FALL IS FINALLY HERE! And the apples are just about ready for picking. I will admit: I’m not a huge apple eater. I like them a bunch, don’t get me wrong… but I’m not one to eat an apple a day, especially anything granny smiths, macintosh, or (dear god) red delicious related. Cover them in sugar and butter however, they are totally up my alley. This is (I’ll admit, kind of overdone but) an ok alternative for using up the last couple apples you have lying around the kitchen. 

Cupcakes:

2 c. white sugar

4 eggs

1 c. milk

3/4 c. veggie oil

1 tsp. vanilla

2 1/2 c. flour

2 1/4 tsp. baking powder

2 apples, shredded 

Caramel: 

4 tbs. butter

1/2 c. brown sugar 

1 to 2 tbs. whole milk (or heavy cream if you have it!)

Frosting: 

1/2 c. butter

1/4 c. milk

2 c. powered sugar (or to taste)

1 tsp. vanilla

1/4 c. caramel (above!)

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees. In a large mixing bowl, whisk sugar, milk, eggs and vanilla until combined. Add baking powder, and slowly add flour in batches, stirring until well combined. Fold in apple shreds, then scoop into a lined cupcake dish. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes (or until a toothpick comes clean). 

Caramel: The easiest, ever. Melt butter and sugar until disolved and almost boiling. Turn the heat off, and add milk (it will boil up a bit, depending on how hot the sugar is so watch out! You may want to use a mit the first time). Stir until the sugar relaxes. 

Icing: With a hand mixer, beat butter in a large bowl until smooth. Add vanilla, milk and (completely cooled) caramel. Once combined, slowly add in powdered sugar. Stir until combined and smooth! 

Tricks for cupcake bliss: These were pretty ok! I cut the batch in half (which made almost a dozen!), and only used one apple. Because the frosting was so sweet, it kinda overpowered the cupcake and made it less-appley. So, if I were do to this again I’d probably add more of our fruit friend into the mix. Other than that, these are pretty adorable and great for any fall or holiday parties you have coming up! Or, for sitting at home and eating them in bed (which may or may not have been what I did). 

adapted from 365 Days of Halloween.