Enjoy the cozy flavor of hot apple cider with these Spiced Apple Cider Cupcakes. Moist white cake batter cupcakes topped with apple cider cream cheese frosting and cinnamon. Side of hot apple cider encouraged.
With golden leaves clinging to trees before their eventual transition, fall also brings new seasonal ingredients and flavors. Among those, apples are in peak season.
While fresh, and even local, apples are a wonderful treat, you can enjoy seasonal apple flavors anytime thanks to new fall themed products. For this Spiced Apple Cider Cupcakes recipe I’ve packed in as much apple flavor as possible, even without using fresh apples. How is this possible you say?
How to Make Apple Cider Cupcakes without Fresh Apple
I modified classic flavors to make apple cider cupcakes. To start, ground nutmeg is mixed into the cupcake batter to add a subtle, but important spice and flavor.
Instead of water, I used apple juice to completely replace it as the liquid. Can you even do that?! Well yes you can. It started as a test to add more flavor and came out wonderfully.
Next, mix instant apple cider powder into the frosting. Just a tablespoon in the entire recipe adds a sweet, strong apple cider flavor to the cupcakes. Then sprinkle with a bit of cinnamon for garnish and flavor.
Top Tips for Making Apple Cider Cupcakes
- Choose the highest quality apple juice possible for best results.
- Don’t omit the nutmeg or cinnamon as it adds the delicious festive flavor that we all love.
- A little apple cider powder goes a long way so shouldn’t need more than 1 tablespoon.
- Remember to let the cupcakes cool completely before frosting or the frosting will melt.
- Store the cupcakes (unfrosted) in containers for up to 5 days or freeze them. Once frosted they will last for about 2 days.
What is apple cider made of?
Apple cider may be made of different things depending on who you ask
Apple cider in the US is another name for apple juice (although there are subtle differences between the two). It’s sweet, crispy, fresh and delicious and can be enjoyed any time of the day in a nice chilled glass, used for baking or during the festive season served warm with festive spices.
In the UK and the rest of Europe, however, apple cider is an alcoholic beverage also known as hard cider in the US. It can spark a little confusion when it comes to recipes so to clarify this recipe is made with unfermented, non-alcoholic apple cider.
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Spiced Apple Cider Cupcakes
Ingredients
- 1 (15.25 ounce) package white cake mix
- 1 cup apple juice
- ½ cup light cooking olive oil
- 3 large eggs
- 1 ½ teaspoons ground nutmeg
- 1 jar Cream Cheese Frosting, store bought
- 1 tablespoon instant apple cider drink powder
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350º F. Line a muffin pan with regular size cupcake liners. In a large bowl combine cake mix, apple juice, water, eggs and nutmeg until moistened. Beat with a mixer on medium speed for 2 minutes, until slightly thickened.
- Pour batter into cupcake liners. Bake 18–20 minutes, until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool for a few minutes, then remove from pan. Bake in multiple sets depending on the count of your pan.
- Stir apple cider powder into frosting mix until well combined. Spread over cooled cupcakes.
Notes
- Choose the highest quality apple juice possible for best results.
- Don't omit the nutmeg or cinnamon as it adds the delicious festive flavor that we all love.
- A little apple cider powder goes a long way so shouldn't need more than 1 tablespoon.
- Remember to let the cupcakes cool completely before frosting or the frosting will melt.
- Store the cupcakes (unfrosted) in containers for up to 5 days or freeze them. Once frosted they will last for about 2 days.
More delicious cupcake recipes you might like:
- Chocolate Almond Cupcakes with Salted Caramel Vanilla Buttercream
- Reece’s Peanut Butter Cup Mini Cheesecake Cupcakes
- Mini Raspberry Cheesecake Muffins
Spiced Apple Cider Cupcakes sound delicious! (client)
Thanks Samantha! They totally were!
Simple and tasty! Great idea using the apple cider drink powder!
It’s not just for warm drinks. Thanks Kimberly!
These cupcakes look wonderful and pretty simple to make. Thank you for sharing!
They sure are. Thanks Ashleigh!
These look ridiculously delicious! Fall is my very favorite season because of things like these. I can’t have fruit or sugar until next month (doctor’s orders, so I gotta be good about it) but these are #1 on my list of things to try when I can. Thank you for sharing!
Thanks so much and I’m honored Brittany! It’s good you have something to look forward to after your sugar fast. Hope you enjoy!
If only I had some of these right now! I love how you customized the standard cake mix into something really spectacular 😀
Thanks Chrisy. Just a few things creates a whole new unique recipe. Guess you’ll have to add to the list. Thanks!
Oh man, these look sooo good! Perfect for a fall gathering or party!
They definitely are and I’m sure they’ll be a hit. Thanks Julie!
I didn’t know there was a caramel apple frosting? Making a trip to the store today I guess;)
I didn’t know till now either Joanna. All the fall flavors look yummy!
What an easy way to transform cake mix into a true fall treat! I love the addition of apple cider in the batter, and what a really cool idea to mix powdered apple cider drink mix into the frosting (I didn’t even know such a thing existed!). These really would be such a quick and easy, yet super-fun addition to any fall party or potluck!
I used to drink them when I growing up and thought it’d be a fun way to flavored baked goods. Turns out it works great! Thanks Shelley!
Delicious cupcakes! Perfect for Halloween or Thanksgiving Party!
They sure could be. Thanks Ilona!