8.02.2011

Apple Pie Cupcakes

Mason is on this apple kick.
Like, two apples a day kind of kick.
And his interest has peaked mine
to re-think Apple Cupcakes.

There are so many different recipes
out there in bloggy world ... 
my biggest challenge was 
creating something unique.

My favorite part of 
a pie is the crust!
So, I wanted there to be a little
in each bite.

This, my friends, is how they turned out:


Warm spice cake with pie crust bits baked in and a cinnamon-apple filling. The cupcake is topped with crunchy pie crust bits and vanilla spice cream cheese frosting "ice cream."


This cupcake
BURSTS
with american apple pie flavor
and is cute-as-a-button to boot!

Ingredients
Refrigerated Pie Crust
2 tbsp. White Sugar
1/2 tsp. Cinnamon

2 Green Apples, peeled and chopped
1/2 cup White Raisins or Dried Cranberries {optional}
3 tbsp. Butter
1/2 cup Brown Sugar
Juice from 1 Lemon
1/2 tsp. Apple Pie Spice
1/8 tsp. Salt
1 tsp. Vanilla Extract
1 tbsp. Cornstarch mixed with 2 tbsp. Water

2 1/2 cup Flour
2 tsp. Baking Powder
2 tsp. Cinnamon
1 tsp. Ground Ginger
1/4 tsp. Nutmeg
1/4 tsp. Allspice
1/4 tsp. Salt
1 stick Butter, room temp.
1 1/4 cups of Light Brown Sugar, packed
3 Large Eggs
1 1/4 cup Buttermilk
1 Vanilla Bean, split to expose insides

Method
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Mix the sugar and cinnamon in a small bowl. Break pieces of the pie crust off and roll in the cinnamon-sugar mixture. Bake for 8 minutes, or until golden. Set aside.


Melt butter in a skillet over medium heat. Add apples {and raisins, if using} and cook for 1 minute. Add sugar, lemon juice and seasonings and coat apples.  Let apples cook on low until tender - add cornstarch/water mixture and stir in immediately. When thickened, pull off of heat and set aside to cool.

Combine dry ingredients in a bowl for the cupcakes and set aside. Cream butter and sugar with the paddle attachment of a stand mixer until light and fluffy - add eggs one at the time until combined. Alternating the dry ingredients with the buttermilk, slowly add both to egg mixture. Once the batter forms, add the insides of the split vanilla bean and the baked pie crust pieces. Spoon batter into muffin cups, 1/2-3/4 full. Dollop a tbsp. amount of pie filling in the center of each. Bake for 16-18 minutes, or until the cake has set. Let cool on a wire rack.


To finish, I dolloped a "scoop" of my favorite vanilla cream cheese frosting with a dusting of cinnamon on top and more crumbled pie crust. This recipe makes 24 mini cakes.

These are truly an Apple Pie
in CUPCAKE form!
Mmm, mmm! 


The cake is super spicy.
The filling is sticky and juicy.
The frosting is light and sweet.
And, the pie crust gives the cupcakes a perfect crunch.


Move ova Apple Pie -
there's a new kid in town
and he ROCKS!

PS: These pictures were taken with my NEW camera!! Whoop, Whoop!! :)


Parties I Linked To:
What I Whipped Up Wednesday - Sugar and Dots
WOOT WOOT Wednesdays - The Tootsie Wootsie
Savvy Homemade Mondays - Savvy Homemade A-Z
Whatever Goes Wednesday - Someday Crafts
This Chick Cooks 
Cast Party Wednesday - Lady Behind The Curtain
Show Off Your Stuff Party - Fireflies and Jellybeans
Under $100  Linky Party - Beyond The Picket Fence
Sweet Treat Thursdays - Something Swanky
Foodie Friday - Little Brick Ranch
Sweets For A Saturday - Sweet As Sugar Cookies
Weekend Wrap Up - Tatertots and Jello
Sundae Scoop - i {heart} naptime
Shindig Saturdays - Kims Kandy Kreations
Sweet Indulgences Sundays - A Well Seasoned Life
Recipe Sharing Monday - jam hands
Topsy Turvy Tuesdays

13 comments:

Speterka2 said...

Yumm!

Unknown said...

thanks for your comment on my blog! i hope we can follow each other and inspire one another.
the first thing i see on your blog is this AMAZING apple cupcake! are you kidding me?! this looks so delish! i can't wait to try it! can't wait to look more into your site!

Erin of HomeSavvyAtoZ.com said...

Apple Pie + Cupcake + Vanilla bean!?! You have won my heart and have been pinned! These look amazing!

I just found your site at a blog party and am a new follower! I would love for you to link up at my Savvy HomeMade Monday blog party that is still open at
http://www.homesavvyatoz.com/2011/07/28/savvy-homemade-monday-party-1/

And now I am going to snoop around and see what other yummy recipes you have!

keatseatsblog said...

mmmmmmmmmmmmm. There is NOTHING about this recipe that I don't LOVE. Amazing looking. And great pics! Hope to see you at the sweet treats party tomorrow :)

Ali said...

How adorable. They look sooo tasty. I like how you lined them as well, very creative. :)

If you'd like, I wanted to invite you over to share your best recipes at my new link party, Recipe Sharing Monday. I'd love for you to join in the fun :)

Becky McNeer said...

These are awesome! Very artistic! I can taste them! http://homesandbabies.blogspot.com

Kim McCallie said...

I love everything about this! The combination of apples and cinnamon is my favorite flavor. These look gorgeous and the vanilla bean frosting just puts it over the top. I would love to have one right now! Thanks for sharing on Sweet Indulgences Sunday.

Lorraine said...

Yum! Wonderful cupcakes:)

Mallory said...

These look soooooo yummy. Pinned it to my cupcakes to make board!

I love your blog and am your 100th follower!

teri@thefreshmancook said...

Your cupcakes look amazing! I found your post on Sweet Indulgences. I can't wit to make these. Thanks!

Lady Behind The Curtain said...

Thanks so much for sharing your recipe with me at Cast Party Wednesday. I hope you will come back tomorrow for another party filled with GREAT RECIPES!
Thanks,
I hope to see you there!

Roz | La Bella Vita Cucina said...

I just found your blog and am lovin' it! These apple pie cupcakes are a terrific idea and I know that my fam will devour them! I'm from Abbeville/Greenwood, SC! I'm now following you and hope you choose to follow back. PS: I have a very growing weekend foodie blog hop that your recipes would be enjoyed by everyone. I hope you join in; the linky is posted on Thursdays. See you neighbor, Roz

Jamie Webb said...

WOW! These are awesome looking! Definately jumped out of the box with this cupcake! These would be great to make during a 4th of July party or a little picnic in the park :)