Hey there, all you wonderful bakers and food lovers! Fall is knocking on our doors, and you know what that means – it's apple season! Today, we're diving into a recipe that captures the essence of autumn in every bite: Apple Cider Cupcakes with Spiced Buttercream Frosting. Get ready for a cozy culinary adventure!
Ingredients You'll Need:
For the Cupcakes:
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 ½ teaspoons baking powder
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- ½ cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup apple cider
For the Spiced Buttercream Frosting:
- 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
- 4 cups powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- ¼ teaspoon ground cloves
- 2-3 tablespoons apple cider
Step-by-Step Instructions:
Step 1: Preheat and Prep
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line your cupcake tin with paper liners. We're getting ready to make some cupcake magic!
Step 2: Sift and Mix Dry Ingredients
- In a bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, ground cinnamon, and ground nutmeg. This is the aromatic blend that will make your kitchen smell like a cozy autumn day.
Step 3: Cream the Butter and Sugar
- In another bowl, cream together the softened butter and granulated sugar until it's fluffy and dreamy. This is where the cupcake magic starts!
Step 4: Add Eggs and Vanilla
- Beat in the eggs, one at a time, and then add the vanilla extract. Keep mixing until it's all beautifully combined.
Step 5: Dry Ingredients Meet Wet
- Gradually add the dry ingredients to your buttery, sugary goodness, alternating with the apple cider. Start and end with the dry ingredients. Mix until everything is just blended. Your batter should be like a sweet, apple-scented cloud.
Step 6: Fill Those Cupcake Liners
- Fill each cupcake liner about 2/3 full with your apple cider cupcake batter. They're going to rise into little cupcake wonders!
Step 7: Bake and Cool
- Pop those beauties into the preheated oven for about 18-20 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Let them cool in the tin for a few minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
Step 8: Whip Up the Spiced Buttercream
- While your cupcakes cool, let's make that spiced buttercream frosting. In a bowl, beat together the softened butter, powdered sugar, ground cinnamon, ground nutmeg, ground cloves, and apple cider until it's smooth and oh-so-delicious.
Step 9: Frost and Decorate
- Once your cupcakes are completely cooled, slather them with that heavenly spiced buttercream frosting. If you want to get fancy, you can sprinkle a touch of cinnamon on top or even add a cute apple slice for garnish.
Step 10: Savor the Season
- Now comes the best part - take a bite! These Apple Cider Cupcakes with Spiced Buttercream Frosting are a burst of fall flavors. Enjoy them with a hot cup of cider or a warm mug of tea.
There you have it, folks! A delightful taste of autumn in every bite. Share these cupcakes with friends and family, and you'll be everyone's favorite baker this season. Happy baking and enjoy the coziness of fall! 🍎🍂🍰