Caramel Apple Cupcakes

Enjoy your favorite fall flavors with these decadent caramel apple cupcakes. A softly spiced apple cupcake topped with caramel frosting, caramel drizzle, and a crisp apple slice. The perfect sweet treat for any evening. 

You can’t go wrong with the classic caramel apple flavor combo. Whether you eat a classic apple dipped in caramel goodness, this cream cheese caramel apple dip, or in eat it in this cupcake form, it’s going to be delicious.

This caramel apple cupcake recipe highlights the flavor of the tart apples and the sweetness of the caramel perfectly in one sweet dessert. 

A batch of these moist apple cupcakes makes for an easy treat option for a fall birthday party, classroom party, or Halloween baby shower. Or make these any time of the year while you imagine the crisp autumn air and the smell of warm spices. 

If you love these moist cupcakes try out other fall desserts like pumpkin slab pie, salted caramel toffee cookies, or caramel apple bark. Easy sweet treats packed with fall classic fall flavors.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• Feeds a crowd – cupcakes are one of my go-to desserts anytime I have to bring something to share because they are so easy to make and sharable. 
• Easy ingredients – everything you need for these apple spice cupcakes can be found year-round at your local grocery store. 
• Quick recipe – any time you can make a full dessert in an hour is a win in my book. These perfect cupcakes are quick without compromising on flavor.

Ingredients

Ingredient Notes

• Nutmeg ​- you can omit this if you don’t have it on hand.
• Butter ​- both salted and unsalted will work in this recipe.
• Vegetable oil ​- canola oil will work for this as well. Coconut oil works but will change the flavor slightly.
• Brown sugar ​- I used light but if you want a richer flavor you can use dark brown sugar. 
• Milk – any type of milk will work, though I like whole milk personally.
• Apples ​- you will want to use fresh apples, I like Granny Smith apples when baking but you can use whatever type you prefer. 
• Caramel sauce ​- use store-bought caramel or a homemade salted caramel sauce for this, either will work. 

how to make caramel apple cupcakes

This caramel apple cupcakes recipe is easy to replicate. Simply follow the detailed instructions below and you’re ready to bake. You can also find a printable recipe card at the bottom of the post that you can save for later.

1 – Make The Cupcake Batter

Start by preheating your oven to 350°F and then line a cupcake pan with paper liners. 

Mix dry ingredients in a medium bowl. Combine flour, baking powder, ground cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt then set aside. 

In a large mixing bowl, beat together butter, oil, granulated sugar, and brown sugar.

Beat on medium speed for three to four minutes in a stand mixer, until the mixture turns a lighter color and is nice and fluffy. You can also use an electric mixer if you prefer. 

Now, add the vanilla extract and sour cream, and mix together until fully combined. Then add one egg at a time and mix until just combined and scraping the sides of the bowl in between additions.

Add the milk to the wet ingredients slowly, mixing as you add it. 

Then add in half the flour mixture, and mix well. Add the remaining flour mixture and mix until fully incorporated, but be careful not to over-mix. 

Next, fold in the apple pieces until evenly distributed throughout the batter. 

2 – Bake the Cupcakes

Grab your prepared pan and fill the cupcake liners 3/4 full of batter. Tap the muffin tin on the counter, then place in the preheated oven.

Bake for 15-18 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center of the cupcakes comes out clean. 

Remove the cupcakes from the pan and place on a wire rack to cool completely. 

3 – Make The Caramel Frosting

While the cupcakes are cooling, make the frosting. 

In a large bowl, beat the butter until it is smooth and creamy. Again, you can use a stand mixer or an electric mixer for this. 

Now add 1/2 of the powdered sugar, mix well, then add four tablespoons of caramel topping and mix until combined. 

Now add the remaining 1/2 of the powdered sugar and beat well.

Add the cinnamon and mix until the frosting is a good piping consistency. Add more caramel sauce f it is too thick or if you want more caramel flavor.

4 – Decorate And Serve

Use a piping bag with a large piping tip to pipe frosting onto the cupcakes. I used a large star tip, but you can use any large tip you’d like.

Then drizzle a little extra caramel sauce on top of each cupcake, and top with an apple slice. Serve with a warm cup of wassail or spiced apple cider!

Expert Tips And Storage Info

Rub lemon juice on the apple slices ​to keep them from browning. 

For extra apple flavor, ​you can add an apple compote to the center of the cupcake.

If you don’t have a pipping bag you can use a ziplock with the corner cut off.

Store at room temperature in an airtight container ​for up to three days.

Freeze the baked cupcakes in a freezer-safe container for up to three months, then unthaw and frost when ready to serve. 

Recipe FAQs

More Easy Cupcakes

If you like cupcakes, you have to try out these other delicious cupcakes!

• Banana pudding cupcakes – a delicious cupcake filled with bananas and topped with a whipped cream frosting!
• Butterfinger cupcakes – a decadent chocolate cupcake topped with peanut butter frosting!
• Pumpkin cupcakes – moist pumpkin cupcakes topped with a fluffy cheesecake frosting!
• Lemon cupcakes with cream cheese frosting – delicious lemon flavored cupcakes with the fluffiest frosting!
• Gingerbread cupcakes – spiced cupcakes with a spiced frosting, perfect for the holidays!