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    Home » Dessert Recipes » Cupcake Recipes

    Published: Aug 6, 2021 · Modified: Sep 6, 2023 by Renée · This post may contain affiliate links · 23 Comments

    Caramel Apple Cupcakes

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    Jump to Recipe
    A closeup vertical image of Caramel Apple Cupcakes with stems, leaves, and chopped pecans.
    A two image vertical collage along with a cute title text overlay graphic for Caramel Apple Cupcakes.

    Caramel Apple Cupcakes are my fun and delicious take on apples growing on a tree, complete with a stem, leaves, and (in a perfect world) a thick caramel coating.

    A vertical closeup photo of a bunch of Caramel Apple Cupcakes dripping with a thick caramel sauce and chopped pecans.

    Caramel Apple Cupcakes are sure to be a hit whenever you serve them. You'd better make extra because they'll disappear quickly.

    Jump to:
    • The ingredient list:
    • Kitchen tools and equipment needed:
    • How this recipe came to be:
    • Why this recipe works:
    • How many cupcakes does this recipe make?
    • How long will these taffy apple cupcakes take to make from start to finish?
    • Can store-bought caramel sauce be used for this recipe?
    • Looking for the best homemade caramel sauce recipes?
    • Can these cupcakes be frozen after baking?
    • How to freeze cupcakes:
    • What type of stems and leaves are shown on these cupcakes?
    • What can be used in place of garden stems and leaves?
    • Can these cupcakes be served without the decorative garnish?
    • The step-by-step photo instructions for making caramel apple cupcakes:
    • Additional apple dessert recipes you'll enjoy:
    • Printable Recipe Card

    Subscribe to my Kudos Kitchen channel on YouTube. See you there!!
    A vertical closeup of caramel topped Caramel Apple Cupcakes with stems, leaves, and chopped pecans.

    The ingredient list:

    **Note - The following lists of ingredients plus kitchen tools and equipment contain affiliate links (highlighted in blue) for your consideration and shopping convenience. #CommissionsEarned

    • all-purpose flour
    • brown sugar
    • granulated sugar
    • baking powder
    • baking soda
    • salt
    • ground cinnamon
    • ground nutmeg
    • butter, melted
    • eggs
    • milk
    • Granny Smith apples
    • chopped, toasted, pecans
    • prepared caramel sauce (store-bought or homemade)

    Kitchen tools and equipment needed:

    • vegetable peeler
    • cutting board
    • chef's knife
    • medium skillet (for toasting the pecans)
    • nut chopper (optional)
    • mixing bowls (if using hand mixer)
    • measuring cups and spoons
    • hand mixer or stand mixer
    • cupcake tins
    • plastic wrap
    • whisk
    • spatula
    • large batter scoop
    • baking spray
    • stems or twigs with leaves (optional) (I used weigela stems)
    Shop my recommended products at the Kudos Kitchen Store on Amazon

    How this recipe came to be:

    With autumn now upon us, when you walk into any grocery store you spot caramel apples.

    Here in the Midwest, they call them Affy Tapples and they've been a fall staple for as long as I can remember!

    It was in seeing those apples again this fall that I was inspired to come up with my own version of the Affy Tapple...only in cupcake form.

    Why this recipe works:

    1. It's got terrific apple flavor.
    2. The cupcakes are nice and moist.
    3. They're decorative as well as delicious.
    4. They're easy to make.
    5. Even a novice baker will be successful making these caramel apple cupcakes.
    6. They're a fun and unique way to serve cupcakes.

    How many cupcakes does this recipe make?

    This recipe makes 20 standard-size cupcakes.

    How long will these taffy apple cupcakes take to make from start to finish?

    Just shy of 1 hour.

    Approximately 20 minutes to prepare, and 30 minutes to bake.

    A closeup horizontal photo of Caramel Apple Cupcakes topped with chopped pecans all lined up on a wooden board.

    Can store-bought caramel sauce be used for this recipe?

    Yep! That's what I used in 2013.

    However, homemade is always preferred.

    So, if you have the time, why not make it from scratch?

    Looking for the best homemade caramel sauce recipes?

    Great!

    I've got you covered with the following:

    • Jenni Field's Pastry Chef Online (my choice)
    • Sally's Baking Addiction
    • Fifteen Spatulas
    • Life, Love, and Sugar
    • Bellyfull

    Can these cupcakes be frozen after baking?

    Sure thing.

    However, I'd suggest freezing them before adding the caramel sauce. Then once thawed, add the caramel sauce and the decorative details (if desired).

    How to freeze cupcakes:

    Store the plain cupcakes in a single layer in air-tight containers for up to 2 months.

    Thaw the cupcakes at room temperature and then decorate with the caramel sauce, chopped pecans, and twigs and leaves (if using) shortly before serving.

    What type of stems and leaves are shown on these cupcakes?

    I used weigela stems from out of our backyard.

    Look around your yard and I'm sure you'll find stems and leaves you can use as well.

    Just make sure to wrap the stems well with plastic wrap before inserting them into the cupcakes.

    *Note - remember to remove the stems before eating the cupcakes.

    What can be used in place of garden stems and leaves?

    Feel free to use popsicle sticks, or even plastic greenery from the craft store will work wonderfully well.

    Get creative!

    You can even cut and glue construction paper leaves to the popsicle sticks if needed.

    Can these cupcakes be served without the decorative garnish?

    Of course!!

    They'll be just as delicious without the decorative stems and leaves. You have my word on it!

    The step-by-step photo instructions for making caramel apple cupcakes:

    • Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
    • Prepare the muffin pans with a healthy dose of cooking spray and set them aside (no muffin liners required).
    • In a dry skillet, toast the pecans over low heat until you just start to smell them, stirring occasionally. Set aside to cool while you prepare the batter.
    • In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, brown sugar, granulated sugar, baking soda, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg.
    • Make a well in the center of the dry ingredients and add melted butter, eggs, and milk.
    • Blend on medium speed until all the ingredients are blended and incorporated, making sure to scrape down the sides of the bowl.
    • Using a spatula or wooden spoon, stir in most of the toasted pecans (reserve some for topping) and all the peeled, diced apples.
    • Spoon the batter into the prepared muffin tins making sure that they're at least ¾'s of the way full.
    • Bake for approximately 20 minutes in the preheated oven or until a toothpick interested in the center comes out clean.
    • Cool the cupcakes in the pan for about 15 minutes and then remove the cupcakes from the pan and allow them to cool completely on a wire rack.
    • In the meantime, scout out some twigs with leaves out in nature. *Note - I used weigela twigs that I cut from some bushes in my backyard. I also removed the bottom leaves from the twigs making sure just to leave the top few leaves in order to mimic a long apple stem with leaves. I did do some research to find out if these bushes were poisonous (they're not), but as a precaution, I made sure to wrap the bottom of each stem with plastic wrap. MAKE SURE YOU DO THIS STEP WITH WHATEVER STEMS YOU USE
    • Once the cupcakes have cooled and you've found and prepared your stems, place the jars of caramel sauce in a low microwave oven to soften the sauce and make it spoonable (this will only take a few seconds).
    • Now you're ready to spoon the caramel sauce liberally over each cupcake, making sure to let the sauce drip down the sides of the cupcakes.
    • Top each cupcake with the additional toasted pecans you've reserved and insert a prepared stem (plastic side down) into each cupcake.

    Additional apple dessert recipes you'll enjoy:

    *Apple Pie Wedges (shown below and featured in the video)

    You’re going to love how easy and delicious these apple pie wedges are to make…and eat. With store-bought or homemade pie crust, apple pie wedges are utterly delicious!!

    Apple Pie Wedges lined up on a blue scalloped plate

    *Apple Crumble Crostata (not shown)

    This Rustic Apple Crumble Crostata combines two of my family’s favorite apple desserts: an apple pie and apple crumble. It’s casual and rustic and yet it has a lot of flair.

    *Dutch Apple Cheesecake (shown below)

    A Dutch Apple Cheesecake is creamy and rich with a cinnamon sugar Dutch apple topping, and a sugar cone crumble crust! *Swoon*

    A whole Dutch Apple Cheesecake on a glass cake stand.

    *Fireball Apple Crisp (not shown)

    When you’re looking to ramp up your apple crisp game, look no further than this recipe for Fireball Apple Crisp. It’s soon to become your flaming desire! 😉

    *Caramel Apple Cupcakes (shown below) THIS IS THE PLACE!!

    A two image vertical collage along with a cute title text overlay graphic for Caramel Apple Cupcakes.

    When you make this recipe, and I hope you do, I'd appreciate it if you'd take a moment to leave a star rating on the recipe card and briefly comment on why you rated it as you did. FYI - Google appreciates recipe ratings and, in turn, will share my recipes with more people. Thank you so much!!

    Printable Recipe Card

    A wooden tray filled with Caramel Apple Cupcakes along with a stems, leaves, and chopped pecans.

    CARAMEL APPLE CUPCAKES

    Renee Goerger
    Caramel Apple Cupcakes are my fun and delicious take on apples growing on a tree, complete with a stem, leaves, and (in a perfect world) a thick caramel coating.
    5 from 5 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe Save recipe Saved Recipe!
    Prep Time 20 minutes mins
    Cook Time 30 minutes mins
    Total Time 50 minutes mins
    Course Dessert, dessert-cupcakes
    Servings 20 servings
    Calories 211 kcal

    Equipment

    • standard muffin tin
    • Mixing Bowls
    • measuring cups and spoons
    • baking spray
    • spatula
    • small skillet
    • nut chopper optional
    • apple peeler
    • plastic wrap optional
    • cutting board
    • chef's knife
    • hand mixer optional
    • stand mixer optional
    • large cookie scoop optional
    • cooling rack
    • kitchen timer optional

    Ingredients
     
     

    • 3 cups all-purpose flour
    • ¾ cup brown sugar
    • ¾ cup granulated sugar
    • ½ teaspoon baking soda
    • 1 tablespoon baking powder
    • 1 teaspoon salt
    • 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
    • ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
    • 2 sticks (16 tablespoons) butter melted
    • 2 large eggs beaten
    • 1 ¼ cups milk
    • 2 Granny Smith Apples peeled and diced
    • 1 ½ cups chopped pecans toasted (reserve some for topping)
    • Twigs with leaves*
    • plastic wrap to wrap around the base of the twigs
    • 2 jars prepared caramel sauce or 1½ cups homemade caramel sauce

    Instructions
     

    • -Preheat oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit (190 degrees Celsius)
    • -Prepare the muffin pans with a healthy dose of cooking spray and set them aside (no muffin liners required).
    • -In a dry skillet, toast the pecans over low heat until you just start to smell them, stirring occasionally. Set aside to cool while you prepare the batter.
    • -In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, brown sugar, granulated sugar, baking soda, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg.
    • -Make a well in the center of the dry ingredients and add melted butter, eggs, and milk.
    • -Blend on medium speed until all the ingredients are blended and incorporated, making sure to scrape down the sides of the bowl.
    • -Using a spatula or wooden spoon, stir in most of the toasted pecans (reserve some for topping) and all the peeled, diced apples.
    • -Spoon the batter into the prepared muffin tins making sure that they're at least ¾'s of the way full.
    • -Bake for approximately 20 minutes in the preheated oven or until a toothpick interested in the center comes out clean.
    • -Cool the cupcakes in the pan for about 15 minutes and then remove the cupcakes from the pan and allow them to cool completely on a wire rack.
    • -In the meantime, scout out some twigs with leaves out in nature. *Note - I used weigela twigs that I cut from some bushes in my backyard. I also removed the bottom leaves from the twigs making sure just to leave the top few leaves in order to mimic a long apple stem with leaves. I did do some research to find out if these bushes were poisonous (they're not), but as a precaution, I made sure to wrap the bottom of each stem with plastic wrap. **MAKE SURE YOU DO THIS STEP WITH WHATEVER STEMS YOU USE**
    • -Once the cupcakes have cooled and you've found and prepared your stems, place the jars of caramel sauce in a low microwave oven to soften the sauce and make it spoonable (this will only take a few seconds).
    • -Now you're ready to spoon the caramel sauce liberally over each cupcake, making sure to let the sauce drip down the sides of the cupcakes.
    • -Top each cupcake with the additional toasted pecans you've reserved and insert a prepared stem (plastic side down) into each cupcake.

    Notes

    Store any leftovers wrapped well at room temperature for up to 3 days.
    Cupcakes may be frozen, wrapped well, for up to 3 months.
     

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1servingCalories: 211kcalCarbohydrates: 35gProtein: 4gFat: 7gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 4gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 20mgSodium: 162mgPotassium: 173mgFiber: 2gSugar: 19gVitamin A: 60IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 65mgIron: 1mg
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

    I sincerely hope you've enjoyed today's Caramel Apple Cupcake recipe as much as I've enjoyed bringing it to you!

    A lineup of Caramel Apple Cupcakes on a wooden board with dripping caramel, and chopped pecans.

    Follow me across my social media platforms and join in on the conversation: FACEBOOK, INSTAGRAM, PINTEREST, TIKTOK, AND YOUTUBE.

    Thank you so much for visiting me today in my Kudos Kitchen. I hope you found something you'll love and that you'll come back and visit me often. There is always room for you around my table!

    Should you have any questions or comments regarding anything you've seen here on my blog, please don't hesitate to reach out to me. It is always my distinct pleasure to respond to you just as soon as I possibly can.

    Until we eat again, I hope you have a delicious day!!

    Custom Renee Signature

    Jump to:
    • The ingredient list:
    • Kitchen tools and equipment needed:
    • How this recipe came to be:
    • Why this recipe works:
    • How many cupcakes does this recipe make?
    • How long will these taffy apple cupcakes take to make from start to finish?
    • Can store-bought caramel sauce be used for this recipe?
    • Looking for the best homemade caramel sauce recipes?
    • Can these cupcakes be frozen after baking?
    • How to freeze cupcakes:
    • What type of stems and leaves are shown on these cupcakes?
    • What can be used in place of garden stems and leaves?
    • Can these cupcakes be served without the decorative garnish?
    • The step-by-step photo instructions for making caramel apple cupcakes:
    • Additional apple dessert recipes you'll enjoy:
    • Printable Recipe Card
    Jump to:
    • The ingredient list:
    • Kitchen tools and equipment needed:
    • How this recipe came to be:
    • Why this recipe works:
    • How many cupcakes does this recipe make?
    • How long will these taffy apple cupcakes take to make from start to finish?
    • Can store-bought caramel sauce be used for this recipe?
    • Looking for the best homemade caramel sauce recipes?
    • Can these cupcakes be frozen after baking?
    • How to freeze cupcakes:
    • What type of stems and leaves are shown on these cupcakes?
    • What can be used in place of garden stems and leaves?
    • Can these cupcakes be served without the decorative garnish?
    • The step-by-step photo instructions for making caramel apple cupcakes:
    • Additional apple dessert recipes you'll enjoy:
    • Printable Recipe Card

    More Cupcake Recipes

    • A closeup of a Boston Cream Cupcake topped with chocolate ganache.
      Boston Cream Cupcakes
    • A tray of Chocolate Zucchini Muffins with Peanut Butter on the side along with a plate of muffins in the background.
      Chocolate Zucchini Muffins with Peanut Butter
    • Cute green chocolate mint brownie cupcakes on a plate with shamrocks on top.
      Chocolate Mint Brownie Cupcakes
    • Festive Holly Berry Chocolate Peppermint Cupcakes with Peppermint Buttercream Frosting - kudoskitchenbyrenee.com
      Holly Berry Chocolate Peppermint Cupcakes

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Jill Baird says

      August 15, 2021 at 10:18 am

      5 stars
      These are so adorable and delicious too! What a fun Falltime treat!

      Reply
      • Renée says

        August 27, 2021 at 7:33 am

        Thanks, Jill!!

        Reply
    2. Gina says

      August 15, 2021 at 8:23 am

      5 stars
      The cutest treat just perfect for making with my niece and nephew!

      Reply
      • Renée says

        August 27, 2021 at 7:34 am

        I'm sure they'll enjoy spending the time in the kitchen baking with you, Gina.
        Enjoy!!

        Reply
    3. Hanna says

      August 07, 2021 at 1:40 pm

      5 stars
      These could not be any cuter! What a fun apple recipe!

      Reply
      • Renée says

        August 07, 2021 at 1:49 pm

        Thanks, Hanna!

        Reply
    4. Gina says

      August 07, 2021 at 1:16 pm

      5 stars
      These are just the CUTEST fall treat and so delicious!

      Reply
      • Renée says

        August 07, 2021 at 1:49 pm

        Thank you!

        Reply
    5. Rebecca {foodie with family} says

      September 12, 2014 at 1:36 pm

      All you had to say was caramel apple cupcakes! YUM!

      Reply
    6. Nutmeg Nanny says

      September 08, 2014 at 2:48 am

      Oh my! These are adorable!!!

      Reply
    7. Kim Bee says

      September 06, 2014 at 2:04 am

      Very cool and very creative. I can never get enough apple recipes for the fall season.

      Reply
    8. Lana@NevrEnoughThyme says

      September 05, 2014 at 11:59 pm

      What a cute adaptation of caramel apples, Renee! Filing this one away for when the weather turns cooler.

      Reply
    9. Heather Schmitt-Gonzalez says

      September 05, 2014 at 10:42 pm

      Oh my gosh, these are so cute Renee! My kids would love them :).

      Reply
    10. The Food Hunter says

      September 05, 2014 at 3:30 pm

      I love the presentation

      Reply
    11. Angie Barrett says

      September 05, 2014 at 7:01 pm

      Ahhh, that is too cute! I mean THOSE are too cute! I love the twig idea!

      Reply
    12. Angela| Mind Over Batter says

      September 05, 2014 at 5:42 pm

      Oh, Mylanta - My heart is fluttering over these! Why, oh why can't I have these now?!

      Reply
    13. Amanda @the_kitcheneer says

      September 05, 2014 at 4:22 pm

      These are flippin adorable! Perfect for the fall season!

      Reply
    14. Brenda@SugarFreeMom says

      September 05, 2014 at 3:42 pm

      Cute cute cute! Perfect for the season!

      Reply
    15. Kim (Feed Me, Seymour) says

      September 05, 2014 at 3:10 pm

      You are a genius!

      Reply
    16. foody schmoody says

      September 05, 2014 at 3:10 pm

      What a great idea for a cupcake! oh and the presentation, super cute and creative!

      Reply
    17. thelazysuzan.com says

      October 15, 2013 at 7:19 pm

      Aah! Yes x 1,000,000!

      Reply
    18. Pam says

      September 13, 2013 at 3:23 pm

      These are simply darling and look so good - creative

      Reply
    19. Paula says

      September 10, 2013 at 10:51 am

      I loved your IG picture of these and I'm glad to see the recipe. Such a cute presentation Renee! Your version of Affy Tapples is wonderful with the spices, apples and pecans and oh that caramel!!!

      Reply

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    Hi, I'm Renee! I've been a passionate home cook for over 40 years. I specialize in easy-to-make comfort food dishes from appetizers to desserts and everything in between.

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