Alright. It’s time to switch things up a bit around here.
It’s no secret that one of my favorite parts about fall is the abundance of pumpkin. It gives me the perfect excuse to just go nuts with pumpkin everything…
But what I often forget is that my beloved fall season is not only known for pumpkin…it’s known for apples.
Goodies like apple pie, apple crisp, apple bread, and warm apple cider are all delicious fall favorites of mine. So when I went to make my next batch of cupcakes, I decided to embrace the apples…
Apple Cider Cupcakes with Apple Cider Cream Cheese Frosting
One of the perks of these cupcakes, besides the fact that they’re just delicious, is that they are super easy to make, thanks to the use of a box mix as the base. Don’t get me wrong, homemade cupcakes are great; but sometimes, a little doctoring up of a mix does the trick just as well.
The frosting that accompanies these apple cider cupcakes also embraces the seasonal flavors of fall, thanks to the addition of apple cider and cinnamon into a cream cheese frosting base. (This frosting is slightly thinner than most, so you may want to let it sit in the fridge for a few minutes to set before frosting. Don’t add more sugar – it will get too sweet!).
To frost these cupcakes, I used a pastry bag fitted with a large round tip. I then placed the tip at the center of the cupcake and continued to squeeze the bag, without moving it, until the frosting spread out to the edges of the cupcake. Easy peasy!
As usual, these cupcakes got sent to work with Jay, and thankfully received the seal of approval from the co-workers. Apparently, however, I could have “put more effort into making them look more festive,” so my little photo setup here is my attempt at making them more festive.
Hey, sometimes, a simple look is the way to go. Then, you just let the cupcakes themselves do the talking.
Apple Cider Cupcakes with Apple Cider Cream Cheese Frosting
Embrace the flavors of fall with this simple but delicious apple cider cupcake recipe. By making just a few simple additions, nobody will guess it’s from a box!
- Prep Time (including frosting): 25 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Yield: 24-28 cupcakes
Ingredients:
- 1 box Spice cake mix
- 1-1/3 cups apple cider
- 1/3 cup applesauce
- 2 egg whites
- 2 eggs
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
- 1 batch Apple Cider Cream Cheese Frosting (see below)
Directions:
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a cupcake pan with 24 cupcake liners or spray with nonstick cooking spray.
- Blend spice cake mix, apple cider, applesauce, egg whites, eggs, cinnamon, and nutmeg until moistened. Beat on medium speed for 2 minutes. Pour batter into prepared muffin cups, about 3/4 full.
- Bake for 14-17 minutes or until wooden toothpick inserted into center comes out clean. Remove from pans, place on wire racks, and cool completely.
- Prepare frosting according to directions and spread evenly on cupcakes. ENJOY!
Apple Cider Cream Cheese Frosting
Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup butter, softened
- 8 oz. reduced fat cream cheese, softened
- 2 tablespoons apple cider
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 3-4 cups confectioners’ sugar
Cream butter and cream cheese until light and fluffy. Add the apple cider and cinnamon, and gradually add the confectioners’ sugar one cup at a time. Frost cooled cupcakes with prepared frosting.
Boy, I sure do love fall.
Welcome to Sweet Tooth, Sweet Life! I'm Courtney, a 28-year old personal trainer living in Upstate, NY. I enjoy all things related to food, fitness, and fashion, as well as feeding my huge sweet tooth. To find out a little bit more about the girl behind the blog, check out my 
{ 60 comments… read them below or add one }
Pumpkins, I’m pretty indifferent about but anything apple-based has me drooling…even better when cinnamon is involved! I need some of these in my life with a venti iced coffee
!
Khushboo recently posted..Go for goal!
love these! totally making them when i go to Louisiana to visit fam at the end of the month!
It’s not all about “looking” festive… I bet they “TASTE” crazy festive! can’t wait!! xoxo
Amanda recently posted..Louisiana Love
Me and baking are not friends… your cupcakes look professional! I’m very impressed!
Becky @ Fit Chick on the Fly recently posted..I Got Running on My Mind
wow. i’m not even a huge cake/cupcake fan, but pumpkin and apple anything are the two ways to my heart. these looks amazing! can’t wait to make.
Shawna recently posted..earliest run ever (yay for not dying)
Not to be needy or anything, but could you do a frosting vlog or tutorial or something? I absolutely SUCK at frosting and your frosting jobs are always so pretty! Show me your ways!
Yes! I will have to do that!
Yay! I need that too!
Kim @ The Family Practice recently posted..Don’t Have to Work
Paige you took the words right off my fingertips
I am the worlds worst froster (I voted) and mine end up looking like one of my pre-k students iced it for me!! Tutorial PLEASE!!! With icing on top 
Oof – all of your cupcakes sound amazing, but these look especially awesome! Cream cheese frosting is my all-time fave, and the warmth of the apple and spices sound like a perfect counterbalance to the vanilla-ey sweetness
Faith @ For the Health of It recently posted..Lover {Not a Fighter}
Your cupcakes always leave me drooling. I wish I my husband or I had coworkers to pawn these off on but I work from home and he only works with 1 other person so we’d end up eating them all!
Gina @ Running to the Kitchen recently posted..Food from the past
Oh, my! These cupcakes look fantastic! I love apple cider so I can only imagine how amazing these taste! I definitely saved this recipe and I need to try it asap!
By the way, I think they look professional and festive for fall!
Hope recently posted..Some Of My September Favorites…
I like modifying box mix for cupcakes as well. Saves a lot of time when you have other stuff to do. Planning to try my hand at making these soon!
Krissie J recently posted..A Brief Running Hiatus
Your cupcakes always look so pretty! I get frustrated and impatient with the frosting. These look great… especially the cream cheese frosting!
Ashley @ My Food ‘N’ Fitness Diaries recently posted..WIAW {What I Ate Wednesday} #3
Those sound amazing, please excuse me while I clean the drool off of my keyboard.
Steph @ A Hungry Bookworm recently posted..What I’m Loving Wednesday
My apple cider-crazed siblings would love these! Maybe a thin apple slice would work well to make the cupcakes more festive? I totally agree though, sometimes simple is the best way to go!
Colleen @ Jimmy Choos on the Treadmill recently posted..Jell-O Shots at 11:30am
I have apple cider in my fridge right now! I miiiight just have to make these! MORE FESTIVE?!?! geez. what more do they want than delicious cupcakes?!
Sam recently posted..My day in photos
Just added these ingredients to my shopping list for tonight. I’ll be bringing these to work tomorrow!! I LOVE apple cider. We gave it out as the favor at our wedding!!
Emmarie @ Bananas And Beer recently posted..Biggest Loser Workout
I love the pic with the cupcake liner pulled down. It looks so good!! I want one!
Liz @ Tip Top Shape recently posted..Tonight
Courtney I think you should do a video on how to make cupcakes look so perfect! Seriously I’d love to know your secret!
Ruthie Hart recently posted..Thursday Randoms
I think all year round is the time for apples!!!
….These cupcakes are truly my cup of tea!
Julie H. of Spinach and Sprinkles recently posted..Deep breath… Here it goes… (part I)
Salivating …
Kerry @ Half Healthy, Half Nuts recently posted..Early Morning Randomness
Yummy!! Those look great Courtney
I also have gotten more into Apple because pumpkin was taking over!
Claire recently posted..Colorful Breakfast for a Dreary Day
Ho-ly delicious! Those are definitely talking to me!
Love that you healthified them, too!!
Melissa recently posted..Stick a Fork In Me
I feel ya! I have been going pumpkin-crayzee as well! I balance it all out though with crisp apples! Mmmmm…Fall!
Jess @ Jess Go Bananas recently posted..So Close! + WINNER!
i agree with the above-suggested video blog on how to frost cupcakes! would love to learn!
Mallory @ It’s Only Life recently posted..Rest Days + Exercise Setbacks
I hope your husband was the one that made the comment about looking more festive. From anyone else, it would have just been rude! They look fantastic to me!
the frosting on your cupcakes looks so pretty!
Molly recently posted..PayPal is a dangerous thing…
Those look delicious!
Alright so, whatever plans you have for tonight, drop em, bring me a few of those cupcakes at bowling tonight
These look amazing & I’ll definitely be trying them soon! I love recipes where I have most of the ingredients on hand already & this is definitely one of those!
Erica @ For the Sake of Cake recently posted..Indian Summer
Those cupcakes look profesh and delicious! I’m sitting in class right now being wonderfully distracted by your blog…I’m going to get called out soon because I’m sitting here smiling…and this lecture is not smile worthy! Happy Thursday!
Candice recently posted..Tasteful Tuesday
Those cupcakes are frosted to perfection! Love the flavors in this recipe
sarah@spinach and spice recently posted..WILC: Working The Freshman Meal Plan
Wow! Cant wait to try these!!
Andrea @ Andrea out loud! recently posted..No Pumpkin Coffee For Me!
These look delicious! Apple cider is one of my favorite Fall flavors. I may have to make these soon!!
Jackie @ That Deep Breath recently posted..A Sweet {Giveaway}
Oh my goodness. These look incredible! Thanks for posting such a yummy fall recipe!!
Tracy @ Tracy’s Treats recently posted..Finally Tried It
ohmygosh YUM!!! I actually like the apple part of Fall better than the pumpkin, and I definitely need to make these! Thanks for sharing, as usual
Danica @ It’s Progression Not Perfection recently posted..thursday thoughts…smell edition
These look amazing! My son loves apples and apple cider. I think he would love these!
Sylvia @ Frolic Through Life recently posted..What I Did on my Day Off
I love the flavor of apple cider and these look so good. I can picture eating them with a hot mug of apple cider on the side. Love fall!
Rosa – Fitness, Food, Fulfilled recently posted..That Darned Biological Clock
Courtney — how do you smooth on your frosting so amazingly evenly?? i am wondering if you pipe it on — it looks PERFECT! (i say this having worked at a bakery in high school).
I’ll also have you know that Pumpkin ice cream is my ABSOLUTE favorite flavor ever. SO glad you got to sample!
Sarah Jane recently posted..Pop Tarts Will Outlive Us All
i feel like apple is totally stuck in pumpkins shadow… i LOVE apple
I’ve been loving on apples lately too!! Those cupcakes are too cute.
chelsey @ clean eating chelsey recently posted..wine and dine meet up
I made something like this last year. I think it was apple cider buttercream instead of cream cheese. Still delicious and I think I will have to make again!
The icing looks amazing. I want to make it and spread it on everything… Apple Cider Cheesecake oats anyone?
Lindsay @ biking before bed recently posted..WIAW: Ryan’s Birthday Edition
Ohhh you sure know how to take good photos and make a girl drool over her lunch break
I would also love a vlog about ypur frosting teqchniques, they always look so perfect!
Lexie @ This Aussie Eats recently posted..FNCE Day Two: Kellogg’s Breakfast and More
i love apple cider! i think apples trump pumpkin in my book…(don’t hate me!)
i think i’m going to have to try this!
Erica recently posted..euro trip planning: to tour or not to tour?
Man do those look AMAZING! I just might make these for our Fall office party
Kelly @ Not So Rocky Road recently posted..Dirty Laundry
Omg! These sound amazing!! I have been craving a cupcake!
Hilliary@HappilyEverHealthy recently posted..Stuffed to the Brim
Oh boy do these look great! Apples are my favorite fall food .
Sweet and Savvy recently posted..WIAW Round 5ish?
These look so yummy and so professional!! I’m going apple picking in two weeks and will definitely have to pick up some fresh apple cider so I can give these a try!!
Brigitt recently posted..Tournage and Lamb’s Tongue
Get in muh bellay! These look amazing.
Tina @ Faith Fitness Fun recently posted..The One
those look SO good! i love the whole idea of switching it up and using apple cider instead of pumpkin! nicely done!!
Lizzie recently posted..Blogroll!
Mmm just being all inspired about apple (cider) and pumpkin and the fact that fall is HEEERE (gold organs sounding out in background)… what about switching out that apple cider frosting for pumpkin spiced frosting? Or vice versa, with pumpkin cupcakes/muffins and an apple-esque buttercream to top it off. Am I crazy (in love with fall) or am I crazy (in love with fall)?!
Oh my goodness. I’m not usually a fan of apple baked goods but these sound wonderful!
Abby @ Abz ‘n’ Oats recently posted..finding the positives
These sound and look awesome! Thanks for sharing. Definitely adding this to my list of things to bake this Fall.
Shari @ The Daily Dish recently posted..Foodie Friday: Bite-Sized Edition
These pum (oh man I almost wrote pumpkin then decided it was too funny to delete, and figured you’d understand
) cupcakes look SO good. I too am a pumpkin girl through and through (obviously), and I often forget about other delicious Fall treats: apples, pear, cranberries… but these look phenomenal. You better believe I will be making these 
Thanks for another great recipe!
Laura@mypurposefullife recently posted..Stripped Down
I love using cake mixes and also boxed brownies…such a great base and then you can make them super tasty! great recipe!
alex recently posted..Melrose Market
I made these as soon as I got home from work on Friday and they were a hit in my house. I brought 9 to work today out of 26 i made and they were gone before you could apple cider cupcakes! lol thanks for the wonderfully delicious recipe.
I made these last night (no icing, ran out of conf. sugar)! They are really yummy! Also a helpful hint – since I forgot to buy applesauce I used canned pumpkin instead and they are still a fally-delicious treat! Yum! Thanks Court!
after reading , i guess your frosting is very rich-taste… i will try this,… ^_^ hardly can’t wait..
cupcake is love and life recently posted..cartoon cupcake designs
I loved this recipe and included it in an apple cider round up on my blog. Thanks for making and sharing this, it sounds fabulous! If you’d like to see the round up it’s here http://amandascookin.com/2012/10/30-apple-cider-recipes-for-fall.html
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