If you’re looking to wow your friends and family with something truly delightful, you have to try The Best Caramel Apple Cupcakes Recipe. These cupcakes capture the perfect blend of sweet, tangy apples and rich caramel all bundled up in a moist, vibrantly green cake that’s as fun to look at as it is to eat. Imagine sinking your teeth into a fluffy vanilla cupcake with a hint of apple, topped with luscious cream cheese frosting and crowned with an adorable caramel-dipped apple slice. This recipe transforms classic fall flavors into an irresistible treat that’s perfect for any celebration or cozy night in.
Ingredients You’ll Need
It’s amazing how just a handful of simple, thoughtfully selected ingredients come together to create such a show-stopping dessert. Each item plays a crucial role, from providing moisture to adding apple essence, or achieving that perfect creamy frosting texture and caramel finish.
- White cake mix: The base for a tender, fluffy cupcake that bakes up perfectly every time.
- Eggs: Essential for binding the ingredients and adding richness to the cake.
- Butter (melted): Adds moisture and a silky crumb for the cupcakes.
- Heavy cream: Boosts the batter’s moisture and richness, while keeping cupcakes soft.
- Green food coloring gel: Gives the cupcakes their stunning green hue reminiscent of fresh apples.
- Apple extract: Infuses that distinct crisp apple flavor right into the batter.
- Butter (softened, stick): The foundation for the creamy frosting texture.
- Crisco: Keeps the frosting light and stable, preventing it from becoming too dense.
- Vanilla: Enhances every other flavor with its sweet, warm fragrance.
- Powdered sugar: Sweetens and stiffens the frosting with a smooth finish.
- Additional heavy cream: Helps in keeping the frosting silky and pipeable.
- Green apples: Fresh apple slices for dipping and decorating, tying the whole flavor experience together.
- Marzetti’s Caramel Apple Dip: The star of the show for that gooey, buttery caramel coating on each apple topper.
How to Make The Best Caramel Apple Cupcakes Recipe
Step 1: Mix and Bake the Cupcakes
Start by combining your white cake mix with eggs, melted butter, and heavy cream in a mixing bowl. The initial blending ensures a smooth base. Then, add a tablespoon of green food coloring gel along with apple extract, mixing until the batter is uniformly colored and bursting with apple aroma. Prepare your muffin tins with cupcake liners and ladle the batter about two-thirds full into each. Bake at 350 degrees for about 18 to 22 minutes until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. This step is key because you want a moist but fully cooked cupcake that holds together beautifully while still being soft and flavorful. Once baked, shift the cupcakes onto a wire rack for cooling—this helps prevent sogginess on the bottom.
Step 2: Prepare the Caramel Apple Toppers
While your cupcakes cool, wash and pat dry the green apples. Carefully slice the tops off each apple, creating charming little lids. These get dipped into that luscious Marzetti’s Caramel Apple Dip, coating each slice with a rich caramel glaze that freezes to a perfect snap. Place the dipped apple tops on parchment-lined cookie sheets and pop them into the freezer. This chilling step sets the caramel and makes those apple lids firm and easy to handle, turning them into the iconic cupcake crowns that everyone will love.
Step 3: Whip Up the Frosting
Next, get your frosting started by beating together softened butter and Crisco in a mixing bowl until it’s creamy and fluffy. Add vanilla, bringing out warm, homey notes. Slowly incorporate powdered sugar and heavy cream in alternating batches, making sure to scrape the sides so everything blends smoothly. The frosting should be thick but spreadable with a luxurious texture. Once mixed, refrigerate the frosting for about an hour. This chilling is crucial as it firms up the texture, making it easier to pipe precisely onto each cupcake later.
Step 4: Assemble and Decorate
After frosting chills and cupcakes are cool, spoon it into a piping bag fitted with a large star tip for that classic cupcake swirl. Starting from the edge, pipe your frosting spirals upward into a beautiful peak. Then, retrieve your caramel-dipped apple tops from the freezer and place one on each frosted cupcake. For a final flourish, drizzle a little extra caramel sauce over the frosting and down the cupcake sides. This finishing touch seals in all the flavors and amps up the indulgence factor, making each bite a heavenly combination of soft cake, creamy frosting, and crisp sweet apple with gooey caramel delight.
How to Serve The Best Caramel Apple Cupcakes Recipe
Garnishes
Although the caramel-dipped apple tops are showstoppers, why not sprinkle a pinch of cinnamon or a drizzle of additional caramel sauce over the cupcakes before serving? A light dusting of chopped toasted pecans or walnuts can add a wonderful crunch and complement the apple caramel theme perfectly.
Side Dishes
Pair these cupcakes with a warm cup of spiced apple cider or a simple vanilla latte to bring out the cozy flavors. If you’re serving at a party, a fresh fruit platter with seasonal favorites can balance the sweetness and make for an elegant spread.
Creative Ways to Present
To make an unforgettable presentation, display the cupcakes on a rustic wooden board adorned with fresh green apples, cinnamon sticks, and caramel sauce drizzler nearby for guests to add extra sweetness as they please. Another fun idea is to serve them in a pretty box tied with twine for gift-giving or party favors that feel extra special.
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
Once cooled and frosted, store the cupcakes in an airtight container at room temperature for up to two days. For longer freshness, keep them refrigerated but bring to room temperature before serving for the best taste and texture.
Freezing
You can freeze unfrosted cupcakes for up to three months by wrapping them tightly in plastic wrap and placing them in a freezer-safe container. For frosted cupcakes, freeze them uncovered first on a baking sheet, then wrap once the frosting hardens, minimizing damage to the decoration. Defrost overnight in the fridge before serving.
Reheating
Reheat refrigerated cupcakes for 10 to 15 seconds in the microwave to revive their softness without melting the frosting completely. Avoid high heat to preserve the texture. If frozen, thaw completely first before reheating gently to maintain the cupcake’s moistness.
FAQs
Can I use homemade cake batter instead of the white cake mix?
Absolutely! If you prefer making your cake batter from scratch, go for a vanilla or plain base and add apple extract and green food coloring as the recipe suggests. Just ensure your batter yields about 24 cupcakes to maintain the recipe’s balance.
Is there a good substitute for the Marzetti’s Caramel Apple Dip?
You can substitute with any thick caramel sauce or caramel dip that holds its shape well when frozen. The key is to have a smooth, rich caramel exterior that hardens nicely on the apple slices.
Can these cupcakes be made gluten-free?
With some adjustments, yes! Use a gluten-free white cake mix and make sure all your flavorings and add-ins are gluten-free certified. The texture might be slightly different but still delicious and festive.
How long does it take to prepare this recipe from start to finish?
Expect about 40 minutes total, including prep and baking time, plus one hour chilling the frosting. It’s well worth the wait for these show-stopping cupcakes.
Can I make smaller or larger batches of The Best Caramel Apple Cupcakes Recipe?
Definitely. Just adjust ingredient quantities proportionally to the number of cupcakes you want to bake. Keep baking times similar but start checking for doneness earlier with smaller cupcakes.
Final Thoughts
There’s something incredibly rewarding about baking The Best Caramel Apple Cupcakes Recipe and sharing them with loved ones. The blend of flavors, the irresistible frosting, and adorable caramel apple crown make it a surefire hit for any occasion. Once you try it, you’ll find yourself reaching for this recipe again and again. So get your apron on, take a deep breath, and dive into creating these scrumptious, crowd-pleasing cupcakes—you won’t regret a single bite!
Print
The Best Caramel Apple Cupcakes Recipe
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 40 minutes
- Yield: 24 cupcakes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Description
These Best Caramel Apple Cupcakes combine a moist, green-tinted apple-flavored cake with rich buttery cream cheese frosting, topped with caramel-dipped apple tops for a festive and delicious treat perfect for fall or any celebration.
Ingredients
Cake
- 1 White cake mix
- 3 eggs
- 1/3 cup butter (melted)
- 1/3 cup heavy cream
- 1 tablespoon green food coloring gel (more if desired for brighter green)
- 1 teaspoon Apple Extract
Frosting
- 1 stick butter (softened, not melted)
- 1/2 cup Crisco
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 4 – 5 cups powdered sugar
- 1/4 cup heavy cream
Toppings
- 24 green apples (tops cut off)
- 1 carton Marzetti’s Caramel Apple Dip
Instructions
- Prepare the cupcake batter: In the mixing bowl of a stand mixer, combine the white cake mix, eggs, melted butter, and heavy cream. Mix until well blended. Add the apple extract and green food coloring gel, mixing again until the batter is uniformly colored and smooth. Line two 12-count or one 24-count muffin tin with cupcake liners and fill each liner about two-thirds full with the batter. Bake at 350°F for 18 to 22 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Remove from oven and cool cupcakes on a wire rack.
- Prepare caramel apple tops: Wash and dry the green apples thoroughly. Cut off the tops of each apple. Dip the apple tops into the Marzetti’s caramel apple dip, then place them on parchment-lined cookie sheets. Freeze the dipped apple tops until the caramel has set.
- Make the frosting: In the stand mixer bowl, beat the softened butter and Crisco together until smooth and creamy. Add the vanilla extract and mix well. Gradually add half of the powdered sugar and half of the heavy cream, beating until blended. Continue adding the remaining powdered sugar alternately with the remaining heavy cream until fully incorporated. Scrape down the bowl sides and mix again until the frosting is smooth and creamy. Refrigerate the frosting for one hour to chill.
- Assemble the cupcakes: Once the cupcakes are completely cool and the frosting is chilled, fill a pastry bag fitted with a large star tip with the frosting. Pipe the frosting onto the cupcakes starting from the outer edge, swirling upward to form a peak. Remove the caramel-coated apple tops from the freezer and place one on top of each frosted cupcake. Drizzle a little extra caramel over the assembled cupcakes for garnish. Serve and enjoy!
Notes
- You can adjust the green food coloring gel amount to achieve your preferred shade of green.
- Ensure cupcakes are fully cooled before frosting to prevent melting.
- Freezing the caramel-dipped apple tops helps them set properly and maintain shape.
- Use a sturdy star tip for piping to get defined frosting swirls.
- Store leftover cupcakes in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
