Each bite of these fresh Apple Cider Cupcakes will remind you of Fall. From the soft and fluffy cupcakes to the creamy cinnamon frosting, it is a sweet apple treat.
Enjoy all the flavors of Fall in these delicious Apple Cider Cupcakes. The apple cider gives this cupcake recipe the most wonderful apple flavor. You will love the buttercream frosting with the perfect hint of cinnamon. It such an Easy Thanksgiving Cupcake.
If you love apple recipes, try this Apple Pie Cupcakes recipe. There is so much to love about Fall baking. I also love Caramel Apple Cupcakes and Apple Fritters Recipe.
Table of contents
Why we love this recipe
Enjoy all the delicious flavors of the season in an easy to make recipe. Each bite of Apple Cider cupcakes is so tasty and the cinnamon frosting is decadent. It is the absolute best recipe to take to your Fall gathering.
Ingredients
Cupcakes
- Unsalted Butter (softened)
- Granulated Sugar
- Large Eggs
- Vanilla Extract
- Apple Cider
- All Purpose Flour
Frosting
- Unsalted Butter (Softened at room temperature.)
- Brown Sugar
- Powdered Sugar
- Cinnamon
- Vanilla Extract
Find the complete ingredient list at the bottom of the page.
Substitutions and Variations to try
- Swap the cider for apple juice. The taste and flavor will not be identical but it will still be tasty.
- Nuts. Toss in a handful of chopped pecans or walnuts into the cake batter. It will give it a nice crunch.
- Drizzle Caramel Sauce on top. Apple and caramel flavor combine perfectly. You can drizzle caramel sauce on top of the frosting for a pretty appearance and tasty treat.
- Cream Cheese Frosting. This cupcake recipe is also wonderful with a cream cheese frosting. Try this instead of the cinnamon buttercream for an easy change of flavor.
How to make Apple Cider Cupcakes
- Step 1. Preheat the oven and prepare the muffin tin. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and line a cupcake pan with 12 cupcake liners.
Step 2. Combine the dry ingredients. Whisk together the flour, baking powder, cinnamon and salt. Set aside.
Step 3. Get out a separate mixing bowl. Cream together the butter and sugar with a handheld mixer or stand mixer. Then mix in the eggs, vanilla extract and apple cider until well combined.
Step 4. Mix together the dry ingredients and wet ingredients.
Step 5. Fill the muffin tins with batter. They should be about 2/3 of the way full. Bake for 18-20 minutes until a toothpick inserted in the cupcakes comes out clean.
Step 6. While the cupcakes cool, make the frosting. Mix together the butter, brown sugar, vanilla extract and cinnamon with a handheld mixer until light and fluffy.
Step 7. Gradually add the powdered sugar. Then add in the milk and mix until the frosting is a good piping consistency. Pipe the frosting onto the cupcakes and then they are ready to serve and enjoy!
Serving Suggestions
Serve the cupcakes with No Churn Vanilla Ice Cream and Easy Homemade Caramel Sauce.
FAQs
In the Refrigerator:
Refrigerate the leftovers, covered, for up to 5 days.
In the Freezer:
Wrap the cupcakes in plastic wrap and place inside a freezer container. Freeze the plain cupcakes up to 3 months.
Thaw overnight in the fridge before serving.
If you are freezing the cupcakes frosted, flash freeze them for 1 to 2 hours on a baking sheet. Then transfer to a baking sheet. This will prevent the frosting from losing its shape.
If you need to save time, make the cupcakes 2 days in advance. Store inside an airtight container at room temperature. Then frost as normal.
You can also make the frosting in advance if needed. Make the frosting up to 5 days ahead of time and store in the fridge.
Apple juice does not have any pulp due to how it is filtered. It is pasteurized and has an extended shelf life.
Whereas apple cider has pulp and is not filtered. The shelf life is not as long since it is not pasteurized and requires refrigeration.
Yes, it is easy to make a cake with this this recipe. Spread the batter into a 9×13 baking pan or you can make a layer cake if desired. The baking time will vary based on what type of pan you use.
Bake the cake and allow to cool. Spread the frosting on top and enjoy.
Tips and Tricks
- Smooth on the frosting. Do not worry if you don’t have a piping bag. You can simply smooth on the frosting using a knife and then sprinkle cinnamon.
- Scoop the flour with a spoon. Use a spoon to scoop the flour into the measuring cup. This is more accurate than dipping the measuring cup directly into the flour.
- The cupcakes need to cool completely. Don’t frost the cupcakes while they are still warm. They need to be completely cool or the frosting will slide off and lose its shape.
- Room temperature butter. The frosting is easier to combine, and the texture is smoother using room temperature butter. Soften the butter but do not melt it.
Try More Delicious Apple Desserts
- Caramel Apple Cobbler
- Apple Pie Tacos
- Easy Fried Apple Pies Recipe
- Caramel Apple Cheesecake Bars Recipe
It’s your turn to try this fabulous apple cider cupcake recipe. Then leave a comment and star recipe rating.
Apple Cider Cupcakes
Ingredients
For the Cupcakes:
- 1/2 cup Unsalted Butter softened
- 2/3 cup Granulated Sugar
- 2 Large Eggs
- 1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract
- 1 cup Apple Cider
- 2 cups All Purpose Flour
- 2 teaspoon Baking Powder
- 1 teaspoon Ground Cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon Salt
For the Frosting:
- 1 cup Unsalted Butter softened
- 1/2 cup Brown Sugar
- 3 cups Powdered Sugar
- 1 teaspoon Cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract
- 2 Tablespoons Milk
Instructions
For the Cupcakes:
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and line a cupcake pan with 12 cupcake liners.
- In a mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, cinnamon and salt. Set aside.
- In a separate large mixing bowl, cream together the butter and sugar with a hand held mixer or stand up mixer. Then mix in the eggs, vanilla extract and apple cider until well combined.
- Then stir the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients until just combined.
- Pour the batter into the cupcake tins filling them up approximately 2/3 of the way full.
- Bake for 18-20 minutes until a toothpick inserted in the cupcakes comes out clean.
- Remove from the oven and allow the cupcakes to cool completely on wire racks while you prepare the frosting.
For the Frosting:
- Mix together the butter, brown sugar, vanilla extract and cinnamon with a hand held mixer until light and fluffy.
- Slowly add in the powdered sugar until fully combined. Then add in the milk and mix until the frosting is a good piping consistency.
- Pipe the frosting onto the cupcakes and then they are ready to serve and enjoy!
