Apple Cupcakes with Maple Buttercream

Say hello to fall with these wonderful, easy Apple Cupcakes topped with velvety Maple Buttercream Frosting. Cinnamon, ginger, and cloves add the perfect warm spices to flavor these delicious apple cakes.

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I love baking with apples because it means something very flavorful is coming out of my oven. This apple cupcake recipe is easily made from scratch with simple pantry ingredients and flavorful spices. They are delectable!

Let’s talk about the frosting. It is simply amazing and makes these cupcakes a bit decadent. Flavored with maple syrup and brown sugar, the frosting is soft and billowy, perfect for pairing with apples and warming spices.

Apple Cupcake Ingredient

Let’s go over a few key ingredients

• Apples – Use a good baking apple – I like Fuji, Gala, and Pink Lady apples. Granny Smith apples are an excellent tart option. Depending on the size of the apples, you will need 3.
• Flour – all-purpose flour is what I bake with.
• Butter – use salted or unsalted butter…it doesn’t matter with this recipe.
• Brown sugar – gives these cupcakes a bit of a caramel flavor and makes them tender.
• Spices – cinnamon, cloves, and ginger add the perfect flavors
• Greek yogurt – use your favorite; I use Zoi or Greek God’s yogurt

Maple Buttercream Ingredients

You need four ingredients for this fluffy buttercream:

• Powdered sugar is best as it is much finer than other types of sugar and mixes into icing better.
• Butter – unsalted works well for this recipe, but you can use salted if that’s what you have. The taste will be similar.
• Brown sugar – any brown sugar works. Use the same type as in the cupcakes.
• Maple syrup – go for a good quality to get the best flavor.

How To Make Apple Cupcakes

Prepare your muffin tins with cupcake liners or parchment paper and heat the oven to 350 degrees F.

Step 1. Get the butter ready – Melt it in the microwave or melt it in a small saucepan on the stove. Set this aside to cool.

Step 2. Prep the apples -Using a food grater, grate peeled and cored apples using the large holes. This will leave nice shreds that will mix well in the batter.

The apples will turn brown because of oxidation. This will not change the recipe’s flavor; it is normal for apples to do this. You can drizzle lemon juice over the apples to stop the oxidation.

Step 3. Prepare the dry ingredients: In a medium bowl, add the flour, brown sugar, salt, baking soda, baking powder, and all the spices. Mix well.

Step 4. Prepare the wet ingredients: In a large bowl, whisk the eggs, melted butter, vanilla, and Greek yogurt until well combined.

Step 5. Mix together: Add the flour mixture to the wet ingredient, then mix with a wooden spoon until all the ingredients are combined. You can use an electric mixer with a paddle attachment, but keep it on a lower speed for the best results.

Step 6. Fold in the apples: Add the shredded apples to the batter and gently mix them in to combine.

Bake: Fill the muffin cups about ¾ full with apple cupcake batter; which is about ¼ cup of batter.

Bake for 20 minutes. When done, a toothpick inserted in the center will come out clean. Remove the cupcakes from the oven and let them cool completely on a wire rack before frosting.

Whip Up The Maple Frosting

Step 1. Place softened butter, brown sugar, and maple syrup in a large mixing bowl or the bowl of a stand mixer. Mix on medium speed until the mixture is fluffy.

Step 2. Add the powdered sugar to the bowl and start mixing on low speed to combine the sugar. Increase the mixer to medium speed and mix until the buttercream is light and fluffy.

Step 3. Fill a piping bag with a 1M frosting tip and the frosting. Pipe a large rosette on top of each cupcake. Optionally, you can spread the icing on the cupcake with a knife.

Baked and frosted with a pretty buttercream rosette on top, these cupcakes are moist and tender with a delicious cinnamon and spice flavor. You are going to love’em!

Buttercream Tips

• Buttercream consistency: If your buttercream is too thick or stiff to pipe, try adding a bit more maple syrup or a splash of milk. Conversely, if it’s too runny, add more powdered sugar until you reach the desired consistency.
• Frosting Technique: If you’re not confident in your piping skills, consider using a butter knife or offset spatula to spread the buttercream in a rustic style. You can also sprinkle some cinnamon or nutmeg on top for a decorative and flavorful touch.

Variations

• Pear Cupcakes: substitute apples with ripe, firm pears for a unique twist on the recipe.
• Pumpkin Spice Cupcakes: substitute Greek yogurt with pumpkin puree, and add a teaspoon of pumpkin spice for a Fall-inspired flavor.
• Carrot Cupcakes: Replace apples with shredded carrots and add a handful of raisins or chopped walnuts.
• Apple and Coconut Cupcakes: Add a touch of tropical flavor by mixing in desiccated coconut into the batter.
• Vegan Apple Cupcakes: Substitute eggs with flaxseed meal or applesauce, and use dairy-free butter and yogurt for a vegan-friendly version.
• Gluten-Free Apple Cupcakes: Use a gluten-free flour blend instead of regular all-purpose flour to make them gluten-free.
• Caramel Apple Cupcakes: Drizzle some caramel sauce on top of the frosting to give it a caramel apple spin.

Cupcake FAQ’s

Equipment

• A good food grater for shredding apples
• Mixing bowls in various sizes
• Sturdy wooden spoon for combining the batter
• Reliable muffin pan for baking with muffin liners
• Whisk for mixing the wet ingredients
• Stand mixer or handheld mixer for the frosting
• Icing bag with a 2D frosting tip for decorative rosette pattern (butter knife also works)

More Sweet Treat Ideas

Try these Easy Coconut Cupcakes with a cake mix if you crave a more tropical flavor. Yes, that’s right, this recipe starts with a boxed mix for an easy-to-make dessert. And these Maple Flavored Autumn Leaf Sugar Cookies are a must-bake fall treat.

Cupcake Storage

Unfrosted cupcakes can be stored at room temperature in an airtight container for up to 2 days or frozen for up to 2 months. Once frosted, they should be refrigerated and consumed within three days for optimal freshness.

More To Make And Eat

• Make a bowl of Apple Cranberry Oatmeal for breakfast. It’s creamy, spicy, and full of tart cranberries. Occasionally, we make this for supper.
• These two tarts are quick to make, and no pan is required. Apple Cranberry Galette and this Rustic Apple Tart bake up quickly with lots of tender apples.
• Try this Maple Apple Skillet Cake that’s deliciously rustic with a swirl of cinnamon apple slices on top.
• Bake this Caramel Apple Cake with three layers of apple deliciousness.
• How about a savory recipe like Baked Sweet Potatoes with Apples? This is a delicious casserole to pair with ham and sausages, and it is always on the holiday menus.

First published: September 15, 2022, Last updated: November 28, 2024 for better readability

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