To get ready for Thanksgiving, Cristina, my sister and I got together to bake some cupcakes! We started off with these Vanilla Apple Cupcakes that were very easy to make and absolutely delicious! Let’s just say we ended off licking the icing off our fingers it was so good! Also, we added a play date for our dogs, Nemo and Scooter, and it was quite fun!
Ingredients
Cupcakes:
- White cake mix
- Apple cider
- 3 medium eggs
- ⅓ cup vegetable oil
- 1 tbsp vanilla
Apple Cider Buttercream frosting:
- ½ cup unsalted butter
- ½ cup shortening
- 4 cups powdered sugar
- 1 tbsp cinnamon
- 1 tsp vanilla
- 1 tsp nutmeg
- 1 tbsp meringue powder (we didn’t use any and it still came out fine but if you have some, use it!)
- 2 tbsp apple cider
- piping bag fitted with an extra large star tip
Directions
Prepare the cupcakes according to box instructions, substituting the apple cider where the water is called for. Add vanilla in with the other wet ingredients. Bake the cupcakes in preheated oven according to instructions. For added apple flavor, you could fold in ½ cup of diced apples into the cake batter before pouring.
Frosting: Cream the butter and shortening together until smooth. In a separate bowl, combine the cinnamon, nutmeg, meringue powder, and powdered sugar. Slowly sift the powdered sugar and spices into the butter and shortening. Mix until well blended. Add the vanilla and apple cider to the frosting and continue mixing until smooth. If the frosting is too wet, gradually add more powdered sugar, if too dry, add additional apple cider. Using an extra large star tip, pipe the frosting onto the cupcakes creating an upward spiral, working from the outside of the cupcake to the center.
What better day to bake when it’s frigid and snowing outside!
One cupcake even got sent off to a surprise birthday party!
Baking With Friends 