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Apple Cupcakes

4.67 from 3 votes
Bree HesterBy Bree Hester
Bree Hester
Bree Hester Founder of Baked Bree

Bree Hester is the recipe developer, writer and food photographer behind Baked Bree. She started Baked Bree in February 2010 as a love letter to anyone that has ever come to her house for a meal. O…

Expertise: Recipe developer, food photographer and writer View all posts →
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This cupcake recipe is really easy to make and a really good recipe to make with children. We had everything that we needed to make them in the house. (We didn’t even have to take off our PJs.)  And aren’t they healthy since they have applesauce in them? Sure, why not?

Cream-filled apple cupcakes with caramel topping and green leaf decorations for fall desserts.

Last weekend, we decided that we were going to spend the entire weekend being lazies. We hang out in our jammies all day and watch movies (I think that we have seen Cars a million times). We take a big family nap and sometimes we make whatever the kids want to make. On this particular day, Ava and Will were leafing through my Martha Stewart Cupcake book and oohing and ahhing over the beautiful pictures. I told them that they could pick any cupcake that they wanted and that we would make it. This is what they picked. How cute are they?

This cupcake recipe is really easy to make and a really good recipe to make with children. We had everything that we needed to make them in the house. (We didn’t even have to take off our PJs.)  And aren’t they healthy since they have applesauce in them? Sure, why not?

Baking ingredients including flour, baking soda, butter, apple butter, and eggs on a kitchen countertop.

Apple Cupcakes Ingredients

  • 2 cups flour
  • 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 3/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon fresh nutmeg
  • 1/8 teaspoon ground cloves
  • 2 sticks of butter at room temperature
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 1/2 cup brown sugar
  • 4 large eggs
  • 1 1/2 cups applesauce
  • 1 cup toasted pecans, chopped

For the Brown Sugar Buttercream:

  • 1 stick room temperature cream cheese
  • 1 stick room temperature butter
  • 1 cup brown sugar

To decorate:

  • Red jimmies or red sanding sugar
  • Thin pretzel sticks
  • Green Fruit Roll-Ups
Cream cheese frosting being mixed in a metal bowl for baking recipes.

How to Make – The Steps

Step 1: Cream together both sugars with the butter until light and fluffy. (I totally made a mistake and only used 1 stick of butter. The recipe was great but would have been even better with that extra stick. Oops.)

Step 2: Put the dry ingredients in a bowl and whisk them together.

Step 3: I cannot stress enough what a difference freshly grated nutmeg makes.

Step 4: Add the eggs one at a time. Look very serious while your sister is adding the eggs. Serious = adorable.

Step 5: Add the applesauce.

Step 6: Mix it all together.

Step 7: Add in the dry ingredients. Fold in the nuts by hand. Put the cupcake batter into lined muffin tins. We used red liners to make them look even more like apples. Bake in a preheated 350-degree oven for 18 to 20 minutes.

Step 8: Beat the cream cheese and butter until light and fluffy. Add the brown sugar and beat until combined.

Step 9: Now that I am thinking about it, a sprinkle of cinnamon in that frosting would have been a really good idea.

Step 10: Using a sharp knife or a cookie cutter, cut some leaf shapes out of the Fruit Roll-Up.

Step 11: Frost the cupcake with the Brown Sugar Buttercream.

Step 12: Sprinkle the red sanding sugar generously on the cupcake. (I think that it works better to dip the cupcake in the sugar, it covers the cupcake better that way.)  Stick the pretzel in for the stem and add a leaf.

Fresh red velvet cupcake with edible bead decoration and green leaf topping on white plate, close-up.

These are so adorable and would be perfect for back to school. Does your class do Apple Week? ‘Cuz these would be perfect for that too.

And there you have your own little apple orchard. This was a great way to spend an afternoon with my babies.

What do you like to cook with your kids? What are your favorite recipes to make with your babies?

Golden Fried Stuffed Tomatoes with Basil Leaves on White Plate.
Fresh baked apple crumble cupcakes with caramelized apples and green edible leaves. Perfect for fall desserts.

Apple Cupcakes

Bree Hester
4.67 from 3 votes
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 20 minutes mins
Cook Time 20 minutes mins
Additional Time 20 minutes mins
Total Time 1 hour hr
Course Appetizers & Snacks, Dessert
Cuisine American
Servings 12
Calories 339 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 2 cups flour
  • 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 3/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon fresh nutmeg
  • 1/8 teaspoon ground cloves
  • 2 sticks butter at room temperature
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 1/2 cups brown sugar
  • 4 large eggs
  • 1 1/2 cups applesauce
  • 1 cup toasted pecans chopped

For the Brown Sugar Buttercream:

  • 1 stick room temperature cream cheese
  • 1 stick room temperature butter
  • 1 cup brown sugar

To decorate:

  • Red jimmies or red sanding sugar
  • Thin pretzel sticks
  • Green Fruit Roll Ups

Instructions
 

  • Cream together both sugars with the butter until light and fluffy. (I totally made a mistake and only used 1 stick of butter. The recipe was great, but would have been even better with that extra stick. Oops.)
    Cream, egg, and butter in a stand mixer for baking recipes.
  • Put the dry ingredients in a bowl and whisk together.
    Baked Bree, father and child mixing ingredients in a kitchen for baking.
  • I cannot stress enough what a difference freshly grated nutmeg makes.
    Finely grated nutmeg over baking ingredients in a glass bowl for delicious homemade baked goods.
  • Add the eggs one at a time. Look very serious while your sister is adding the eggs. Serious = adorable.
    Baked Bree, kids baking in the kitchen with mixer and ingredients, family baking recipe, children helping in the kitchen, kids cooking at home.
  • Add the applesauce.
    Boy helping baking with adult in kitchen, mixing batter in stand mixer.
  • Mix it all together.
    Kids baking with a stand mixer in a bright kitchen, making delicious homemade treats.
  • Add in the dry ingredients. Fold in the nuts by hand. Put the cupcake batter into lined muffin tins. We used red liners to make them look even more like apples. Bake in a preheated 350 degree oven for 18 to 20 minutes.
    Cream being mixed in a stand mixer for baking a cake or bread.
  • Beat the cream cheese and butter until light and fluffy. Add the brown sugar and beat until combined.
    Cream cheese and cookie dough mixture being prepared in a stand mixer with a spatula.
  • Now that I am thinking about it, a sprinkle of cinnamon in that frosting would have been a really good idea.
    Cream cheese frosting being mixed in a metal bowl for baking recipes.
  • Using a sharp knife or a cookie cutter, cut some leaf shapes out of the Fruit Roll Up.
    Green banana leaf with metal cookie cutter on surface, used for traditional baking or food preparation.
  • Frost the cupcake with the Brown Sugar Buttercream.
    Bright red cupcake with white frosting on a white plate, decorated with sprinkles and baking supplies in the background.
  • Sprinkle the red sanding sugar generously on the cupcake. (I think that it works better to dip the cupcake in the sugar, it covers the cupcake better that way.) Stick the pretzel in for the stem and add a leaf.
    Fresh red velvet cupcake with edible bead decoration and green leaf topping on white plate, close-up.

Nutrition

Calories: 339kcalCarbohydrates: 65gProtein: 5gFat: 8gSaturated Fat: 1gSodium: 268mgFiber: 2g
Keyword apple cupcakes, apple week recipe, apple-themed dessert, applesauce cupcakes, baking with kids, brown sugar buttercream, buttercream frosting whipped, cinnamon cupcakes, easy cupcakes, fall baking recipes, family baking, fun cupcakes, kid-friendly baking
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

About Bree Hester

Bree Hester is the recipe developer, writer and food photographer behind Baked Bree. She started Baked Bree in February 2010 as a love letter to anyone that has ever come to her house for a meal. Over the years it has evolved into so much more than that. While Bree may have hung up her apron for the last time, the reins have now been passed over to a passionate team of foodies.

Reader Interactions

Published: Sep 14, 2024 | Updated: Feb 16, 2026
4.67 from 3 votes (3 ratings without comment)

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