Spiced Apple Cider Caramel Cupcakes | Easy Fall Dessert
Cozy fall cupcakes made easy with boxed cake mix, apple cider, diced apples, and smooth cream cheese frosting and drizzled with caramel sauce.
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Servings: 18
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Ingredients
🛒Whole Serving Shortcuts
- 1 box cake mix (yellow or spice works best)
- 1 jar Nestlé milk-based caramel sauce
🌿Fresh Whole Foods
- 2 fresh apples peeled and diced
- 2 8 oz. blocks cream cheese, softened
- 3 fresh eggs
- 1 cup apple cider juice (replaces the water in cake mix directions) plus 1 tablespoon for frosting
🥫Pantry Staples
- ½ cup canola or vegetable oil
- 2 tsps ground cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- ½ teaspoon ground cardamom
- 2 tsps vanilla extract
- 1½ cups powdered sugar
Instructions
- Preheat & Prep: Preheat oven according to cake mix directions. Line a muffin pan with cupcake liners. Peel and dice the apples, place in a bowl and toss with 1 teaspoon of the ground cinnamon. Set aside for later.
- Mix the Batter: Place the boxed cake mix, apple cider, oil, eggs, vanilla extract, nutmeg, cardamom, and remaining cinnamon in the mixing bowl and mix until smooth.
- Mix in Apples: Fold in the diced apples to the batter using a spatula.
- Fill & Bake: Divide batter evenly into cupcake liners, filling ¾ full. Bake until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool completely.
- Make the Frosting: While the cupcakes are baking, use the whisk attachment on the stand mixer, whisk the softened cream cheese until smooth, add powdered sugar gradually, then blend in the apple cider and vanilla, until smooth.
- Frost the Cupcakes: After cupcakes have cooled, frost using an off-set spatula or use a piping bag and tip.
- Drizzle on Caramel: Drizzle frosted cupcakes with the caramel and serve, or store in a cool dry place until ready to serve.
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