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 since 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.
CARAMEL APPLE CUPCAKES {PRINT THIS RECIPE}
Yield: 20 Prep time: 20 minutes Bake time: 30
3 cups all purpose flour
3/4 cup brown sugar
3/4 cup granulated sugar
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 tablespoon baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
2 sticks butter, melted
2 eggs, beaten
1 1/4 cups milk
2 granny smith apples, peeled and diced
1 1/2 cups chopped, toasted pecans (reserve some for topping)
Twigs with leaves*
plastic wrap to wrap around the base of the twigs
2 jars prepared caramel sauce
-Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
-Prepare the muffin pans with a healthy dose of cooking spray and set 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. (I used a stand mixer bowl but you can use a large bowl with a hand mixer).
-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 3/4’s full.
-Bake for approximately 20 minutes in the preheated oven or until a toothpick interested into 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 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 just to soften the sauce and make in 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.
-You now have a delicious tray of caramel apple cupcakes that will be a terrific centerpiece for any buffet and a wonderful conversation starter!!!
I don’t know about you, but autumn is my absolute FAVORITE season!! Each and every year I look forward to all the fun fall baking, cooking and painting I can get my hands on!!! Cheers to that and cheers to you for coming to visit me and helping to celebrate this glorious time of year! I am so thankful for YOU!!!
Kudos Kitchen By Reneé ~ Where food and art collide on a regular basis!!!
I’m happily linking up this post to Inside BruCru Life – Time To Sparkle!
Thanks to Chef In Training – Tuesady Talent Show for the link party!
Until we bake again,
Welcome to my Kudos Kitchen.
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!!!
These are simply darling and look so good – creative
Aah! Yes x 1,000,000!
What a great idea for a cupcake! oh and the presentation, super cute and creative!
You are a genius!
I love the presentation
Cute cute cute! Perfect for the season!
These are flippin adorable! Perfect for the fall season!
Oh, Mylanta – My heart is fluttering over these! Why, oh why can't I have these now?!
Ahhh, that is too cute! I mean THOSE are too cute! I love the twig idea!
Oh my gosh, these are so cute Renee! My kids would love them :).
What a cute adaptation of caramel apples, Renee! Filing this one away for when the weather turns cooler.
Very cool and very creative. I can never get enough apple recipes for the fall season.
Oh my! These are adorable!!!
All you had to say was caramel apple cupcakes! YUM!
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