When you're in the mood for a great cupcake that has all the tastes of Fall, this is it!  What could be more Fall than a caramel apple?  This is so good, makes a great dessert to serve to guests, or just because you want a great cupcake to snack on.  This is so easy, and everyone will love this!

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These Delicious Caramel Apple Cupcakes with buttercream frosting are the perfect Fall treat! They are fun to make and are a perfect dessert to take to a party!

It was a beautiful Fall weekend here in Maine! I was so happy to spend time enjoying the Fall foliage with the family. We even got a chance to do some apple picking at a local orchard yesterday. The kids collected quite a few apples, so now it is time to find some fun things to with them. I am definitely looking forward to baking an apple pie with them and making my Cinnamon Apple Pumpkin Cake. However, I decided to get a little fancy last night and make something new: Delicious Caramel Apple Cupcakes! These treats were so fun to make and definitely encompassed the flavors of Fall.

Delicious Caramel Apple Cupcakes

So, I am typically a "made from scratch" everything baker, but time was limited and I had a fun idea for these cupcakes. I took a few shortcuts by using a cake mix and Marzetti's caramel apple dip to make them. I don't think anyone noticed as they were a huge hit and so fun to make with the kids!

Ingredients for Delicious Caramel Apple Cupcakes

Here is what you will need to make this fun Fall treat:

• White Cake Mix
• Eggs
• Butter
• Heavy Cream
• Green Food Coloring Gel ( just for the green, but it can be omitted)
• Apple extract
• Crisco (yup...nothing healthy about this one, but everything in moderation 🙂 )
• Vanilla
• Powdered Sugar
• Apples
• Caramel Apple Dip (I prefer Marzetti's)

To Make the Delicious Caramel Apple Cupcakes

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In the mixing bowl of a stand mixer, mix the white cake mix, eggs, melted butter and heavy cream until well blended.  Add the apple extract and the green food coloring gel. Blend until well mixed and the desired color of green, adding more if necessary.  Line 2 - 12 count, muffin tins with cupcake liners and ladle the cupcake batter into the liners, filling them ⅔ full.  Bake at 350 degrees for 18 - 22 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.  Place the cupcakes on a wire rack to cool.

For the Apple Toppers

Wash the apples and dry with paper towels.  Cut the tops off the apples and dip them in the Marzetti's caramel apple dip. Then, place them on parchment lined cookie sheets and put them in the freezer to set.

To Make the Buttercream Frosting

In the mixing bowl of a stand mixer, mix the softened butter and Crisco until smooth and creamy.  Add the Vanilla and mix well.  Then, add half of the powdered sugar and half of the heavy cream. Mix until well blended.  Add the rest of the powdered sugar a little at a time, alternating with the remaining cream until all ingredients have been added. Scrape down the sides of the mixing bowl and blend again until smooth and creamy.  Place the mixing bowl in the refrigerator for one hour to chill the Frosting.

When the frosting is chilled and the cupcakes are completely cool, place the frosting in a pastry bag with the large star tip. Starting on the outer edge, pipe the frosting onto the cupcakes leaving an opening in the center.  Drizzle a little caramel in the center of the icing.  Remove the apple tops from the freezer, and place an apple top on the top of the frosting. Serve and enjoy!

Delicious Caramel Apple Cupcake

When you're in the mood for a great cupcake that has all the tastes of Fall, this is it!  What could be more Fall than a caramel apple?  This is so good, makes a great dessert to serve to guests, or just because you want a great cupcake to snack on.  This is so easy, and everyone will love this!

5 from 4 votes

Print Pin Rate

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: American

Keyword: Caramel Apple Cupcakes

Servings: 24

Calories: 439kcal

Ingredients

• 1 White cake mix
• 3 eggs
• ⅓ cup butter - melted
• ⅓ cup heavy cream
• 1 Tablespoon green food coloring gel more if you'd like a brighter green
• 1 teaspoon Apple Extract

BUTTER CREAM FROSTING:

• 1 stick butter - softened not melted
• ½ cup Crisco
• 1 teaspoon Vanilla
• 4 - 5 cups powdered sugar
• ¼ cup heavy cream

FOR CUPCAKE APPLE TOPPERS:

• 24 Green apples
• 1 container Marzetti's Caramel Apple Dip

Instructions

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• In the mixing bowl of a stand mixer, mix the white cake mix, eggs, melted butter, and heavy cream until well blended.
• Add the apple extract and the green food coloring gel, blend until well mixed and the desired color of green (adding more food coloring if necessary).
• Line 2 - 12 count muffin tins with cupcake liners.
• Ladle the cupcake batter into the liners, filling them ⅔ full.
• Bake at 350 degrees for 18 - 22 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
• Place the cupcakes on a wire rack to cool.

FOR APPLE TOPPERS:

• Wash the Apples, and dry with paper towels.
• Cut the tops off the apples and dip them in the Marzetti's caramel apple dip.
• Then, place them on parchment lined cookie sheets and place them in the freezer to set.

FOR BUTTERCREAM ICING:

• In the mixing bowl of a stand mixer, mix the softened butter and Crisco until smooth and creamy.
• Add the vanilla and mix well.
• Add half of the powdered sugar and half of the heavy cream and mix until well blended.
• Add the rest of the powdered sugar a little at a time, alternating with the remaining cream until all ingredients have been added.
• Scrape down the sides of the mixing bowl and blend again until smooth and creamy.
• Place the mixing bowl in the refrigerator for one hour to chill the frosting.
• When the frosting is chilled and the cupcakes are completely cool, place the frosting in a pastry bag with the large star tip. Starting on the outer edge, pipe the frosting around the edge of the cupcakes. Then, drizzle a little caramel in the center.
• Remove the apple tops from the freezer, and place an apple top on the top of the frosting.
• Serve and Enjoy!

Notes

NOTE:  Marzetti's caramel apple dip is usually found in the produce section close to the apples.  If you cannot find this brand of caramel apple dip, simply use another brand of caramel topping, but make sure it's thick and not runny, because it won't stick to the apples if it's runny.  ALSO:  Don't throw away the apples you cut the tops off of.  You can either slice them up and place them in a Ziploc bag  and refrigerate them to be dipped in caramel dip for a snack or you can save them to make a pie, or Apple Crisp, or to be eaten with cheese.  You can slice and freeze them if you need to use them at a later time.  I freeze mine tossed in sugar, brown sugar and cinnamon for a pie.  If you don't have time to make pie crust, simply use already made from the dairy case, and when you add the fresh apples, it's semi homemade, and so delicious!  You can also serve the baked pie with caramel dip and ice cream for a really great dessert!

Nutrition

Calories: 439kcal | Carbohydrates: 88g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 11g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Cholesterol: 35mg | Sodium: 185mg | Potassium: 220mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 72g | Vitamin A: 292IU | Vitamin C: 8mg | Calcium: 66mg | Iron: 1mg

So Tell Me...

What is your favorite apple recipe? Will you be going apple picking this Fall? Have you ever made caramel apples?

Thank you so much for stopping by. As always, I would love to hear your thoughts in the comments section below. Have a great week!