Apple cider cupcakes with caramel frosting are fall cupcakes using cake mix, apple pie filling, and dulce de leche to give a delicious caramel apple flavor with very little effort.
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One of the best treats to enjoy every year is caramel apples, and while there's always a great pumpkin vs. apple debate on which flavor is better, we all know that both are worthy of the season.
My husband is team pumpkin, and I'm team apple, but we make sure to enjoy all the treats every year, and sometimes we even compete to see who has the better idea.
These caramel apple cupcakes were my better idea, but don't forget to try and compare them to these Easy Pumpkin Cupcakes and see which team you'd prefer.
But for more seasonal favorites, be sure to try our Easy Spiced Pear Cobbler and Spiced Vegan Apple Bundt Cake.
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💛 Why You'll Love This Recipe
- Minimal ingredients, maximum flavor. You can't have an apple flavor without actual apples, right? With a few storebought ingredients, we can get all of the best flavors in every bite, with real chunks of apple too.
- They're easy to make. From a little chopping to some mixing and baking, these Apple Cider Cupcakes with Caramel Frosting uses very simple and basic steps that even novice bakers and kid chefs should have no problem completing. (My 4 year old enjoyed helping me make these cupcakes.)
- They aren't too sweet. I know it sounds like a lot of sweetness thanks to the dulce de leche, but the frosting is actually more flavorful than it is sweet, so you don't have to worry about them tasting too rich or too sugary. This also means you may enjoy more in one sitting, so be careful, or the cupcakes will disappear too soon!
🛒 Ingredients
Apple cider drink mix- You can find these instant drink packets at your local Walmart or Dollar Tree. They're pretty great for adding warm apple tastes without using actual liquid. (We use this same mix in our Caramel Apple Cider Sourdough Bread.)
Apple pie filling- For chunks of apple throughout the cupcakes, using apple pie filling works best. I have not tested this recipe with homemade apple pie filling like Instant Pot Apple Pie Filling.
Dulce de leche- You can find a can of this at your local grocery store. It's basically canned caramel, and it's thick, rich, and so fabulous!
Cream cheese- Use some softened cream cheese to give the frosting a rich and creamy consistency. This will also help it to remain stable enough that you can pipe it onto the cupcakes.
See the recipe card below for full ingredients and instructions.
🔀 Substitutions & Variations
Whipping cream. If desired, you can swap out the whipped topping for homemade whipped cream. To do this, beat 1.5 cups of heavy whipping cream, 1 teaspoon of vanilla, and 3 Tablespoons of powdered sugar until stiff peaks form. Use in place of the whipped topping.
💰 Budget-Friendly Tips
Buy apple drink mix in bulk. Larger boxes at Walmart usually have a much better price per packet than small-count boxes from discount stores.
Stretch the frosting. If you need to frost more cupcakes, fold extra whipped topping into the caramel frosting. It increases volume without buying more dulce de leche.
Plan around seasonal sales. Apple products (pie filling, cider mix, spices) drop in price around fall and holiday months. Stock up when discounted for future bakes.
🥄 Instructions for Apple Cider Cupcakes with Caramel Frosting
Apple Cupcakes
Step 1: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line a muffin pan with paper liners and set it aside.
Step 2: Open the can of apples and place them onto a large cutting board. Dice or chop the apples into smaller pieces. You want them to be ½ an inch in size or smaller. Set them aside.
Step 3: Add the dry cake mix, apple cider drinking mix, and apple pie spice to a large mixing bowl (Image 1).
Step 4: Whisk together until combined (Image 2).
Step 5: Stir in the eggs and oil. The batter will be thick (Images 3 & 4).
Step 6: Add in the chopped apple pie filling (Image 5).
Step 7: Stir to combine (Image 6).
Step 8: Scoop the batter into the muffin pan, filling each cup ⅔rds full (Image 7).
Step 9: Bake in the oven for 20 minutes or until a toothpick can be inserted and come out clean (Image 8).
Step 10: Remove the muffins from the pan and allow them to cool on a wire rack completely before frosting.
Caramel Frosting
Step 11: Add the cream cheese and dulce de leche to a large mixing bowl (Image 9).
Step 12: Beat together until well mixed (Image 10).
Step 13: Add in the whipped topping, 1 cup at a time (Image 11).
Step 14: Continue to mix until incorporated (Image 12).
Step 15: Pipe or spread the frosting onto the cupcakes.
Serve immediately, or keep the cupcakes stored in the fridge until ready to eat.
👩🏻🍳 Expert Tips
- Apple Pie Filling: Any canned or homemade apple pie filling works, but be sure not to add too much or the batter can become too wet or dense. A sweeter filling was used here, but a tart apple variety (like Granny Smith) adds a nice sweet-tart balance.
- Leftover Apple Cider: If you have extra apple cider drink mix packets, try my Caramel Apple Cider Cookies for another fun way to use them up.
- Where to Find Apple Cider Mix: Dollar Tree often sells small-count boxes if you don't want to buy a larger pack, though the cost per packet is usually cheaper at Walmart.
❄️ Storage, Reheating & Make Ahead
Fridge. These Apple Cider Cupcakes with Caramel Frosting can be kept stored in a covered container in the fridge for up to 3-4 days. I recommend eating them while they are freshest because that's when they taste best!
Freezer. These cupcakes can be frozen in a single-layered airtight container for up to 3 months. To thaw the cupcakes, place them on the counter for a few minutes or in the fridge for about one to two hours before eating.
🥗 Side Dishes or Pairing Ideas
These apple cider cupcakes pair wonderfully with warm drinks like hot apple cider, chai tea, or a cozy mug of coffee. For a full fall-inspired spread, serve them alongside a simple fruit tray, caramel-dipped apples, or a pumpkin cake roll.
- Sourdough Pumpkin RollRecipe $3.78 / Serving $0.38
- Crockpot Apple Cider RecipeRecipe $3.98 / Serving $0.40
- Applesauce FrittersRecipe $3.04 / Serving $0.30
- Apple Sourdough BreadRecipe $2.40 / Serving $0.15
❓ Recipe FAQs
These cupcakes would be a great addition to any Autumn themed party or event. They're also great for just keeping some sweets around the house. Try serving them with some festive Fall sprinkles, and they'll look great!
I prefer to make my cupcakes and cakes with vegetable oil and my cookies or "chewy" textured baked goods with butter, but that's a personal preference. You can use either vegetable oil or melted butter, depending on what you would like.
We make these apple cider cupcakes with yellow cake mix, but you can use white cake mix or spice cake mix, depending on what you have on hand. Other cake mixes could be used instead, but they may not taste as great.
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🐝 If you tried this Apple Cider Cupcakes with Caramel Frosting, please leave a ⭐️ star rating and share your buzz in the 💬 comments below. I'd truly appreciate it!
📖 Recipe
Apple Cider Cupcakes with Caramel Frosting
Ingredients
Apple Cupcakes
- 1 box (15.25 ounces) yellow cake mix - ($1.00)
- 1 packet apple cider drink mix - ($0.25)
- 1 ½ teaspoon apple pie spice - ($0.12)
- 3 large eggs - ($0.45)
- ⅓ cup vegetable oil - ($0.23)
- 1 can (20 ounces) apple pie filling, chopped - ($2.17)
Caramel Frosting
- 1 block (8 ounces) cream cheese, softened - ($1.86)
- 1 can (13.4 ounces) dulce de leche - ($3.53)
- 1 tub (8 ounces) whipped topping, thawed - ($1.07)
Instructions
- Preheat. Preheat the oven to 350°F and line a muffin pan with paper liners.
- Prep Apples. Remove the apples from the pie filling and chop into ½ inch pieces or smaller.
- Mix Batter. In a large bowl, whisk together the cake mix, apple cider drink mix, and apple pie spice. Add the eggs and vegetable oil and stir until combined. The batter will be thick. Fold in the chopped apple pie filling.
- Fill. Divide the batter evenly between the muffin cups, filling each about ⅔ full.
- Bake. Bake for about 20 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Remove from the pan and cool completely on a wire rack.
- Make Frosting. Beat the cream cheese and dulce de leche until smooth. Gently fold in the whipped topping until fully combined.
- Frost. Pipe or spread the frosting onto the cooled cupcakes.
- Serve. Serve immediately or refrigerate until ready to serve.
Notes
- Apple Filling. Any brand or variety of canned apple pie filling will work.
- Cost Tip. Single serve apple cider drink mix packets are often cheaper at discount stores.
- Storage. Store frosted cupcakes covered in the refrigerator for 3 to 4 days.
- Freezing. Freeze unfrosted cupcakes in an airtight container for up to 3 months. Thaw before frosting.
Nutritional Information
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Dee says
the cupcakes are really good but the frosting not so much. Was the whipped topping supposed to be folded in? You didn't specify, only saying "add". I don't know how to fix it.
Nicole Durham says
Not folded in, mixed in with the mixer. I'm sorry it didnt work out for you, could you be more specific about what went wrong? Taste vs texture? Sometimes cream cheese if overbeaten or mixed can cause some textural issues.. if the frosting is too soupy or gummy that could be it.