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–+ servings

Apple Butter Old-Fashioned Cupcakes

Apple butter shines in this Fall apple cupcake recipe incorporating diced apples, bourbon and apple butter in the filling and frosting, and orange zest as garnish.
Print Recipe
Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 22 minutes
Total Time 4 hours
Course Dessert
Servings 12 cupcakes

Ingredients
  

CUPCAKE:

  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter (1 stick) Melted
  • 2/3 cup Brown sugar (light or dark)
  • 1/3 cup Granulated Sugar
  • 2 large Eggs
  • 1/3 cup Milk
  • 1 tsp Vanilla Extract
  • 1 tbsp Bourbon
  • 1½ cups Flour
  • 1 tsp Baking soda
  • ¼ tsp Baking powder
  • ½ tsp Salt
  • 1 tsp Ground Cinnamon
  • ¼ tsp Ground Nutmeg
  • 1 large Apple

FILLING:

  • ½ cup Apple Butter
  • 4 tbsp Bourbon

FROSTING:

  • ¼ cup Apple Butter
  • 6 oz Cream Cheese
  • 1/2 cup Butter (1 stick)
  • 4 cups Confectioner's sugar
  • Orange Zest

Instructions
 

For the Cupcakes:

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees and line cupcake pan
  • In a medium bowl, whisk together melted butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar until combined.
  • Add in the eggs one at a time whisking until smooth
  • Whisk in the vanilla extract, bourbon, and milk. Set aside
  • In a separate large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, cinnamon and nutmeg.
  • Slowly add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and stir gently until combined. The batter will have a few lumps. Fold in the apples.
  • Fill the cupcake liners 3/4 full. Bake for 21-23 minutes. Remove from oven and allow to cool.

For the Filling:

  • In a small bowl, add the apple butter and Bourbon. Mix to combine.

For the Frosting:

  • In a large bowl whisk together the butter and cream cheese until smooth and creamy.
  • Whisk in the vanilla extract and bourbon
  • Add the confectioner's sugar one cup at a time until fully incorporated.

The Assembly:

  • Core the cooled cupcakes with a cupcake corer or small knife. Using a spoon or piping bag, fill the cavities with the apple butter filling.
  • Frost the cupcakes to your liking. Add orange zest as garnish.

Notes

Cupcakes can be made ahead of time 1 day in advance and stored at room temperature.  Unfrosted cupcakes can be frozen up to 2 months.
*Cupcake recipe adapted from Sally's Baking Addiction Apple Spice Cupcakes.
Keyword apple butter, apples, bourbon, old-fashioned
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