Apple Pie Cupcakes

Apple Pie Cupcakes! Fresh apple cupcake recipe with apple pie filling and brown sugar cinnamon buttercream frosting, topped with pie crust cutouts.  Created by our contributor, Lauren Kapeluck of EllenJay Events.

One of my absolute favorite things about fall is eating pies!  Apple, pumpkin, pecan, you name it and I will gobble it right up!  So when Carrie mentioned she wanted me to create an apple themed cupcake recipe for November, I immediately thought of apple pie!  I am an apple pie lover, especially in the fall.  So immediately my mind started going in a million directions about how I would create the perfect apple pie cupcake to share with all of you.  I came up with something that I hope you all are going to love and that truly tastes like a bite of apple pie!  So here are the details on my new Apple Pie Cupcakes with Brown Sugar Cinnamon Buttercream!

The two key ingredients in these cupcakes are apples of course, and the brown sugar cinnamon flavor that you will taste throughout in every layer from the cake, filling and buttercream.  I combined my two favorite types of apples granny smith and gala to create both a sour and sweet pairing in the cake.  This batter is super simple to make, using only a whisk to combine all the ingredients with the end result being a super moist and fluffy cake packed full of cinnamon and grated apples to give the cupcake a nice texture.

For all you apple pie lovers, not only are there apples in the cake, but there is an apple pie filling in the middle!  The hidden pocket of apples is a nice surprise when you take a bite and what truly makes these cupcakes seem like a mini apple pie!  To round out the cupcakes I thought a nice swiss meringue buttercream would be the perfect choice since it is light an fluffy and almost resembles the texture of a whipped cream.  I used a standard recipe and just swapped out the granulated sugar for brown sugar and added a pinch of cinnamon to carry on the flavors from the cake and filling.

To finish off the final look, I used a refrigerated pie crust to create mini apple toppers sprinkled with cinnamon and sugar!  This is such a quick, easy and simple way to add some extra fall cuteness to these cupcakes!  Afterall, you can’t have an apple pie cupcake without some crust, right?  The crust is my absolute favorite part of any pie, and when I was little my mom would actually make my sister and I cinnamon sugar pie crusts for desserts.  Rolling out a refrigerated crust she would sprinkle the entire thing in cinnamon and sugar, bake for a few minutes and then slice it like a pizza and we would devour it in no time!

If you are looking for a dessert for your Thanksgiving feast this is a great recipe to consider. The cupcakes can seriously be whipped up and in the oven in a matter of minutes. Make them a day ahead of time and store in an airtight container until ready to core, fill and frost and they will be delicious. If the coring and filling of the cupcakes seems like too much extra work, just leave it out, these cupcakes will still taste like apple pie since there is already apple in the main batter. Not a fan of granny smith and gala apples, simply use you preferred apples and they will still be just as good!

Apple Pie Cupcakes
recipe by Lauren Kapeluck
(makes 24 cupcakes)

For the Fresh Apple Cupcakes:
3 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup light brown sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons cinnamon
3 eggs
1 cup vegetable oil
1/2 cup sour cream
2 teaspoons vanilla
2 cups grated apples (2 granny smith, 2 gala)

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees and line muffin pans with cupcake liners.
2. In medium bowl combine dry ingredients: flour, granulated sugar, brown sugar, baking powder, soda, salt and cinnamon.
3. In large bowl combine eggs, vegetable oil, sour cream and vanilla and whisk together.
4. Gradually add dry ingredients to wet ingredients and whisk until combined.
5. Fold grated apples into the cake mixture.
6. Fill cupcake liners 2/3 full with batter.
7. Bake for 18-20 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.
8. Let cupcakes cool in pans for 5 minutes, then remove to wire racks to finish cooling.

For the Apple Pie Filling:
3 apples, finely chopped (2 granny smith, 1 gala)
1 tablespoon unsalted butter
2 tablespoons light brown sugar
1 teaspoon lemon juice
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon

1. Place chopped apples, butter, brown sugar, lemon juice and cinnamon in medium size pan and cook over medium heat for about 8-10 minutes, until apples are tender. Stir occasionally.
2. Allow mixture to cool.
3. Use an apple corer to remove the center of the cupcakes and fill with apple pie filling.

For the Brown Sugar Cinnamon Buttercream:
3 large egg whites
3/4 cup light brown sugar
2 sticks unsalted butter, room temperature, cubed
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
cinnamon to taste

1. In bowl of stand mixer combine egg whites and brown sugar, whisk until combined.
2. Place bowl over a pan of simmering water to create a double-boiler.  Whisking constantly, heat the egg mixture until it registers 160 degrees on a candy thermometer. Carefully transfer the bowl onto the stand mixer.
3. Using the whisk attachment, beat the egg white mixture on high speed for 8 to 10 minutes until the bowl is no longer warm to the touch and the meringue is fluffy, glossy and holds a stiff peak.
4. Switch to the paddle attachment.  With the mixer on low, slowly add cubed butter and mix until incorporated.
5. Add vanilla and cinnamon to taste and whip on medium-high until silky and smooth, about 3 to 5 minutes.
6. Place icing in a piping bag fitted with a large round tip and squeeze a dollop on top of each cupcake.

NOTE: The buttercream may look like curdled or runny after adding the butter.  Keep mixing until it is completely smooth.

For the Pie Crust Toppers:
1 refrigerated pie crust
cinnamon & sugar
mini apple cookie cutter

1. Bring one refrigerated pie crust to room temperature by sitting on counter for about 15 minutes.
2. Lightly flour surface and roll out pie crust.
3. Use a mini apple cookie cutter to cut pie crust toppers.
4. Place on baking sheet and sprinkle with cinnamon & sugar mixture.
5. Bake at 400 degrees for 5-7 minutes.
6. Garnish cupcakes with mini pie crust apples.

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YOU MAY ALSO ENJOY:
Apple Butter Cupcakes
Apple Pie Cake
Apple Toffee Crunch Cake
Apple & Goat Cheese Cake
Apple Crumb Cake
Baked Apple Donuts

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Find more cake recipes, cupcake recipes and tutorials in our Fall Baking Gallery!