This cupcake recipe is really easy to make and a really good recipe to make with children. We had everything that we needed to make them in the house. (We didn’t even have to take off our PJs.) And aren’t they healthy since they have applesauce in them? Sure, why not?

Last weekend, we decided that we were going to spend the entire weekend being lazies. We hang out in our jammies all day and watch movies (I think that we have seen Cars a million times). We take a big family nap and sometimes we make whatever the kids want to make. On this particular day, Ava and Will were leafing through my Martha Stewart Cupcake book and oohing and ahhing over the beautiful pictures. I told them that they could pick any cupcake that they wanted and that we would make it. This is what they picked. How cute are they?

This cupcake recipe is really easy to make and a really good recipe to make with children. We had everything that we needed to make them in the house. (We didn’t even have to take off our PJs.) And aren’t they healthy since they have applesauce in them? Sure, why not?

Apple Cupcakes Ingredients //
- 2 cups flour
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 3/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon fresh nutmeg
- 1/8 teaspoon ground cloves
- 2 sticks of butter at room temperature
- 1 cup sugar
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 4 large eggs
- 1 1/2 cups applesauce
- 1 cup toasted pecans, chopped
How to Make // The Steps
Step 1:
Cream together both sugars with the butter until light and fluffy. (I totally made a mistake and only used 1 stick of butter. The recipe was great but would have been even better with that extra stick. Oops.)

Step 2:
Put the dry ingredients in a bowl and whisk them together.

Step 3:
I cannot stress enough what a difference freshly grated nutmeg makes.

Step 4:
Add the eggs one at a time. Look very serious while your sister is adding the eggs. Serious = adorable.

Step 5:
Add the applesauce.

Step 6:
Mix it all together.

Step 7:
Add in the dry ingredients. Fold in the nuts by hand. Put the cupcake batter into lined muffin tins. We used red liners to make them look even more like apples. Bake in a preheated 350-degree oven for 18 to 20 minutes.

For the Brown Sugar Buttercream:
- 1 stick room temperature cream cheese
- 1 stick room temperature butter
- 1 cup brown sugar
To decorate:
- Red jimmies or red sanding sugar
- Thin pretzel sticks
- Green Fruit Roll-Ups

Step 8:
Beat the cream cheese and butter until light and fluffy. Add the brown sugar and beat until combined.

Step 9:
Now that I am thinking about it, a sprinkle of cinnamon in that frosting would have been a really good idea.

Step 10:
Using a sharp knife or a cookie cutter, cut some leaf shapes out of the Fruit Roll-Up.

Step 11:
Frost the cupcake with the Brown Sugar Buttercream.

Step 12:
Sprinkle the red sanding sugar generously on the cupcake. (I think that it works better to dip the cupcake in the sugar, it covers the cupcake better that way.) Stick the pretzel in for the stem and add a leaf.

These are so adorable and would be perfect for back to school. Does your class do Apple Week? ‘Cuz these would be perfect for that too.

And there you have your own little apple orchard. This was a great way to spend an afternoon with my babies.

What do you like to cook with your kids? What are your favorite recipes to make with your babies?


Apple Cupcakes
First Day of School Apple Cupcakes - applesauce pecan cupcakes with brown sugar buttercream decorated to look like an apple.
Ingredients
- 2 cups flour
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 3/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon fresh nutmeg
- 1/8 teaspoon ground cloves
- 2 sticks butter at room temperature
- 1 cup sugar
- 1/2 cups brown sugar
- 4 large eggs
- 1 1/2 cups applesauce
- 1 cup toasted pecans, chopped
For the Brown Sugar Buttercream:
- 1 stick room temperature cream cheese
- 1 stick room temperature butter
- 1 cup brown sugar
To decorate:
- red jimmies or red sanding sugar
- thin pretzel sticks
- green Fruit Roll Ups
Instructions
- Cream together both sugars with the butter until light and fluffy. (I totally made a mistake and only used 1 stick of butter. The recipe was great, but would have been even better with that extra stick. Oops.)
- Put the dry ingredients in a bowl and whisk together.
- I cannot stress enough what a difference freshly grated nutmeg makes.
- Add the eggs one at a time. Look very serious while your sister is adding the eggs. Serious = adorable.
- Add the applesauce.
- Mix it all together.
- Add in the dry ingredients. Fold in the nuts by hand. Put the cupcake batter into lined muffin tins. We used red liners to make them look even more like apples. Bake in a preheated 350 degree oven for 18 to 20 minutes.
- Beat the cream cheese and butter until light and fluffy. Add the brown sugar and beat until combined.
- Now that I am thinking about it, a sprinkle of cinnamon in that frosting would have been a really good idea.
- Using a sharp knife or a cookie cutter, cut some leaf shapes out of the Fruit Roll Up.
- Frost the cupcake with the Brown Sugar Buttercream.
- Sprinkle the red sanding sugar generously on the cupcake. (I think that it works better to dip the cupcake in the sugar, it covers the cupcake better that way.) Stick the pretzel in for the stem and add a leaf.
Nutrition Information:
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 0Total Fat: 0g
sandra hoyte
Monday 28th of October 2013
i live in the uk and have different names for the ingrediants needed what would be suitable to use cake flour = plain flour or sef raising. buttermilk not sure please can you help
bakedbree
Monday 28th of October 2013
These call for all-purpose and buttermilk is sour milk. Add a teaspoon of vinegar or lemon juice to milk and let it stand for a few minutes. It will curdle a bit and then you have buttermilk.
Jessica Alvarez
Wednesday 11th of September 2013
Hi, tomorrow's my birthday and i want to make these good looking cupcakes. But i have a question. Does the salt have to be unsalted or salted? >_<
bakedbree
Thursday 19th of September 2013
either.
Jessica Alvarez
Wednesday 11th of September 2013
i mean is the butter has to be unsalted or salted
Kate
Sunday 16th of December 2012
So I also followed the 2 sticks of butter in the batter instructions and also got greasy cupcakes. I got a nice rise, but can tell something is off. Luckily, I have all the ingredients to make a second batch and will only put one stick of butter in the batter! I wish I had read the comments before I went ahead and did a batch of 12... That'll learn me!
bakedbree
Monday 17th of December 2012
Sorry, I made these so long ago that I don't really remember how they turned out. But from the pictures, they don't seem like they did. Sorry I can't be more helpful.
Lauren
Saturday 29th of September 2012
These are so easy and yummy! These are the perfect cupcakes for fall.I was happy that these did not require grated apples, which take a lot of time. Great flavor and the brown sugar icing is really unique and easy. I didn't add the pecans and used 2/3 cup of butter instead of 1 cup. I made mixed both the batter and the icing by hand- not hard to do at all. I loved the decorating you did with your cupcakes bree! I didn't have colored sugar so I topped mine with auttunam sprinkles instead.
bakedbree
Tuesday 2nd of October 2012
I love these little cupcakes, I have not made them in awhile. I need to!
Jeannette
Wednesday 27th of June 2012
I was just wondering if you think it would be ok to halve the recipe as I only need one dozen of these. Thanks
bakedbree
Wednesday 27th of June 2012
I cannot say, I have never done it. Sorry! You can always freeze half.