Monday, July 30, 2012

Applesauce Cupcake with Brown Sugar Frosting





 I originally found this recipe on Better Homes and Gardens.  This was the dessert I chose to serve last Friday during my get together.  They were a slightly dry cupcake so next time I make them I'll probably add a little more applesauce or maybe even a couple drops of apple juice.  My applesauce was homemade so it may be that it didn't have as much liquid in it as a traditional store bought applesauce.

The original recipe didn't call for the glazed walnuts but I thought they were a nice addition to the cupcake.  I've also marked the nutmeg and cloves as optional since my personal opinion was they detracted a little from the cupcake.  If you love nutmeg and cloves leave them in, since I'm not a huge fan I think it would taste better without them.

After I frosted the cupcakes I added a dried, cinnamon apple chip to the top.  Any brand will do but my favorite is Seneca Crispy Apple Chips.  If you haven't tried them yet you're missing out!

Applesauce Cupcake

  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 1/3 cup shortening 
  • 1-1/3 cups applesauce (I would recommend chunky so you get bits of apple)
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1-1/2 teaspoon baking power
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg (optional)
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves (optional)
  • 3/4 cup raisins (optional)
  • Glazed walnuts (optional)
Brown Sugar Frosting
  • 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
  • 1/3 cup butter
  • 2 cups sifted powered sugar
  • 1 tablespoon milk
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • Milk (optional)



    1. Preheat the oven to 375 degree F. Line eighteen 2 1/2-inch muffin cups with paper bake cups; set aside.
    2. In a large bowl, beat granulated sugar and shortening with an electric mixer on medium speed until well mixed. Beat in applesauce. (Mixture will appear curdled.) In a small bowl, stir together flour, baking powder, cinnamon, baking soda, nutmeg, and cloves. Beat into applesauce mixture. Stir in raisins and walnuts.
    3. Spoon batter into prepared muffin cups, filling each 2/3 full.* Bake in the preheated oven for 18 to 20 minutes or until a wooden toothpick inserted in centers comes out clean. Cool in muffin cups on a wire rack for 5 minutes. Remove from muffin cups. Cool completely on wire rack.
    4. For frosting, in a medium saucepan, combine brown sugar and butter. Cook and stir over medium heat until melted. Remove from heat. Stir in powdered sugar, the 1 tablespoon milk, and the vanilla. If necessary, stir in enough additional milk, 1 teaspoon at a time, to make spreading consistency (if frosting thickens, stir in additional milk).

    Note:  Sifting the powered sugar will make the frosting smoother.  I didn't sift the sugar but I did beat the frosting extra well.

    Frost cupcakes. Makes 18 cupcakes.


    Test Kitchen Tip: If all of the cupcakes do not fit in the oven at one time, refrigerate the remaining cupcakes while the first ones bake.
    nutrition facts

    • Servings Per Recipe 18 cupcakes
    • Calories253
    • Total Fat (g)8
    • Saturated Fat (g)3,
    • Cholesterol (mg)10,
    • Sodium (mg)109,
    • Carbohydrate (g)46,
    • Fiber (g)1,
    • Protein (g)2,
    • Vitamin A (DV%)0,
    • Vitamin C (DV%)0,
    • Calcium (DV%)0,
    • Iron (DV%)0,
    • Other Carbohydrates (d.e.)3,
    • Fat (d.e.)1.5,
    • Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet

32 comments:

  1. Sounds delicious! Thanks for linking up! Have a great day. :)

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    1. My pleasure - thanks for hosting your link party! Appreciate you stopping by.

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  2. Sounds wonderful. Thanks for the great recipe and for joining TTT.

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  3. They look great!
    I think they seem dry to you because they're more like muffins (and they're drier than cupcakes)
    I love this recipe :)

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    1. You're probably right. While the taste is good I do like them a little moister :) Glad you love it! Thanks for stopping by.

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  4. Thanks for stopping by - following you back. Congratulations on your one year anniversary!

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  5. Thanks for stopping by and the heads-up. I've linked up and added you to the link list.

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  6. The frosting looks absolutely delicious. You are inspiring me to make homemade applesauce in addition to the cupcakes! Thanks for sharing!

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    1. My kids LOVE homemade applesauce and it's actually quite easy (although a little time consuming due to it cooking down). Thanks for stopping by.

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  7. These sound amazing! And applesauce in them? Makes me feel better about eating them :) Thanks for sharing! Im a new follower! I would love for you to visit mine!

    riversrecipereview.blogspot.com

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    1. Anything to make us feel better about treating ourselves :) Stopped by your blog, it looks like you have some amazing recipes! I can't wait to try some of them out.

      Thanks for stopping by,

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  8. Looks delicious! Thanks for sharing
    Linda

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  9. Sounds good. I'll have to give it a try. Thanks for linking up for Flash Blog Friday :-)

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    1. Be sure and let me know how you like them. Thanks for stopping by.

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  10. I've heard of using apple sauce as a substitute for butter to make recipes lower in fat. I've tried this once in a chocolate brownie, but afterwards wondered what was the point in a low fat brownie? hehehe. BUT in a cupcake, I think it sounds much more suitable. I'll give it a try, thanks :)

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    1. Do you know why you should continue to use applesauce in your brownies? So you can eat twice as many! Ha Ha ;)

      Thanks for stopping by.

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  11. These looks soooo good. Love applesauce recipes. They tend to be healthier!

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    1. When i'm in my "healthy" modes I tend to substitute applesauce quite frequently in place of oil. With most baked goods you can't tell the difference. It's nice when applesauce is the main ingredient :)

      Thanks for stopping by.

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  12. This looks SO yummy! I'm going to save this one for fall and have my kids help too. :)Love that it's made with applesauce!

    I'm stopping by from the Monday mingle and now following you. Have a great day!

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    1. This would be a good one to serve in the fall - hope your kids have fun making them :)

      Thanks for stopping by.

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  13. Thank you so much for linking up to Tasty Thursdays last week. Hope to see you again this week!! The party is live at http://mandatorymooch.blogspot.com/2012/08/tasty-thursdays-3.html

    Nichi – The Mandatory Mooch

    ReplyDelete
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    1. Thanks for stopping by. I appreciate the opportunity to link up.

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  14. Those look absolutely fabulous! (Good job on the frosting. I can never make it look like that!) Thanks for joining the party at One Creative Weekend!

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    1. The frosting is actually one of the easiest parts! One of these days I'll show you guys how I do it. Thanks for stopping by.

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  15. Love your walnut add in and the apple chip on top! Thanks for sharing on Busy Monday!

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