As American As Apple Pie....Cupcakes

Sunday, May 23, 2010

So.....as I was baking my 7th cupcake for the month, with several more to go, I was thinking about how I just can't seem to lose weight....I'll go ponder that, and in the meantime....here is my version of apple pie....as a cupcake.

Inside

Here's the deal....or rather, here's the inspiration....my pals at work, (also known as 'my friends') and I participated in the American Cancer Society's all night Relay for Life this past Friday/Saturday. Every team was asked to come up with a 'birthday party' theme for their campsite (more on the details of this event in a day or two). Since this was also field day at work...and our theme for THAT was 'rodeo,' the gals decided to go with this so we could just drag our decorations over to the Relay in the evening. Each team raises funds before the event, but we also raise money on site to go towards additional cancer research giving. Last year we had a bake sale, and sold glow bracelets. This year, cupcakes sales was the fundraiser of choice for our team!
Cupcakes and Cowboys....sort of like my dream come true, good job, team.
I then went to work trying to decide on a 'cowboyish' cupcake. That was totally unnecessary, unless you are me. I made some cowboy cupcakes awhile back for a Cowboy Baby Shower with little sheriff badges on top, but this time....I decided I wanted something pie-ish....and I got stuck on the idea of making some little 'pie crust cutout' for the top since I knew the base would be best as a cupcake, and I decided on Apple Pie Cupcakes.
I have NO doubt I'm not the first one who has thought of this, but I don't want to know what else is out there b/c knowing sometimes stifles whatever creativity I have going because I get that 'other vision' stuck in my head! I decided to google apple spice cake, and some sort of cinnamon icing, and a little 'real apple' filling.
I took about 17 recipes and combined from allrecipes.com....foodtv...google search...I don't know how to site my source. My source is the internet, does that count? I didn't come up with my own individual recipes, I just adapted ones that looked good and merged them all into the sinful mass of calories that are my cupcakes.
Here goes....(Didn't I already say that? Fine, here I REALLY go...)
CUPCAKES:
Combine 2 c. all-purpose flour, 1 t. soda, 1/2 t. salt, 1 t. cinnamon, 1 c. sugar, 1/2 c. brown sugar, 1 t. apple pie spice, 1/8 t. nutmeg, 1/8 t. cloves, 1/2 c. butter (at room temperature), 4 eggs, 1 1/2 c. unsweetened applesauce. Combine and bake at 350 for about 17 minutes. (I filled my cupcake liners really full, so I only got 16 out of this batter, I used a 1/4 c. measuring cup to fill them....I like 'em puffy!). I used silver liners to look more like a pie pan, and these tend to bake really fast for me! In a regular liner, maybe add a minute or two.

Let cool, and then cut a cone shape out of your cupcake. I also cut the 'cone' off the top layer so the top would lay flat on the apple filling. I hollowed a few of the cupcakes out a little to add more filling deeper in the innards.

*I would probably use this same basic cupcake recipe next time, but maybe add something to make these a little more moist...sour cream?...pudding? There was so much other stuff going on, it was still good, just a little more dry than I like my cupcakes...I wasn't disappointed, just critical of the outcome!
FILLING
Heat 2 T butter on med with 2 t. cinnamon, 3 T sugar and let this bubble about 1 minute, and then add 3 large apples (peeled and chopped). Let these cook over med for about ten minutes until the apples are soft.


ICING (My favorite 'taste' part of this recipe.)
Mix 8 oz cream cheese (at room temp), 1 t. cinnamon, 6 c. powdered sugar, 1/2 c. butter (at room temp), 1 t. vanilla.
I took a spoon and just mounded it on top to look a little bit like ice cream. I also sprinkled this with cinnamon sugar....that was unnecessary, but accurate as to the steps I took...additional, unnecessary steps are sort of a hobby of mine.
STAR TOPS
Take one pie crust and cut out small stars. Place these on a cookie sheet. Spray with spray butter, sprinkle with cinnamon sugar and/or sugared sprinkles.
Ready to bake...

Bake at 350 for about 7 minutes (just until browning).

Place on top of cupcakes.

These would be fun to make on July 4th as well, but by then, I should have my mouth wired shut, and I'll be looking for apple pie I can drink through a straw, or a nice apple pie scented lotion....but *you* can make them if you want, they are tasty.
Featured On:
UndertheTableandDreaming


Linking To:
Under the Table and Dreaming
Funky Junk
Keeping it Simple
Between Naps on the Porch
Blessed with Grace
Cupcake Tuesday
Trendy Treehouse
Just a Girl
Sweet Thursday

21 comments

Kansas Amy said...

You never stop amazing me!

Denise said...

Your cupcakes look divine! My kids love helping me make dough cutouts to put on top of pies, but I've never thought of using them that way. Thanks for stopping by my blog!

Kaysi said...

Those are so fun and look sooooo yummy!!

Ann @ makethebestofthings said...

You are genius cupcake lady and I am impressed. Love your creation with the little stars! Can I have a handful of those crunchy stars? Maybe a dozen or so. Make that a couple of dozen. Or a cupful. They look addictive as all get out!

Beverly {Flamingo Toes} said...

Oh wow. These look super yummy! I can't wait to try them. And I love your July 4th idea, maybe with blueberry filling and strawberry frosting? Cute! Thanks for the recipe!
(Found you from the feature over at Under the Table & Dreaming)

Stephanie Lynn @Under the Table and Dreaming said...

Hi Christy Just wanted to let you know I'll be featuring your amazing cupcakes today. So creative and yummy! Stop by and grab a featured button if you like. Thanks again for linking to The Sunday Showcase! ~ Stephanie Lynn

malia said...

Hi Christy-- These look too delish!!!
www.yesterdayontuesday.typepad.com

Amy @ Positively Splendid said...

Oh my goodness me...these look absolutely delectable!

Thank you so very much for the sweet comment you left on my calla lily wreath. I am so glad you could stop in!

Amy

Missy said...

Um YUMO! I want to try this! Thanks for sharing the recipe! I will let you know when I do!

Michelle said...

Stopping by from One Pretty Thing. Those look amazing! I absolutely love the pie crust topper.

Unknown said...

Oh goodness these look soooooo yummy!

Brenda said...

Those are SO pretty, and I bet they taste great too!

HoosierHomemade said...

Those look really good! I love adding filling to cupcakes!
Thanks so much for joining in the fun at Cupcake Tuesday!
~Liz

Brianna! said...

oh these look FANTASTIC!

xoxo
bB

Heather - Dollarstorecrafts.com said...

These are so very cute! Love the mashup of cupcakes & pie.

April J Harris said...

These look absolutely gorgeous and so delicious! What a great idea!

Jerri at Simply Sweet Home said...

These look scrumptious and very cute! Thanks for linking up for Sweet Thursday!

Anne Maskell said...

oh they look yummy! You are so creative! I'm visiting with SSH.

Terri said...

I love how you fill your cupcakes, what a great idea! thanks for sharing. I found your post on Frost Me!
terri
www.craftyworkinmommy.blogspot.com

Unknown said...

These are something special. I could see you competing on FoodNetwork challenge. What a fantastic recipe!

Would love for you to link up to Fab Finds for the Fourth. I'm hosting this Thursday and the following 2 Thursdays.

Unknown said...

Thanks so much for joining the Fab Finds party! Hope you'll stop by again Thursday for another one! Maybe another cupcake recipe in the works?