Moist and fluffy Apple Cider Cupcakes are made with real apple cider that adds extraordinary flavor. Spiced to perfection and topped with a cream cheese frosting - these delicious cupcakes be a hit!
Why You Will Love This Recipe
Apple cider cupcakes are sure to be an instant hit with friends and family; they're not only delicious, but they're simple to make. Whether you want a special treat for weekend brunch or just something fun for family night, apple cider cupcakes are sure to impress.
Plus, these moist little cakes capture all the best flavors of fall - tart apples, and sweet cinnamon - for a flavor-filled experience that'll have everyone asking for more!
- Easy to make. Even a new baker can make these easy apple cider cupcakes. The ingredients are simple and the instructions are easy to follow.
- Delicious. The cupcakes are moist and flavorful. The apple cider and cinnamon give them a delicious fall flavor that everyone will love.
- Perfect for fall. The apple cider and cinnamon flavors make them the perfect dessert for a cozy autumn day.
Jump to:
- Why You Will Love This Recipe
- Apple Cider Cupcake Ingredients
- How to Make Apple Cider Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting
- Serving Suggestions
- Related Recipes
- Substitutions and Variations
- Equipment
- Storage Options
- Tips for Success
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Some Other Recipes We Are Sure You Will Love
- 📖 Recipe
- Food Safety
Apple Cider Cupcake Ingredients
Why not put a unique twist on your favorite seasonal flavors with homemade apple cider cupcakes? Cinnamon spice gives them that perfect autumn touch.
With just a few simple steps, you can transform your kitchen into a apple-scented bakery in no time!
Cupcake Ingredients
- Flour - All purpose flour.
- Baking soda
- Baking powder
- Salt
- Cinnamon - Ground.
- Nutmeg - Ground.
- Butter - Melted.
- Brown sugar - Light or dark, packed.
- Eggs
- Apple cider - You can use apple juice also.
- Vanilla extract
Apple Topping
- Apples - Use Honeycrisp, Cosmic Crisp, or even Granny Smith apples, as they stay firm and have a great sweet - tart flavor.
- Brown sugar - Light or dark, packed.
- Lemon juice
- Butter
Cinnamon Buttercream Frosting
- Butter - Softened to room temperature.
- Cream cheese - Full fat, softened to room temperature.
- Vanilla extract
- Salt
- Cinnamon - Ground.
- Powdered sugar
Full ingredient amounts and preparation instructions are in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.
How to Make Apple Cider Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting
Whether you're looking for a special treat for yourself or an impressive dessert to share with family and friends, these delicious apple cider cupcakes will hit the spot.
And with this easy apple cider cupcake recipe that only takes about 30 minutes to prepare – you'll be enjoying your delectable apple cider cupcakes with cream cheese frosting in no time at all!
Prepare The Apple Topping
- Add the diced apples, brown sugar, lemon juice, and butter to a small saucepan and and cook over medium heat, stirring frequently until the apples have softened. Set aside to cool.
Make The Cupcake Batter
- To make the cupcakes, preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Line a muffin tin with paper liners.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt.
- In a large bowl, cream together the butter and brown sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in the eggs one at a time, then stir in the vanilla extract.
- Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients alternately with the apple cider, beating until just combined. Mixture will be thick.
- Scoop 2 tablespoons of the batter into each cupcake liner.
- Add 1 tablespoon of apple topping onto each cupcake.
- Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Let the cupcakes cool completely before frosting.
Make The Frosting
- Let the cupcakes cool completely before frosting. To make the frosting, cream together the butter and cream cheese.
- Mix in the powdered sugar, cinnamon, salt, and vanilla until light and fluffy.
Frost The Cupcakes
- Fill a frosting bag with the cream cheese frosting and pipe in swirls on the cooled cupcakes.
Serving Suggestions
Apple cider cupcakes are delicious on their own, but they can also be served with a variety of toppings from cream cheese frosting to a simple cinnamon sugar, or powdered sugar dusting.
Full ingredient amounts and preparation instructions are in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.
Related Recipes
Substitutions and Variations
Here are a few delicious variations when making Apple Cider Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting.
- You can also add ½ cup of chopped walnuts or pecans to the batter for a bit of crunch.
- If you don't want cream cheese frosting, you can use store bought frosting or regular buttercream frosting.
Equipment
Equipment can have a big impact on how a recipe turns out. Below are some of my favorite pieces of equipment that I use when making this apple cider cupcake recipe.
Storage Options
- Apple cider cupcakes can be stored at room temperature for up to 2 days.
- They can also be frozen for up to 3 months. To freeze, let the cupcakes cool completely, then wrap them tightly in plastic wrap and place them in a freezer bag.
Tips for Success
Here are a few tips for making this apple cider cupcake recipe:
- For the best results, use fresh apple cider. If you don't have any on hand, you can substitute apple juice.
- You can make the frosting ahead of time. Let it cool completely and then store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- Let the cupcakes cool completely before frosting.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, you can make these cupcakes gluten-free by using gluten-free flour.
There are a few reasons why your cupcakes might be dense. First, make sure you are not over mixing the batter. Overmixing can make the cupcakes tough and dense.
Some Other Recipes We Are Sure You Will Love
📖 Recipe
Apple Cider Cupcakes
Ingredients
Cupcake Ingredients
- 1½ cup Flour All purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon Baking soda
- ¼ teaspoon Baking powder
- ½ teaspoon Salt
- 1 teaspoon Cinnamon Ground
- ¼ teaspoon Nutmeg Ground
- ½ cup Butter Melted
- ⅔ cup Brown sugar Light or dark packed
- 2 Eggs
- 2 teaspoon Vanilla extract
- ⅓ cup Apple cider Or apple juice
Apple Topping
- 2 Apples - Use Honeycrisp Honeycrisp or Granny Smith
- 2 tablespoon Brown sugar Light or dark packed
- 1 tablespoon Lemon juice
- 2 tablespoon Butter
Cinnamon Cream Cheese Buttercream Frosting
- ¼ cup Butter Softened to room temperature
- 4 oz Cream cheese Softened to room temperature.
- 1½ cup Powdered sugar more if needed
- 1 teaspoon Cinnamon Ground
- ⅛ teaspoon Salt
- ½ teaspoon Vanilla extract
Instructions
Prepare The Apple Topping
- Add the diced apples, brown sugar, lemon juice, and butter to a small saucepan and and cook over medium heat, stirring frequently until the apples have softened. Set aside to cool.2 Apples - Use Honeycrisp, 2 tablespoon Brown sugar, 1 tablespoon Lemon juice, 2 tablespoon Butter
Make The Cupcake Batter
- To make the cupcakes, preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Line a muffin tin with paper liners.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt.1½ cup Flour, 1 teaspoon Baking soda, ¼ teaspoon Baking powder, ½ teaspoon Salt, 1 teaspoon Cinnamon, ¼ teaspoon Nutmeg
- In a large bowl, cream together the butter and brown sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in the eggs one at a time, then stir in the vanilla extract.½ cup Butter, ⅔ cup Brown sugar, 2 Eggs, 2 teaspoon Vanilla extract
- Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients alternately with the apple cider, beating until just combined. Mixture will be thick.⅓ cup Apple cider
- Scoop 2 tablespoons of the batter into each cupcake liner. Add 1 tablespoon of apple topping onto each cupcake.
- Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Let the cupcakes cool completely before frosting.
Cinnamon Cream Cheese Buttercream
- Let the cupcakes cool completely before frosting. To make the frosting, cream together the butter and cream cheese.¼ cup Butter, 4 oz Cream cheese
- Mix in the powdered sugar, cinnamon, salt, and vanilla until light and fluffy.1½ cup Powdered sugar, 1 teaspoon Cinnamon, ⅛ teaspoon Salt, ½ teaspoon Vanilla extract
- Fill a frosting bag with the cream cheese frosting and pipe in swirls on the cooled cupcakes.
Notes
- For the best results, use fresh apple cider. If you don't have any on hand, you can substitute apple juice.
- You can make the frosting ahead of time. Let it cool completely and then store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- Let the cupcakes cool completely before frosting.
Nutrition
Food Safety
- Do not use the same utensils on cooked food, that previously touched raw meat.
- Wash hands after touching raw meat.
- Don't leave food sitting out at room temperature for extended periods.
- Never leave cooking food unattended.
- Use oils with high smoking point to avoid harmful compounds.
- Always have good ventilation when using a gas stove.
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