Caramel Apple Cupcakes!

Sooo it may be a little early... but its officially fall for me when the fall issue of Food Network magazine comes out! And in this particular issue they have steps on how to make a cake that LOOKS like a  giant "caramel apple." Sooo it gave me the idea to make an apple cupcake (made with real apples) and dip it in caramel like a real caramel apple? These are super easy and festive... but if you have a personal favorite caramel recipe.. USE IT! (Psssssst! These would even be tasty salted)

Caramel Apple Cupcakes!

 

Ingredients:

1 and 1/2 cups                       Sugar
1/2 cup                                  Brown sugar
2                                            Eggs, room temp
1/2 cup                                  Unsalted butter, melted
2 tsp.                                     Pure vanilla extract
1 and 1/2 cups                      All-purpose flour
1/2 cup                                 Whole wheat white flour
1 tbls.                                   Cinnamon
1 tsp.                                    Baking soda
1 tsp.                                    Baking powder
4                                          Apples (granny smith, macintosh, gala...), small, shredded


Pre-heat oven to 350. Line a standard muffin pan with cupcake liners (YES I USED HALLOWEEN LINERS). In a stand mixer with fitted paddle, cream together sugar, brown sugar, eggs, and melted butter. In a medium sized bowl whisk together AP flour, whole wheat white flour, cinnamon, baking soda, and baking powder. Add flour mixture to sugar mixture slowly until fully incorporated. Fold in shredded apples. Bake until done (toothpick comes out clean). 


Let cupcakes cool completely.

Caramel:

1 and 1/2 cups                     Chewy caramel candies
1 tbls.                                   Heavy cream



In a small microwavable bowl, mix together caramels and cream. Heat until melted and combined. Dip or drizzle cooled cupcakes.