP: You can add more powdered sugar to help stiffen up your frosting but add extra powder sugar slowly and mix so you don’t overdo it.