Apple Butter Cupcakes (Hello Fall!)

It has been way too long since my last blog!  This is a great recipe to start things back up! I have to dedicate these cupcakes to my dad, who shared with me his love of football, Fall, and most importantly apple butter! Apple butter is one of those things that I only buy when I am in a country store or local farm. That said, if I see it- I buy it.

​This summer I had an amazing vacation at Lake Winnipesaukee. While we were there, we stopped at an old country store (literally called the Old Country Store) and I grabbed a jar of apple butter. So glad I did!

A friend called me shortly after our trip and asked if I could make cupcakes for a fall themed baby shower. The first thing that came to mind was the apple butter.  I think this recipe makes great use of it. The cupcakes stay moist and delicious with a ton of flavor. All I had to do was add some cute cartoony owls to make the cupcakes baby shower ready!

When making these for our family, I toast 1 cup of walnuts for approximately 1 minute and mix in. Great flavor combination. Try these out and let me know what you think!

Recipe

Ingredients
Cupcakes

• 1/2 c. unsalted butter ( softened )
• 1 c sugar
• 1 egg
• 1 c apple butter
• 1/2 c sour cream
• 1 t vanilla 
• 1 t nutmeg
• 1 t cinnamon
• 2 c flour
• 1 t baking powder
• 1 t salt

Frosting

• 1/2 c unsalted butter ( softened )
• 8 ounces cream cheese ( softened )
• 1 t cinnamon
• pinch of salt
• 3 c confectioner sugar
• 1 t vanilla 

Instructions
Cupcakes

1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Line 16 - 18 cupcake tins. 
2. In a large bowl or bowl of a stand mixer, cream together butter and sugar. Mix in egg, apple butter,  and sour cream.
3. In a separate medium bowl, combine flour, cinnamon, nutmeg, baking powder and salt. 
4. Mix half of the dry ingredients into the wet. Stir until combined and repeat. 
5. Add vanilla. 
6. Fill each cupcake liner 2/3 of the way.
7. Bake 23-25 minutes, until toothpick comes out clean. 

Frosting

1. Combine softened butter and cream cheese, until well mixed and smooth.
2. Add 1 cup of confectioners sugar at a time, mix for 1 minute between each addition.
3. Add cinnamon, vanilla and salt.
4. Refrigerate frosting for one hour before piping onto cupcakes.