Time for more cupcakes.  Hubby was looking for a dessert with apples, so I pulled out my mom’s Apple Cake recipe she has been making for years and turned it into cupcakes.  And I added some applesauce and cinnamon to a basic buttercream icing recipe to spread on top.  What a great fall recipe.

Apple Cupcakes

2 cups flour
2 cups sugar
4 tsp baking powder
4 tsp cinnamon

Mix these together, then add:

1 cup oil
4 tsp vanilla extract
4 eggs
4 cups apples (about 3-4 big apples)
1 tsp salt

Pour the mixture into lined cupcake tins and bake at 350 degrees for 15-20min.  Makes about 24 cupcakes.

Adapted from Mom

I kept my daughter busy prepping the apples with my Pampered Chef corer, peeler, slicer.  She loved it.  She wanted to keep going, but I only needed 4 apples.

I love the simplicity of this recipe. No fooling around, straight to the point. Easy, peasy!  And the cupcakes are so moist.  Really they taste quite good on their own.  But if you are like me, you know it’s not a cupcake unless it has frosting.  Every little bit of sweet helps.

Apple Spice Buttercream Frosting

1/2 cup solid vegetable shortening
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter or margarine softened
1 tsp vanilla extract
4-5 cups confectioner’s sugar
2 tbsp milk
2 tbsp unsweetened applesauce
2 tsp cinnamon (or to taste)

In large bowl, cream shortening and butter with electric mixer. Add vanilla, applesauce and cinnamon. Gradually add sugar, one cup at a time, beating well on medium speed. Scrape sides and bottom of bowl often.  Add milk and beat at medium speed until light and fluffy.  Add more sugar if needed.

Adapted from Wilton

Yep, that topped them off just right.  Remember…Life is sweet, enjoy it one cupcake at a time!