APPLE PIE CUPCAKES

Apple Pie Cupcakes image

Super easy-to-make spiced cupcake batter is topped with apple pie filling and baked. Then these pie-meets-cupcake treats are finished with a whipped cream topping.

Provided by Food Network

Time 2h30m

Number Of Ingredients 24

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Ingredients

Apple Filling:
3 medium apples, peeled, cored and cut into 1/8-inch-thick slices
1/4 cup granulated sugar, plus more for sprinkling
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
Large pinch apple pie spice
Pinch fine salt
2 tablespoons unsalted butter, plus melted butter, for brushing
2 teaspoons all-purpose flour
Cupcakes:
Cooking spray
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1 1/4 teaspoons apple pie spice
1/4 teaspoon fine salt
3/4 cup granulated sugar
2 large eggs, at room temperature
1 1/2 sticks (12 tablespoons) unsalted butter, melted
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
1/2 cup milk
Whipped Topping:
3/4 cup heavy cream
3 tablespoons confectioners' sugar
1 tablespoon sour cream
Apple pie spice, for sprinkling

Steps:

For the apple filling: Toss together the apples, granulated sugar, lemon juice, apple pie spice and salt in a medium bowl. Melt the butter in a medium skillet over medium heat. Add the apples and cook, stirring frequently, until the apples are tender but still pliable and the liquid is simmering, about 6 minutes. Add the flour and stir until it dissolves and the liquid thickens. Remove the skillet from the heat and let the filling cool completely. Divide the filling evenly into 12 little packed mounds within the skillet; set aside.
For the cupcakes: Position an oven rack in the center of the oven, and preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line a 12-cup muffin tin with paper liners and coat the liners and the top of the tin with cooking spray.
Whisk together the flour, baking powder, apple pie spice and salt in a medium bowl. In another medium bowl, beat the sugar and eggs with an electric mixer on medium-high speed until light and creamy, about 2 minutes. While continuing to beat, gradually pour in the butter, then add the vanilla. Adjust the mixer to medium-low and add half the flour mixture. Add the milk, then the remaining flour mixture, taking care not to overmix the batter. It will be thin, like pancake batter; transfer it to a liquid measuring cup to make filling the lined muffin cups easier.
Divide the batter evenly among the cups of the prepared muffin tin. Top each with a mound of apple filling. Bake for 15 minutes (the cupcakes will spread quite a bit). Remove the tin from the oven, gently brush the tops of the cupcakes with melted butter and sprinkle with granulated sugar. Continue to bake until the tops of the cupcakes, which will bake and puff around the apple filling, spring back when pressed, 6 to 8 minutes more. Let the cupcakes cool in the tin for a few minutes, then transfer to a rack to cool completely.
For the whipped topping: Beat the heavy cream, confectioners' sugar and sour cream in a medium bowl with an electric mixer on medium-high speed until the mixture forms soft peaks. Transfer it to a pastry bag or a resealable plastic bag with one corner snipped off. Pipe a dollop of whipped topping onto each cupcake (don't completely cover the cupcake) and sprinkle with apple pie spice.
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