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Apple Cider Cupcakes

Apple Cider Cupcakes

Delicious and moist Apple Cider Cupcakes, perfect for fall. These cupcakes are enhanced with spices and topped with a creamy buttercream frosting.
Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Cooling Time 10 minutes
Total Time 1 hour
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Servings 12 cupcakes
Calories 361 kcal

Equipment

  • mixing bowl
  • Whisk
  • cupcake liners
  • Oven
  • piping bag

Ingredients
  

Cupcake Ingredients

  • ¾ cup unsalted butter, room temperature 170 grams
  • 1 cup packed light brown sugar 200 grams
  • cup carton egg whites or large egg whites, room temperature 90 grams
  • 1 ⅔ cup all-purpose flour 215 grams
  • 1 ½ teaspoon baking powder 6 grams
  • ½ teaspoon fine salt 3 grams
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • ½ cup full-fat sour cream, room temperature 120 grams
  • ½ cup apple cider, room temperature 120 grams
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract or vanilla bean paste 4 grams

Spiced Buttercream Frosting

  • ½ cup unsalted butter, room temperature 113 grams
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract or vanilla bean paste 4 grams
  • 2 teaspoon ground cinnamon 5 grams
  • ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg >1 gram
  • ¼ teaspoon ground ginger optional, >1 gram
  • ¼ teaspoon fine salt 2 grams
  • 1 ½ cups powdered sugar 185 grams
  • 1 tablespoon apple cider 15 grams

Optional Apple Filling

  • 2 tablespoon unsalted butter 30 grams
  • 2 cups diced and peeled apples about 3 medium apples, 236 grams
  • ¼ cup granulated sugar 50 grams
  • 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice 15 grams
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon 4 grams
  • ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg >1 gram
  • ¼ teaspoon ground ginger optional, >1 gram
  • ¼ teaspoon fine salt 1 gram
  • ¼ cup apple cider or water 70 grams

Instructions
 

Cupcake Preparation

  • Begin by preheating oven to 350°F (175°C) and place cupcake liners in baking pans.
  • Cream together ¾ cup unsalted butter and 1 cup brown sugar on a high speed with a whisk attachment until the mixture becomes lighter in color.
  • Mix in ⅓ cup pasteurized egg whites or 3 large egg whites on a medium speed.
  • Sift 1 ⅔ cups all-purpose flour, 1 ½ teaspoon baking powder, ½ teaspoon salt, and 1 teaspoon cinnamon into the butter egg mixture and mix on a low speed until just combined.
  • Mix in ½ cup sour cream, ½ cup apple cider and 1 teaspoon vanilla extract on a low speed.
  • Fill the cupcake liners about ⅔ way full. Bake for 18-20 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.
  • Allow the cupcakes to cool for 10 minutes before moving them to a cooling rack to finish cooling.
  • If you want to accelerate the cooling process, place the pan in your freezer for about 30 minutes.

Frosting Preparation

  • Beat ½ cup of room-temperature butter on a medium high speed for 1-2 minutes with a whisk attachment until it becomes lighter in color and smooth.
  • Mix in 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, 2 teaspoon cinnamon, ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg, ¼ teaspoon ground ginger and ¼ teaspoon salt on a low speed.
  • Slowly add in 1 ½ cups of powdered sugar, ½ cup at a time. Half way through add 1 tablespoon of apple cider to make the frosting easier to mix.
  • Mix on low for a couple minutes until the ingredients are fully incorporated and the desired consistency is reached.
  • If the frosting is too thick, add in additional apple cider (1 Tablespoon at a time).
  • If the frosting is too thin, add in more powdered sugar (¼ cup at a time).

Optional Apple Filling

  • Melt 2 tablespoon unsalted butter in a large pan over medium heat.
  • Add 2 cups diced apples, ¼ cup granulated sugar, 1 tablespoon lemon juice, 1 teaspoon cinnamon, ¼ teaspoon nutmeg, ¼ teaspoon ginger, ¼ teaspoon salt, and ¼ cup of apple cider and stir to combine.
  • Cook for 10-15 minutes and stir frequently until the apples have softened and the mixture has thickened.
  • Remove from heat and let the filling cool. Set aside.

Decorating

  • Use a small knife or 1 inch circle cutter to remove the center from each cooled cupcake.
  • Fill each cupcake with a generous spoonful of apple filling.
  • Pipe a mound of spiced buttercream frosting on top of each cupcake using a large round piping tip.
  • Chill the cupcakes in the fridge for 10 minutes or the freezer for 5 minutes to help the frosting firm up.
  • Add an apple chip or apple pie filling on top of the frosting as a garnish and enjoy!

Notes

This recipe can also be used to make mini apple cider cupcakes! It makes about 40 mini cupcakes, which only need to bake for 9-10 minutes. Store unfrosted in an airtight container for lasting freshness.

Nutrition

Serving: 1cupcakeCalories: 361kcalCarbohydrates: 47gProtein: 3gFat: 19gSaturated Fat: 11gPolyunsaturated Fat: 6gCholesterol: 49mgSodium: 234mgFiber: 2gSugar: 33g
Keyword Apple Cider Cupcakes, baking, Cupcakes, Fall Desserts, frosting, spiced cupcakes
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