APPLE SPICE CUPCAKES WITH CREAM CHEESE FROSTING

  • PREP TIME: 20 minutes
  • COOK TIME: 25 minutes
  • YIELDS: 18 cupcakes

Ingredients

Cake
  • 3 cups plain flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 1 teaspoon nutmeg
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 2 cups diced Gala or Golden Delicious apple (about 1 large)
  • ½ cup chopped pecans
  • 1 cup white sugar
  • 1 cup light brown sugar
  • 1 cup applesauce
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • 3 eggs
  • 18 cupcake liners
  • 8 ounces neufchtel cheese, softened
  • 3 tablespoons butter, softened
  • 1 ½ cups powdered sugar
  • pinch of salt
  • 1 teaspoon natural vanilla extract
  • cinnamon for garnish (optional)

These cupcakes remind me of all the delicious snacks my mom would greet me with when I got home from school. You can easily leave off the icing and serve them warm with vanilla ice cream.

Instructions

FIRST Preheat oven 325°F. Line regular cupcake pan with liners. In a large bowl whisk together flour, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt. Fold in apples and pecans and set aside.

NEXT In a medium bowl beat sugars, applesauce, vanilla, and eggs with a handheld or stand up mixer on medium speed until well blended. Create a well in the center of the flour mixture and pour the sugar mixture in center. Stir until well blended. Spoon about 1/3 cup of batter into each cupcake liner (or until batter is ¼” from top). Bake for 20-25 minutes until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean, rotating pan halfway through cooking.

LAST Allow cupcakes to cool while making icing. On medium speed beat cream cheese and butter together. Slowly beat in sugar and salt. Stir in vanilla. Spread frosting on cupcakes and garnish with a sprinkle of cinnamon. Store in r