Apple Pie Cupcakes with soft, spiced cake, sweet apple pie filling, and creamy frosting. A delicious treat for dessert or snack time.
These Apple Pie Cupcakes combine the flavors of classic apple pie with the convenience of a single-serving treat. Each cupcake features a soft, spiced cake filled with sweet, tender apple filling and finished with a creamy frosting.
Theyโre a fun twist on traditional pie, easy to make, and a crowd-pleaser for any occasion. Whether for dessert, a snack, or a holiday treat, these cupcakes bring the cozy taste of apple pie to every bite.
You get to enjoy everything you love about apple pie and cupcakes in one fabulous recipe. It does not disappoint any time of year! For more apple recipes, you might also love Cinnamon Roll Apple Pie Cups, Apple Cider Cupcakes and Easy Apple Pie Spice Recipe.
Table of contents
Why We Love This Recipe
- All the flavors of apple pie: Sweet apple filling with warm spices in every bite.
- Soft, spiced cake: Moist and tender, perfectly complementing the filling.
- Creamy frosting topping: Adds a smooth, sweet finish that balances the spices.
- Single-serving convenience: Easy to grab and enjoy without slicing a whole pie.
- Fun twist on a classic: A creative way to enjoy apple pie in cupcake form.
Ingredients
Cupcakes
- Yellow Cake Mix: Prepare according to the package instructions.
- Ground Cinnamon: Adjust the amount to your taste for a warm, spiced flavor.
- Apple Pie Filling: Store-bought or homemade works well for the filling.
Frosting
- Unsalted Butter: Softened at room temperature for smooth, creamy frosting.
- Powdered Sugar: Sifted to remove lumps for a silky texture.
- Vanilla Extract: Use pure vanilla for the best flavor.
- Brown Sugar: Homemade Brown Sugar Recipe works great and adds rich sweetness.
- Heavy Cream: Helps achieve the perfect frosting consistency.
For Serving
- Caramel Topping. I love Homemade Caramel Sauce Recipe.
- Ground Cinnamon. This is optional but really delicious on top.
Get the complete ingredient list at the bottom of the page.
Variations
- Cream Cheese Frosting. Substitute your favorite cream cheese frosting in this recipe. It is so delicious and a great flavor change from regular buttercream.
- Cool Whip Cream Cheese Frosting. This is another delicious topping idea for this cupcake recipe. We love Cool Whip Cream Cheese frosting for a lighter option.
- Fresh Apple Pieces. You can opt to use fresh apples in this recipe instead of easy apple pie filling. We suggest using lemon juice to coat the apples so they don’t turn brown. Granny smith apples taste great cooked until tender over medium heat in a skillet or saucepan.
- Whipped Cream. Skip the frosting all together and dollop the cupcakes with whipped cream. Then sprinkle cinnamon on top if desired.
- Pie filling. You can actually make this recipe using other types of cake filling. It is a fun and tasty way to make an entirely new creation.
- Canned icing. If you need to save more time, skip the homemade icing and use a store bought icing instead.
Step By Step Instructions
- Step 1. Preheat the oven and line the muffin pan. Preheat the oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit and line 2 12 cup muffin tins with cupcake liners.
Step 2. Prepare the cupcake batter based on the yellow cake mix instructions in a large bowl. Then whisk in the ground cinnamon. Mix until the wet ingredients and dry ingredients are smooth.
Step 3. Fill the cupcake liners. Pour the batter into the cupcake liners filling them approximately 2/3 of the way full. Place a spoonful of the apple pie filling into each muffin cup into the center of the batter.
Step 4. Bake the cupcakes for 17-20 minutes until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cupcakes comes out clean. Let the cupcake pan cool at room temperature on wire racks completely before topping with the frosting.
Step 5. In a large mixing bowl, beat the butter until it’s creamy, light and fluffy. Slowly add the powdered sugar into the butter mixture. Make sure that the powdered sugar is completely mixed in before adding more.
Step 6. Mix in the brown sugar and ground cinnamon. Mix on a medium-high speed for 3 minutes using an electric mixer so that the frosting is well combined. You can also use the bowl of a stand mixer. Reduce the mixer speed to low and add in the heavy cream and vanilla extract. Beat until the frosting is a good consistency.
Step 7. Use a piping bag to pipe the frosting onto each of the cupcakes. Top with cinnamon and caramel. Nutmeg is another good option. You can also sprinkle with sea salt.
Storage
Refrigerate: Keep in the fridge for up to 3-4 days.
Freeze: Wrap unfrosted cupcakes individually in plastic wrap and place in a freezer-safe container for up to 2 months. Thaw at room temperature before frosting and serving.
Expert Tips
- Choose the right cake mix: Yellow cake mix complements the flavors of cinnamon and apples perfectly. White cake mix can be used, but yellow gives the best results. Spice cake mix is also a tasty alternative.
- Adjust the cinnamon: Add more or less cinnamon depending on your preference for a milder or spicier flavor.
- Donโt overmix the batter: Stir just until combined. Overmixing can make the cupcakes dense instead of light and fluffy.
- Fill evenly: When adding the apple pie filling, use a spoon or small scoop to distribute evenly in each cupcake liner for uniform baking.
- Cool before frosting: Allow cupcakes to cool completely to prevent the frosting from melting or sliding off.
- Optional add-ins: For extra texture, fold in a handful of chopped nuts or sprinkle cinnamon sugar on top before baking.
More Easy Cupcake Recipes
- Butterscotch Cupcakes
- Oreo Cupcakes Recipe
- Caramel Apple Cupcakes
- Confetti Cupcakes
- Carrot Cake Cupcakes
It’s your turn to try this apple pie cupcakes recipe. Please don’t forget to leave a comment and star rating.
Apple Pie Cupcakes
Ingredients
For the Cupcakes:
- 1 box Yellow Cake Mix 15.25 ounces
- Ingredients to prepare the cake mix based on package instructions
- 1 teaspoon Ground Cinnamon
- 1 can Apple Pie Filling 21 ounces
For the Frosting:
- 1 1/2 cup Unsalted Butter room temperature
- 4 1/2 cups Powdered Sugar
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup Brown Sugar
- 1 teaspoon Ground Cinnamon
- 3 Tablespoons Heavy Cream
For Serving:
- 1/2 cup Caramel Topping
- 1 teaspoon Ground Cinnamon
Instructions
For the Cupcakes:
- Preheat the oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit and line 2 12 cup muffin tins with cupcake liners.
- Prepare the cupcake batter based on the yellow cake mix instructions and then stir in the ground cinnamon. Mix until smooth.
- Pour the batter into the cupcake liners filling them approximately 2/3 of the way full.
- Chop up the apple pie filling.ย Place a spoonful of the apple pie filling into each muffin cup into the center of the batter.
- Bake for 17-20 minutes until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cupcakes comes out clean.
- Let the cupcakes cool at room temperature on wire racks completely before topping with the frosting.
For the Frosting:
- In a large mixing bowl, beat the butter until it’s creamy, light and fluffy.
- Gradually mix the powdered sugar into the butter mixture ยฝ cup at a time. Make sure that the powdered sugar is completely mixed in before adding more.
- Mix in the brown sugar and ground cinnamon.ย Mix on a high speed for 3 minutes so that the frosting is well combined.
- Turn the mixer speed to low and add in the heavy cream and vanilla extract.ย Beat for approximately 30 seconds to 1 minute until the frosting is a good consistency.
- Pour the frosting in a decoratorโs bag fitted with a star tip.ย Pipe the frosting onto each of the cupcakes.
- When serving, top the cupcakes with the ground cinnamon and caramel topping.ย Enjoy!
