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.
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 😉
Why This Recipe Works
- 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, 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).
- 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!
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🥘 Ingredients
For the cupcakes, you will need:
- Apple cider drink mix
- Apple pie filling
- Large eggs
- Vegetable oil
- Yellow cake mix
- Apple pie spice
For the Frosting, you will need:
- Dulce de leche
- Cream cheese
- Whipped topping
For specific quantities, see the recipe card below.
🍽 Equipment Needed
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🔪 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.
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.
🧾 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
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.
After you've finished these caramel apple cupcakes, try these Caramel Apple Cider Cookies! They use the same apple cider drink mix packages as the cupcakes, so you'll already have some on hand!
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).
💭 FAQs
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.
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!
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
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)
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.
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