The Best Ever Apple Pie Cupcakes

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These Apple Pie Cupcakes are perfect for this time of year and from the sponge, to the frosting, to the apple filling, they are finger licking good! 

When I created this recipe, I knew that I wanted to use the box Spice cake mix by Betty Crocker. I had saw it on the shelf last holiday season and I never got around to creating something with it then. When I think of a spice cake, I know that apples will always pair perfectly with the flavors in the cake. So, I decided to go that route and I could not have made a better decision. I love to give you all recipes that are easy and delicious and what is easier than a box cake mix? There are so many things you can do with box cake and really get more bang for your buck at the same time. 

I always doctor up my box cake mixes. Depending on what I am making I doctor them differently. For cupcakes, I keep it simple and add an extra egg, replace the water with milk, and replace the oil with double the amount of butter. I also always add in a teaspoon of some kind of extract. Whatever flavor I want to stand out is what I use. Vanilla box mixes are perfect to use to make fun cupcake and cake flavors but we will get into that another day. 

I wanted to have loads of apple flavor in these cupcakes so I used applesauce and I used real fresh apples. I made a homemade pie filling minus the cornstarch and used it in my cupcake batter and topped my cupcakes with it as well. These cupcakes are moist and soft and the flavors of the spice cake pair so well with the cinnamon cream cheese frosting and apples. Make these and share them with your loved ones every holiday or just eat them all yourself. Either way I know you will enjoy them! 

Ingredients in Apple Pie Cupcakes 

Spice Cake Mix- I use the Betty Crocker brand in my recipe and it comes out moist and delicious! 

Milk- I use skim milk but feel free to use whole, 2 percent, or 1 percent. 

Butter- I use butter in my cake batter, buttercream, and in my apple filling as well. 

Eggs- The box says to add 3 eggs but I add in 4 eggs for a richer tasting cake. 

Vanilla Extract- I love vanilla extract! Makes almost everything so much better. 

Applesauce- I wanted an apple cupcake which means I needed to incorporate that apple flavor more into the cake batter which is why I went with applesauce and I used apple flavored applesauce not the cinnamon one because the cake batter has enough spice already. 

Cream Cheese- I make a delicious cinnamon cream cheese buttercream to pair with these cupcakes that makes them perfect! 

Powdered Sugar- I use this to sweeten the cinnamon cream cheese buttercream. 

Clear Vanilla Extract- I use clear vanilla extract in my frosting recipes because clear vanilla extract has a slightly different taste than pure vanilla extract. It has the perfect frosting/birthday cake taste. 

Ground Cinnamon- I use this in my cinnamon cream cheese buttercream of course! 

Salt- Salt is essential to balancing the flavors of recipes and in my opinion brings all of the flavors together! 

Tips for Making Apple Pie Cupcakes 

• Fill your cupcake liners about ¾ of the way full so that the cupcakes bake up with nice flat tops. They will sink down some after baking in the oven so do not be alarmed if they look huge in the oven. 

• Bake your cupcakes until a toothpick inserted in the middle of them comes out with only a few moist crumbs so that they don’t come out dry. 

• This recipe makes about 24 cupcakes but if you only need a dozen then you can always freeze the leftover cake batter or cut the recipe in half and use half of the cake mix at a later date. 

• Make sure to let your cupcakes completely cool before adding frosting on top so that the frosting does not melt. 

How to Make Apple Pie Cupcakes 

1. Peel and dice the apples. 

2. In a medium saucepan, add the diced apples and the rest of the apple filling ingredients and cook over medium heat. 

3. Continue to stir everything together until completely combined and bring to a simmer. 

4. Once the apples are fork tender remove them from the heat. 

5. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.  

6. In a large mixing bowl, mix all of your cake ingredients together with a hand mixer or stand mixer.  

7. Place your cupcake liners in your cupcake pan and fill each liner ¾ of the way full. 

8. Add some of the apple filling to each filled cupcake liner. 

9. Bake in the oven for about 15 mins or until a toothpick inserted comes out with a few moist crumbs. 

10. In a separate mixing bowl, cream together your frosting butter and cream cheese. 

11. Mix in powdered sugar one cup at a time. 

12. Mix the cinnamon, salt, and vanilla extract in. 

13. Once your cupcakes are completely cooled, pipe a ring of frosting around each cupcake. 

14. Fill each ring of frosting with more apple filling. 

15. Enjoy!