Apple Cider Cupcakes with Salted Caramel Frosting is the perfect simple dessert recipe to celebrate the fall season.
Pumpkin may be the princess of the season, but let’s just take a moment to acknowledge The Queen. Oh, hayyy. How about them apples? Seriously though. Apples, amiright? Let’s make some Apple Cider Cupcakes, yo! (And next up, Apple Bundt Cake with Caramel Ganache!) .
Apple Cider Cupcakes
Apple Cider Cupcakes with Salted Caramel Frosting
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Apple Cider Cupcake Ingredients
- Vanilla cake mix, prepared – You can also use white cake mix, or your own homemade cake mix.
- Spiced apple cider drink mix – You can usually find this near the hot chocolate and coffee at the grocery store.
Frosting
- Caramel candy cubes – Find them in the grocery store candy aisle.
- Vanilla icing – White icing will also work.
- Salt – I like a coarse kosher salt, but any kind will work. Just make sure you taste as you go.
How do you make apple cider cupcakes with salted caramel frosting? (step-by-step)
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Cupcakes:
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- First, add apple cider drink mix to box cake mix then prepare cupcake batter and bake cupcakes per package directions.
- Next, allow cupcakes to cool completely before icing.
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Icing:
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- First, melt caramel candies in the microwave (cook in 15 – 20 second increments on high power and stir between, until melted through), it should yield approximately 1 cup when melted.
- Then, in a bowl, combine vanilla icing and melted caramel. Add salt, to taste. Mix thoroughly and refrigerate until icing is cool enough to hold its form.
- Finally, frost cupcakes and enjoy!
Preparation
Can you use a homemade cake recipe?
Absolutely! We like the ease of using a cake mix, but feel free to try it with your favorite from scratch recipe too.
How do you make box cake taste better?
We have a whole article on how to make box cake mix better, but the TLDR is to add an extra egg, swap the water for milk, and swap the oil for butter.
Storage and Leftovers
Do you need to refrigerate apple cider cupcakes?
No, these can be kept at room temperature in a cool/dry atmosphere for about 3 days. Any longer than that and it’s best to store them in the fridge.
For best results, store in a covered air tight container.
Can you freeze apple cider cupcakes?
Yes, but they are best if frozen before adding the frosting. You can freeze after frosting, but the frosting may separate some or fail to hold its shape.
Allow the cupcakes to cool completely, then freeze in a freezer-safe air tight container.
Tips and tricks
These Apple Cider Cupcakes with Salted Caramel Frosting are incredibly simple to put together and will bowl over your friends every time. Sweet and spiced with a touch of salt in the caramel. Yes. Yes, this needs to happen in your kitchen.
These delicious fruits have been ushering in fall since time itself and they’re just not about to walk off the stage because some cute ginger has caught everyone’s eye. And why should they? There’s room enough for everyone and today, apple cider – the original fall flavor – is getting her due.
Speaking of queens, I’m queen of the kitchen hacks, so you know we’re using a box cake mix today with some extra added deliciousness.
- Did you know that if you beat cake mix with an electric mixer for a minute or two it incorporates air into the batter and makes the cake extra light and fluffy?
- We also used a can of vanilla icing with a little something extra added. This recipe really couldn’t get any simpler. A large star tip on the icing bag gave us these beautiful roses and a dash of gold sprinkles finished them off with the most elegant look.
More apple recipes to love
- Apple butter recipe
- Apple bundt cake with butterscotch ganache
- Apple crumble with chocolate
- Cinnamon walnut apple bread
Other great cupcake recipes
- White chocolate and peppermint cupcakes
- Lemon raspberry cupcakes
- Mocha cupcakes
- Pumpkin spice cupcakes with eggnog frosting
- See all our cupcake recipes as well as this fun cupcake collection!
More awesome cake recipes
- Cranberry upside down cake
- Homemade chocolate cake
- Apple bundt cake
- Cinnamon mug cake
- See all our cake recipes!
Tools and ingredients we love
- Betty Crocker Baking Supermoist Cake Mix
- Alpine Spiced Apple Cider Instant Drink Mix
- Betty Crocker Rich & Creamy Frosting
- Kraft America’s Classic Caramels
- Wilton 1M Open Star Piping Tip
- Culinary Parchment Baking Cups
- Wilton Gold Pearlized Sprinkles Mix
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How to Make Apple Cider Cupcakes
Apple Cider Cupcakes with Salted Caramel Frosting
Ingredients
Cupcakes:
- one box vanilla cake mix
- ingredients to prepare boxed cake mix
- 5 packets spiced apple cider drink mix
Icing:
- 1 and ½ cups caramel candy cubes
- 1 container vanilla icing
- ½ to 1 teaspoon salt taste as you go
- powdered sugar as needed
Instructions
Cupcakes:
- Add apple cider drink mix to box cake mix and prepare cupcakes per package directions.
- Allow to cool completely before icing.
Icing:
- Melt caramel candies in the microwave (cook in 20 second increments and stir between, until melted through), it should yield approximately 1 cup when melted.
- In a bowl, combine vanilla icing and melted caramel. Add salt. Mix thoroughly and refrigerate for at least 10 - 15 minutes, until icing is cool enough to hold its form.
- If icing is still too runny, add powdered sugar in small increments until desired consistency is reached.
- Frost cupcakes and enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition
Apple Cider Cupcakes with Salted Caramel Frosting
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These look delicious. I will try them out for sure.
I made your recipe for a gathering the other day and everyone kept asking for the recipe. It was totally a hit!
Was the cake portion super sweet? The cider mix has a lot of sugar in it.
It’s a sweet cake, for sure. But we love it!
Where do you find the cider packets to put in the cake?
My local grocery store, but you can get them on Amazon too: https://amzn.to/3jf4ZtX 🙂
Will the frosting g still work if I did a homemade buttercream and homemade salted caramel?
I can’t say for sure without testing, but I think it should 🙂
Do you use regular table salt ? And what did you sprinkle on top of the icing?
Since it’s salted to taste, you can use whatever kind of salt you prefer. Just start slow and taste as you go. On top I sprinkled some course sugar 🙂
I have apple cider in a container how much apple cider would it be in cups with the 5 packets?
I’m not sure, sorry.