Caramel Apple Cupcakes!

These cupcakes are actually a muffin recipe, but it works well for this recipe.  I stuffed the cupcakes with a bit of dulche de leche, and then topped them with a dreamy caramel cream cheese frosting!  This is probably one of my new favorite frosting recipes!

Cupcake/Muffin Recipe from C Love

1/2 c. brown sugar
1/4 c. butter, softened
2 eggs
4 small apples, peeled, cored and grated (= 2 cups)
1/4 c. milk
1/2 tsp. vanilla
1 1/2 c. flour (I have used both regular and whole wheat - both work great)
1 1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
3/4 c. toffee bits (Heath)


Preheat oven to 375F and line the cups of a 12 cup muffin tin. In a large bowl, beat together sugar and butter until light and fluffy. Stir in eggs, one at a time, beating until combined. Add grated apple, milk, and vanilla; stir to incorporate.

In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, salt and cinnamon. Add to wet ingredients, stirring just until barely combined. Gently fold in toffee bits.

Scoop batter into prepared muffin tins, distributing evenly between cups. Bake in preheated oven for 20 - 25 minutes or until  a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Let cool for 5 minutes before removing from pan, then cool completely on a wire rack, and stuff with dulche de leche.  I remove the core of the cupcake with an apple corer.  I use a pastry bag to squirt the caramel in the center of the cupcake....just a bit goes a long way.

Caramel Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe from Joy the Baker

*This is enough to frost 24 cupcakes

1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened

8 ounces cream cheese, softened

3/4 cup dulce de leche, plus more for drizzling

1/4 teaspoon salt

2 to 3 cups powdered sugar

Place cream cheese in the bowl of an electric stand mixer.  Beat on medium speed for about 30 seconds, until very soft and pliable.  Stop the mixer, scrape down the sides of the bowl and add the butter and dulce de leche.  Beat on medium speed until well incorporated.  Stop the mixer and add the salt and powdered sugar.  Beat on medium speed for about 3 minutes, until fluffy and lighter in color. Generously spoon frosting on top of cupcakes, or use a large frosting tip to pipe on frosting.  Keep refrigerated!