Apple Pie Cupcakes

My swim team has come to love my baking.  Not just love them, but request them.

It's actually kind of funny.  I actually kind of love it.  I love baking new recipes and having them decide whether it goes into the "bake again" pile or the "toss recipe" pile.  

I made these on Thursday night.  And apparently, they're the best things ever.  

So I'm sharing the recipe with you because, well, if I didn't that'd be mean, right?

Apple Pie Cupcakes

Recipe from Alpine Berry

You'll Need:

For the Cupcakes:

2 1/4 cups flour
2 1/4 tsp baking powder
1 tsp ground cinnamon *I added 1 Tbsp because I like cinnamon
1/4 tsp salt
2 sticks + 2 tbsp unsalted butter, softened at room temperature
1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
4 large eggs
1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract
1/2 tsp  lemon or orange zest *I used lemon
1 cup whole milk

For the apple topping:

3 tbsp unsalted butter *You could probably use 2 tbsp. I had to use paper towels to absorb some of the butter after they were cooked because there was way too much.

1/3 cup sugar

3 apples, peeled, cored, and sliced thinly

Cinnamon Frosting:

*I used a mixture of many recipes.  I've made frosting enough times to know how it should taste, so I kind of don't follow one recipe*

3 sticks softened butter 

1 1/2 cups confectioners sugar *I used 4-6 cups*

1/2 tsp. cinnamon *I used 1 tsp.*

*I added 2 tbsp. milk*

To make the apple topping:

1)  Over medium heat, place the butter and sugar in a pan.  Stir to dissolve the sugar.  Add the sliced apples and cook for up to 10 minutes, or until they are lightly caramelized.  

2)  Remove the apples from the pan.  Let them cool completely.  If you need to dab some of the butter of with a paper towel, that will help.

To make the cupcakes:

1)  Preheat the oven to 325 degrees.  The recipe says you'll be able to make 24 cupcakes, but I could only make 20, so line 20 cupcake muffin wells with liners.

2)  Mix flour, cinnamon, baking powder, and salt in a bowl.

3)  In a mixer, combine butter and sugar until fluffy.  Add eggs one at a time, beating after each egg is added.  Beat in vanilla and zest.

4)  On low speed, add flour mixture until it is just barely mixed.  Add milk and mix until just smooth.

5)  Divide batter into tins (about 2/3 of the way) and top with the sliced apples.

6)  Bake for 15-25 minutes, or until a test comes out clean.  

7)  Once done, let cool completely before frosting.

To make the icing:

1)  In the mixer, mix the butter until fluffy. 

2)  Add the sugar and cinnamon.  Add the sugar once cup at a time, and add the milk in between cups of sugar.  You may need to use more or less sugar depending on the consistency and how sweet you like it.

3)  Frost the cupcakes!

Enjoy!  These are amazing and taste just like an apple pie cupcake should!