Welcome to Day 4 of Apple Week! This is where things start to get really exciting because today’s post combines the first three days of Apple Week to make a truly yummy treat! These caramel apple cupcakes combine apple flavor three ways along with smooth, velvety caramel that makes it feel like you have transported to one of the awesome bakeries in Apple Hill (located in Northern California). Apple is one of my favorite flavors to work with during the Fall, especially when my family and I make our yearly trip or two to Apple Hill to buy fresh apples and apple cider. Make sure to pick up some apples and fresh apple cider to give these tasty cupcakes a try!
The Sponge:
I used my apple cider cake recipe, which you can find here, for the sponge part of the cupcake. This recipe yields approximately 26-28 regular size cupcakes. Once the cupcakes are baked and cooled, I cut the centers out with one of my fondant circle cutters that is approximately 1.25” in diameter. Remove the top half of the center and lightly press down the remaining sponge in the center of the cupcake.
The Filling:
For the filling, I used my caramel recipe and my apple compote recipe. Here are the recipes for my Caramel and my Apple Compote.
I first added some of my caramel to a piping bag and let it sit at room temperature until it is warm enough to be easily piped out of the bag. Pipe a thin layer of caramel to coat the bottom of the inside of the cupcake, as shown above.
Next, add some apple compote to a piping bag and fill the center of the cupcake until it is almost full of apple pieces.
Finally, add one more thin layer of caramel on top of the apple compote.
The Buttercream:
To frost this cupcake, I made my apple cider buttercream (you can find the recipe here). I piped one layer on top of each cupcake instead of the multi-layer dollop you typically see on cupcakes. I do this because it adds just the right amount of buttercream, and it ensures that the cupcake will not be too sweet.
The Topping:
To finish off these delectable desserts, I drizzled caramel in a crosshatch pattern over the top of the buttercream. This final touch of caramel adds a lovely amber accent that will be a perfect addition to the dessert table at any of your Fall gatherings!
Thank you so much for checking out this post! Please leave a comment below regarding how you like these cupcakes, and if you tried them yourself! Do not forget to come back tomorrow for Day 5 of Apple Week!
