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    Home » Recipes » Cakes

    Published: Oct 1, 2022 by Nicole This post may contain affiliate links.

    Apple Cider Cupcakes with Caramel Frosting

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe
    promotional graphic for apple cider cupcakes with caramel frosting

    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.

    caramel apple cider cupcake in the center with more cupcakes and apples in the background

    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.

    Why This Recipe Works

    1. 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.
    2. They're easy to make. From a little chopping to some mixing and baking, this recipe 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).
    3. 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!
    Jump to:
    • 🥘 Ingredients
    • 🍽 Equipment Needed
    • 🔪 Instructions
    • 🧾 Substitutions
    • 🍴 Recipe Tips
    • 👩🏻‍🍳 Storage
    • 💭 FAQs
    • 📖 Recipe
    ingredients needed to make caramel apple cider cupcakes

    🥘 Ingredients

    For the cupcakes, you will need:

    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.

    Apple pie filling- For chunks of apple throughout the cupcakes, using apple pie filling works best.

    Large eggs- These are a binding agent used to keep the cupcakes from crumbling apart.

    Vegetable oil- For added moisture, you'll want to use vegetable oil because it will give the cupcakes some necessary fats.

    Yellow cake mix- This is a great way to reduce effort. Use a box of your favorite yellow cake mix as the base!

    Apple pie spice- For more warm flavors, you'll want to use apple pie spice.

    For the Frosting, you will need:

    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.

    Whipped topping- We use thawed whipped topping to make the frosting fluffy and lighter in consistency.

    For specific quantities, see the recipe card below.

    🍽 Equipment Needed

    BeeyondCereal is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.

    • Measuring Cups
    • Measuring Spoons
    • Whisk
    • Mixing Bowls
    • Muffin Pan
    • Electric Mixer

    🔪 Instructions

    Check out how to make Apple Cider Cupcakes with Caramel Frosting with these simple step-by-step instructions:

    Apple Cupcakes

    Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line a muffin pan with paper liners and set it aside.

    Open the can of apples and place 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.

    In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the cake mix, apple cider drinking mix, and apple pie spice, using a whisk.

    dry ingredients in a mixing bowl with a whisk
    combined dry ingredients in a mixing bowl with a whisk

    Stir in the eggs and oil. The batter will be thick.

    eggs and oil added to dry ingredients in a mixing bowl with a whisk
    thick wet cake mixture in a mixing bowl with a rubber spatula

    Add in the apple pie filling and stir to combine.

    apple pie filling added to wet batter in bowl
    chunky apple cider cupcake batter in a mixing bowl with a rubber spatula

    Scoop the batter into the muffin pan, filling each cup ⅔rds full.

    Bake in the oven for 20 minutes or until a toothpick can be inserted and come out clean.

    Remove the muffins from the pan and allow them to cool on a wire rack completely before frosting.

    apple cider cupcake batter in muffin tin
    baked apple cider cupcakes in a muffin tin

    Caramel Frosting

    Beat the cream cheese and dulce de leche in a mixing bowl until combined.

    dulce de leche and cream cheese in a mixing bowl
    combined dulce and cream cheese in a mixing bowl

    Add in the whipped topping, 1 cup at a time, and continue to mix until incorporated.

    a portion of whipped cream added to dulce cream cheese mixture in mixing bowl
    ready to use dulce de leche caramel frosting in a mixing bowl

    Pipe or spread the frosting onto the cupcakes.

    Serve immediately or keep the cupcakes stored in the fridge until ready to eat.

    apple cider cupcake with caramel frosting and sprinkles on top

    🧾 Substitutions

    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.

    🍴 Recipe Tips

    Apple pie filling

    There are a lot of different types of canned apple pie filling, and you can use any of them. You can even use homemade canned apple pie filling if desired. Just make sure to have the right amount added to the batter, or else it may end up too stiff or too wet.

    I went with a sweeter apple pie variety, but when I make this recipe again, I'll use a more tart filling (like one made with Granny Smith apples) because I love the sweet-tart contrasts.

    Still have apple cider leftover?

    After you've finished these caramel apple cupcakes, try these Caramel Apple Cider Cookies or these Apple Cider Donut Muffins! They use the same apple cider drink mix packages as the cupcakes, so you'll already have some on hand!

    Where to find apple cider drink mix

    If you don't wish to buy a box of 10-count apple cider drink mix, I have had great luck finding a smaller count box at the local Dollar Tree (While this means fewer packages on hand, it will be a higher cost per package than if you bought the larger box at Walmart or another store).

    👩🏻‍🍳 Storage

    Fridge

    These cupcakes 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.

    💭 FAQs

    When to serve easy apple cupcakes

    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!

    Are cupcakes better with oil or butter?

    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.

    Can I use a different cake mix?

    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.

    several caramel apple cider cupcakes on a black cake stand with red apples below it

    More great cake recipes to check out soon

    • Pumpkin Patch Cupcakes
    • Nacho Cupcakes
    • Earth Day Cupcakes
    • Easy Pumpkin Cupcakes
    • Bloody Vampire Bite Cupcakes
    • Honey Bee Cupcakes with Honey Buttercream

    📖 Recipe

    apple cider cupcakes with caramel frosting and seasonal sprinkles. Fresh apples in background
    Print Recipe
    5 from 1 vote

    Apple Cider Cupcakes with Caramel Frosting

    Get a taste of Fall with these apple cider cupcakes with caramel frosting. Made from boxed cake mix, apple pie filling, and dulce de leche, you'll get delicious caramel apple flavors with very little effort.
    Prep Time 15 mins
    Cook Time 20 mins
    Total Time 35 mins
    Servings: 24 cupcakes
    Calories: 167kcal
    Cost Recipe $10.75 / Serving $0.45
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Equipment

    • Measuring Cups
    • Measuring Spoons
    • Whisk
    • Mixing Bowls
    • Muffin Pan
    • Electric Mixer

    Ingredients

    Cupcakes

    • 1 packet Apple cider drink mix ($0.20)
    • 1 can Apple pie filling (20oz) ($1.98)
    • 3 large Eggs ($0.24)
    • ⅓ cup Vegetable oil ($0.16)
    • 1 box Yellow cake mix (15.25oz) ($1.58)
    • 1 ½ teaspoon Apple pie spice ($0.15)

    Frosting

    • 1 can Dulce de leche (13.4oz) ($3.48)
    • 1 block Block cream cheese, softened (8oz) ($1.98)
    • 1 tub Whipped topping, thawed (8oz) ($0.98)
    US Customary - Metric

    Instructions

    Apple Cupcakes

    • Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line a muffin pan with paper liners and set it aside.
    • Open the can of apples and place 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.
    • In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the cake mix, apple cider drinking mix, and apple pie spice, using a whisk.
    • Stir in the eggs and oil. The batter will be thick.
    • Add in the apple pie filling and stir to combine.
    • Scoop the batter into the muffin pan, filling each cup ⅔rds full.
    • Bake in the oven for 20 minutes or until a toothpick can be inserted and come out clean.
    • Remove the muffins from the pan and allow them to cool on a wire rack completely before frosting.

    Caramel Frosting

    • Beat the cream cheese and dulce de leche in a mixing bowl until combined.
    • Add in the whipped topping, 1 cup at a time, and continue to mix until incorporated.
    • Pipe or spread the frosting onto the cupcakes.
    • Serve immediately or keep the cupcakes stored in the fridge until ready to eat.

    Notes

    Recipe Tips

    • There are a lot of different types of canned apple pie filling, and you can use any of them. You can even use homemade canned apple pie filling if desired. Just make sure to have the right amount added to the batter or else it may end up too stiff or too wet.
    • I have had great luck finding a smaller count box at the local Dollar Tree (While this means fewer packages on hand, it will be a higher cost per package than if you bought the larger box at Walmart or another store).

    Storage

    • These cupcakes 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!
    • 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. 

    Nutritional Information

    Serving: 1cupcake | Calories: 167kcal | Carbohydrates: 28g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 5g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Trans Fat: 0.1g | Cholesterol: 26mg | Sodium: 251mg | Potassium: 67mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 16g | Vitamin A: 61IU | Vitamin C: 5mg | Calcium: 94mg | Iron: 1mg
    Author NicoleDurham
    Course Dessert
    Cuisine American
    Tried this recipe?Mention @BeeyondCereal on Instagram and hashtag it #BeeyondCereal
    To view how this recipe was calculated you can visit my Pricing Disclosure Page for more information.

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    I'm Nicole and I am the owner and recipe developer here at Beeyond Cereal. I love saving money and one of the best places to trim expenses is in the kitchen. With this site, we are serving up tasty and frugal homemade dishes that the whole family will enjoy.

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