Soft cupcakes laced with rich apple flavor and a gooey caramel center. A cupcake twist on the classic fall treat, these treats are finished with green apple buttercream dripped with salted caramel and candied walnut.
Our apple cider cupcake batter is a mix of butter, sugar, eggs, vanilla, flour, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and fresh apple cider.
Beat unsalted butter until fluffy. Add half the confectioners sugar and mix. Add remaining sugar and vanilla, mix on low. Mix in apple cider and cinnamon. Add cake dye colors in batches.
Combine caramel ingredients. Cook until it turns amber and remove from heat. Pour in cream. Return to heat until mixture reaches 238°F. Transfer to a bowl and add salt. Let cool 10 minutes. Add the butter.
Core center of the cupcakes. Fill with salted caramel. Let settle. Transfer buttercream to a piping bag. Pipe the tops. Add salted caramel and let drip over. Sprinkle with chopped walnuts.