Apple Spice Cupcakes with Brown Sugar Cream Cheese Frosting

By Heather of Kitchen Concoctions: www.kitchen-concoctions.com

Prep Time: 25-30 minutes Bake Time: 15-18 minutes Makes: 20-22 cupcakes

Apple Spice Cupcakes:

¼ cup butter, softened

2/3 cup packed brown sugar

2/3 cup white sugar

2 eggs

½ cup applesauce

1 teaspoon vanilla

2 ¼ cup flour

½ teaspoon baking powder

1 teaspoon baking soda

½ teaspoon salt

1 ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon

½ teaspoon ground nutmeg

1/8 teaspoon all spice

2 medium/large apples, cored, peeled and grated

Brown Sugar Cream Cheese Frosting:

1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened

2 tablespoons butter, softened

1 teaspoon vanilla

1 cup brown sugar

1 ½ cups confectioner’s sugar

Walnuts, chopped, optional for garnish

For cupcakes:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line muffin tin with cupcake liners.

In a large bowl, cream together butter and both sugars. Add eggs, one at a time, mixing until well blended. Mix in applesauce and vanilla.

Lightly spoon flour into measuring cup and level off. In a separate medium sized bowl, combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt and spices; mix well.

Gradually add dry ingredients to wet ingredients; mixing at low speed until well blended. Beat at medium speed 1 minute. Stir in grated apples.

Spoon cupcake batter into prepared muffin tins. Bake at 350 degrees for 15-18 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.

Cool completely and frost with Brown Sugar Cream Cheese Frosting. Top with chopped walnuts, if desired.

For frosting:

In a large bowl, cream together cream cheese, butter and vanilla. Mix in brown sugar mixing until well blended. Add confectioner’s sugar, mixing until blended.