Name: Apple Spice Cupcakes with Salted Caramel Frosting
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 70 min
Ingredients: 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour; 1 teaspoon baking soda; 1/4 teaspoon baking powder; 1/2 teaspoon salt; 1 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon; 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg; 1/2 cup butter (unsalted, melted); 2/3 cup + 2 Tbsp light brown sugar; 2 large eggs; 2 teaspoons vanilla extract; 1/4 cup milk; 1 large Honeycrisp apple ((or two smaller ones - enough to make 1 ¾ cups), peeled and diced); 1 stick butter ((1/2 cup) unsalted, room temperature); 2 1/2 cups powdered sugar; 2 Tablespoons heavy cream; 1/4 cup + 2 Tbsp caramel sauce ((used Ghirardelli caramel sauce)); Pinch of salt to taste

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Delicious apple spice cupcakes topped with creamy salted caramel frosting—each bite is a cozy taste of fall.

apple spice cupcakes with salted caramel frosting

Indulge in the deliciousness of homemade apple spice cupcakes with this easy recipe. Perfect for fall gatherings or as a special treat, these cupcakes are sure to be a hit!

Whenever apples are in season, one of our favorite things to do is visit an apple orchard. Whether we pick the apples ourselves or just purchase them, we always come home with more apples than we know what to do with! And even if we don’t get to visit an apple orchard, every fall we usually order large boxes of “seconds” from Azure Standard.

When the kitchen is filled with apples, it’s time to make all the apple recipes! In addition to making applesauce, apple butter, and cream cheese apple dip, apple cupcakes are a perfect way to enjoy the flavors of fall.

apple spice cupcakes with frosting and caramel sauce drizzled over them, sitting on a white countertop

Why You’ll Love These Apple Spice Cupcakes

The combination of apples, cinnamon, and nutmeg in a cupcake, topped with salted caramel frosting—what’s not to love?

They’re delicious and taste like fall!
They go great at a fall get-together or party for a dessert, but they would also be a great accompaniment to tea or coffee in the morning or afternoon.
Cupcakes are easier to serve at a party than a slice of cake, since they’re already in individual serving portions.

three cupcakes with frosting and caramel sauce sitting on a white counter with a basket of red apples in the background

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Supplies Needed for This Recipe

baking ingredients in small clear glass and white bowls and two red apples sitting on marble countertop

Apple Spice Cupcake Ingredients

Flour: All-purpose flour is used in this recipe. I choose unbleached flour whenever possible.

Baking Soda and Baking Powder: This recipe contains both of these leavening agents.

Salt: Any salt can be used, but I like to use this sea salt in all of my cooking.

Brown Sugar: Brown sugar is the perfect sweetener in any fall recipe. This recipe uses light brown sugar.

Spices: Ground cinnamon and nutmeg give these apple spice cupcakes delicious fall flavor!

Egg: 2 eggs are used.

Milk: Milk is used here as the liquid portion of the recipe.

Vanilla Extract: You can use store-bought pure vanilla extract, or make your own with this recipe. Homemade vanilla extract makes a great handmade gift idea!

Apples: Honeycrisp apples are preferred in this recipe, but you could also use other good baking apples such as a Granny Smith apple (if you’re looking for a less sweet and more tart flavor, I’d go with Granny Smith).

a large clear glass bowl with powdered sugar, a small glass bowl with heavy cream, a stick of butter, a measuring spoon of salt, and a bottle of caramel sauce

Salted Caramel Frosting Ingredients

Butter: The butter in the frosting adds to the creamy texture.

Powdered Sugar: Powdered sugar (or confectioners’ sugar) is the sweetener of choice for the frosting.

Heavy Cream: The cream will add a bit of moisture to the mixture.

Caramel Sauce: This recipe has been tested with Ghirardelli caramel sauce.

Salt: This recipe calls for a pinch of salt in the frosting, but be sure to taste the frosting as you’re making it. Add as much or as little salt as you like!

How to Make Apple Spice Cupcakes

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Add cupcake liners to a muffin pan and set aside.

First make the cupcakes by adding the dry ingredients to a small mixing bowl (flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, cinnamon and nutmeg).

Melt the butter and add it to a large mixing bowl with the butter, sugar, vanilla and eggs. Whisk to combine. Add the milk and whisk again.

Add the dry ingredients into the wet one third at a time until the batter is combined and smooth.

Dice the apple into small pieces and fold into the batter.

Fill the cupcake liners ¾ of the way full. Bake for 20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the middle comes out clean.

a grid of four photos showing steps for making apple spice cupcakes

When cupcakes are done baking, remove from the oven and place on a wire rack to cool.

After cupcakes have cooled completely, make the frosting. Add the butter to a large mixing bowl. With a hand or electric mixer, beat on medium speed for 1 minute. Begin to add the powdered sugar in thirds until thoroughly combined. The mixture will be crumbly. Pause to scrape the bowl and add the heavy cream. Mix again until smooth.

caramel sauce being poured into a bowl of buttercream frosting

Fold in the caramel sauce and a pinch of salt. Taste the frosting and add any additional caramel or salt based on your preference.

a white spatula with a wooden handle stirring frosting

Transfer frosting to a piping bag. Pipe frosting on cooled cupcakes. Drizzle with caramel and enjoy!

How to Store

Store the apple spice cupcakes in an airtight container for a day. If you have any leftovers, store in the refrigerator for up to five days.

For longer-term storage, you can freeze the cupcakes for a couple of months, and then thaw them overnight in the refrigerator before serving. I haven’t tried freezing them after they’ve already been frosted, but you might be able to. I’d freeze just the muffins and then make the frosting the day you plan to serve them.

If you’d like to make them in advance, I’d recommend making the cupcakes a day ahead and then adding the frosting the day you plan to serve them. Add the drizzle of caramel sauce right before serving.

More Apple Recipes

If you make this recipe and enjoy it, please leave a comment with a 5-star recipe rating and let me know! Thank you!