Apple Cinnamon Cupcakes
Oct 03, 2016, Updated May 07, 2023
Soft Apple Cupcakes topped with Cinnamon Buttercream frosting make the perfect fall dessert!
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Soft Apple Cinnamon Cupcakes are one of my favorite desserts to enjoy this fall. Delicious apple cupcakes are topped with a cinnamon buttercream making them perfect for the season!
Start of a new week, a new month and it’s also my birthday today! And since it is my birthday I had to share a cupcake recipe with you guys. It’s really surprising that I don’t share more cupcake recipes. I mean I love making cupcakes (so much more than making cakes!) but somehow they don’t end up on the blog. Trust me, I have made hundreds of cupcakes this year but they were mostly for charity or some other party and I never got around clicking pictures but these Apple Cinnamon Cupcakes I made exclusively to share with you guys. Because it’s fall and we can’t have enough of apple and cinnamon! These soft apple cupcakes are topped with a cinnamon buttercream frosting making them the perfect fall dessert!
So when I made these apple cinnamon cupcakes, I didn’t get them right the 1st time. I made 3 batches the same day till I got these right. My 1st batch of cupcakes was totally dense, flat and just plain ugly. At first I thought, maybe my leavening agents had expired but they were working fine. So to get the perfect batch, I reduced the amount of baking powder and removed the soda from the recipe. Lot of leavening agent in the batter was definitely a problem but they were still not perfect. The reason this time was heavy apple pieces, they were like weighing down the cupcakes. Either you grate apples for this recipe or chop them super fine and once I did that, voila my cupcakes were perfect! Also not overfilling the cupcake liners/pans is another trick to get the perfectly shaped cupcakes. I usually fill them 2/3rd full.
It can get annoying when you don’t get perfect cupcakes but at the same time it’s also fun to keep trying till you get it right. My husband thought I was crazy making 3 batches in one day. I agree that it’s challenging and the worst part is the amount of dishes you end up with after all these trails and errors. But at the same time, the satisfaction you get when you get the desired result is unmatched. Yes, my food blogging friends would definitely understand this! 🙂
The apple cupcakes are really soft and moist and actually taste great on it’s own. But of course since it’s fall and since I am a cinnamon addict, the cinnamon buttercream was just begging to happen. I added a lot of cinnamon powder in my cinnamon buttercream because I love it, if you don’t love cinnamon as much as I do simply cut down on it in the frosting.
Hope you guys give these apple cinnamon cupcakes a try this fall! I am sure you guys would love these as much as I did!
Method
In a bowl mix together flour, cinnamon powder, nutmeg powder, salt and baking powder. Set aside.
Using the paddle attachment of your stand mixer or using your hand mixer, cream together butter with both the sugars till smooth and creamy.
Add in the vanilla extract and eggs and beat till well combined.
Now add the flour mix in parts alternating with buttermilk. Add the flour in 3 parts and buttermilk in 2 parts, starting and ending with flour.
Mix till everything is combined but remember to not over-mix.
Fold in the finely chopped or grated apples. I chopped the apple very fine.
Transfer batter to the prepared muffin tray. I fill each liner 2/3 rd full. Bake the cupcakes at 350 F degrees for 17-20 minutes or till toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Mine were done in 17 minutes. Transfer the cupcakes onto a wire rack to cool completely.
While the cupcakes cool down make the cinnamon buttercream frosting. Using the paddle attachment of your stand mixer or using your hand mixer, beat butter till smooth and creamy. Start adding powdered sugar, 1/2 cup at a time, mixing well after each addition.
Add vanilla extract, cinnamon powder and heavy cream and mix to combine. Beat everything together till frosting is completely smooth and creamy.
Once the cupcakes have cooled down, frost them with the prepared frosting and enjoy these apple cinnamon cupcakes!
* Remember to chop the apples very fine or you can also grate them before adding to the batter.
* Adjust the quantity of cinnamon powder in the frosting according to taste.
* Adjust the consistency of frosting according to preference. If you want to spread this on a cake, add more heavy cream. I recommend starting with 1 tablespoon heavy cream
Apple Cinnamon Cupcakes
Ingredients
Apple Cupcakes
- 1 1/4 cups all purpose flour
- 1 1/4 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg powder
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon powder
- 6 tablespoons unsalted butter at room temperature
- 1/2 cup granulated white sugar
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 2 large eggs at room temperature
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup buttermilk
- 1.5 cups very finely chopped apple [from 1 apple]
Cinnamon Buttercream
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter at room temperature [1 stick]
- 1.5-2 cups powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 2 tablespoons heavy cream
- 2 teaspoons cinnamon powder
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 F degrees. Line a 12 count muffin tray with cupcake liners or spray with a non-stick spray and set aside.
- In a bowl mix together flour, cinnamon powder, nutmeg powder, salt and baking powder. Set aside.
Cupcakes
- Using the paddle attachment of your stand mixer or using your hand mixer, cream together butter with both the sugars till smooth and creamy.
- Add in the vanilla extract and eggs and beat till well combined.
- Now add the flour mix in parts alternating with buttermilk. Add the flour in 3 parts and buttermilk in 2 parts, starting and ending with flour.
- Mix till everything is combined but remember to not over-mix. Fold in the finely chopped or grated apples.
- Transfer batter to the prepared muffin tray. I fill each liner 2/3 rd full.
- Bake the cupcakes at 350 F degrees for 17-20 minutes or till toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Mine were done in 17 minutes.
- Transfer the cupcakes onto a wire rack to cool completely.
Cinnamon Buttercream
- While the cupcakes cool down make the cinnamon buttercream frosting. Using the paddle attachment of your stand mixer or using your hand mixer, beat butter till smooth and creamy.
- Start adding powdered sugar, 1/2 cup at a time, mixing well after each addition.
- Add vanilla extract, cinnamon powder and heavy cream and mix to combine.
- Beat everything together till frosting is completely smooth and creamy.
- Pipe the cooled cupcakes with the prepared frosting and enjoy!
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Apple Cinnamon Cupcakes
I just made this recipe and it’s absolutely delicious thank you! I filled my cupcakes to the top and baked for 20 mins…. Tasty and perfect for fall 😊
glad to know Key!
These look delicious! I’d love to make them as mini-cupcakes. What would you recommend for baking temperature and time? Thank you in advance!
I would try 350 F for 9-14 minutes
This recipe is very good. It took a while to cut up the apples but it was worth it. I will be making it again.
Hi can you substitute the eggs with something else? i’m not an egg fan so just want to know what will work…
maybe try flax egg?
I would use unsweetened apple sauce. Perfect egg replacement and will add more apple flavor. Win win
Can I sub the Heavy cream for something? I have milk on hand??
you mean for the frosting? yes milk will work
Never in all my years baking or in college did 1.25 cup show up i have no clue if that means one and a half cups or 1 1/4 cup or what i found on google .25 cup might be 4 tablespoon. You should sure the same unit of measurements as everyone else.
Thanks Amber for pointing that out..when I wrote this, I did not think .25 cups could be confusing to people..don’t we also write 2.5 cups for 2 1/2 ? I thought its pretty normal and in the same way 1/4 cup is .25…anyway I will edit it
I take it as a part of my breakfast and my son’s school tiffin. Of Course I want to make it at home in my own hand follow your easy direction. Thanks.
Hi! Can you convert to grams please? At least the butter? Cheers!Ana
Your cupcakes are so tiny and cute. I like the way you perform your cakes, too. And the introduction seems easy to follow. I definitely will try making on my own this weekend!
Thank you!
Thank you 🙂
Thank you Mir!
Happy Birthday Manali! Hope your day was fun and delicious with these beautiful cupcakes!
Thanks Maria 🙂
Hi Manali,
Is there any way we can make these eggless?
Looks super yum! Want to make it soon.
Hi Harsha! Try 1/2 cup applesauce or 1/2 cup yogurt, should work!
Thanks Kathy!
Thank you Rachelle!
Thanks Mira 🙂
You need to try one Dannii!
Thank you 🙂
I agree! Thanks Angie!