Applelicious Cupcakes

Ah, fall is in the air!  Time for wonderful apple desserts to herald the beginning of fall.  Fall is my favorite time of year when the leaves start to change with the crisp Autumn air.  And fall clothes, need I say more to soft cashmere sweaters, light wool pants, and boots! But I can't forget about fresh picked apples right off the tree. Perfect for just taking a big juicy bite or using for outrageous apple desserts like the  recipe that I am sharing today which is half cupcake, half muffin, but totally delicious.

Applelicious Cupcakes

Cream Cheese Filling
1 8 ounce package cream cheese
1/4 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup sugar
1 large egg
2 tablespoon flour
1 teaspoon vanilla

Apple batter
1 cup finely chopped pecans
3 cups flour
1 cup sugar
1 cup firmly packed light brown sugar
2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon nutmeg
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground allspice
3/4 cup canola oil
3/4 cup apple sauce
1 teaspoon vanilla
3 cups peeled Gala apples, finely chopped

Praline Frosting
1/2 cup firmly packed light brown sugar
1/4 cup butter
3 tablespoon milk
1teaspoon vanilla
1 cup powered sugar

Prepare Filling: Beat first three ingredients at medium speed with electric mixer until blended and smooth. Add egg, flour and vanilla, beat until blended

Prepare Batter: Preheat oven to 350. Bake finely chopped pecans in a shallow pan 8-10 minutes until toasted. Stir together flour and next seven ingredients in a large bowl; stir in eggs and next three ingredients, just until dry ingredients are moistened.  Stir in apples and pecans.
Spoon batter into cupcake lined pans, filling half. Then spoon about 1/8 cup of cream cheese filling using all the filling. Top with remaining batter.
Bake 20-25 minutes until wooden tester comes out clean.
Makes 24 cup cakes

Prepare Praline Frosting:  Bring brown sugar, butter, milk to a boil in 2-qt sauce pan over medium heat, whisking constantly. Boil one minute. Remove from heat, add vanilla, stir. Gradually whisk powder sugar until smooth.  Stir for 3-5 minutes until frosting slightly thickens. Before the frosting is cool icing cupcakes. Top with chopped pecans and one dried apple chip.

Enjoy!
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