Apple Cinnamon "Tree Hugger" Cupcakes

Often times, I borrow concepts or inspiration from other bloggers.

Often I borrow recipes to adapt or follow exactly (but more often, to adapt).

I look to other bloggers for photography tips, photo composition ideas, or decorating tricks.

I look to other bloggers for writing and design suggestions.

What I very rarely do is rip off ideas/names/recipes verbatim. I don't like taking things that aren't mine and I always look to tweak and Young-Idealistic-Baker-ify the recipes I post and names I assign to the final products I proudly share.

All things aside, when I stumbled upon an apple cinnamon cupcake recipe adapted from a more complex "Tree Hugger Apple" cupcake recipe, I couldn't resist borrowing (is it stealing?) the same name for these really similar adapted cupcakes.

After all, these particular cupcakes are the result of literal tree hugging as I climbed up an apple tree, hugging the trunk to reach the perfect apples.

Despite good intentions, I just couldn't come up with a better title for these incredible back-to-nature inspired cupcakes... I do hope the original genius behind the name considers it the highest form of flattery!

     

     






















     

Apple Cinnamon Cupcakes (Recipe adapted from Java Cupcake)
Makes 12-14 cupcakes

• 1/2 cup butter, room temperature
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 1/4 cup packed brown sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1 1/2 cups flour
• 1 tablespoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon ginger
• 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
• 1/2 cup milk 
• 1 apple, peeled and shredded

Directions:

• Preheat oven to 350 F degrees and line your cupcake pan with liners
• Cream together the butter and sugars
• One at a time, mix in the eggs 
• Add the vanilla then beat on high for 2 minutes
• Sift into the batter the flour, baking powder, salt and cinnamon
• Add the milk and mix only until all the flour and milk are incorporated
• Gently fold in the apples. Do not over mix!
• Bake for 17-19 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.
• Leave in pan for 3-4 minutes before removing to a wire rack to cool completely.

Apple Filling:

• 1-2 medium apples, peeled and chopped
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 1/4 cup packed brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1 tablespoon milk mixed with 1 heaping tablespoon corn starch

Directions:

• In a medium pan, melt the butter on medium-high heat
• Add the apples, sugars and vanilla and cook until bubbling, about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally 
• Add the milk / cornstarch mixture and bring to a bubble
• Cook for 1-2 minutes until thickens
• Remove from heat and continue to stir for about 1 minute, before setting aside to cool
• Fill cupcakes and puree remaining apple mixture for buttercream

Apple Cinnamon Buttercream:

• 1/2 cup butter, room temperature
• 5-6 cups powdered sugar, sifted
• remaining apple mixture, pureed (should be about 1/4 cup)
• 1/8 teaspoon salt
• 1/8 teaspoon cinnamon

Directions:

• Cream together butter and about 3 cups powdered sugar until smooth
• Add pureed apple mixture, cinnamon and salt and mix until smooth
• Add remaining powdered sugar and beat until smooth
• Optional: Add milk or cream until desired consistency acquired (I didn't add any)
• Scrape sides of bowl and mix on high for 1 minute

Assembly

• Core the center of your cupcakes (eat the insides or save them for a later project... cake balls anyone?
• Fill with Apple Filling and replace the tops of cupcake centers
• Top with Apple Cinnamon Buttercream
• Optional: Top with a Homemade Apple Chip

Happy Baking Tree Huggers!

Pin It