Fall is here! That means it's time to bake your favourite desserts with fresh apples!  These cupcakes are moist and nicely sweet with a creamy icing and looking really cute!

Yields 12 cupcakes

Cupcake dough
1 1/2 cup flour
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
Pinch of salt
1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup sugar
3 eggs
1/4 cup milk
1/3 cup apple juice
1/2 cup peeled and diced apple
Maple and apple simple sirup
1/2 cup apple juice
1/3 cup sugar
1/3 cup maple sirup
Apple and Maple icing
1/2 cup butter
1 1/2 cup powdered sugar
1 tbsp soy milk
2 tbsp of maple apple simple sirup
Decoration
Red sugar sprinkles
Bretzels
Basil leaves
Red food coloring

  1. Combine all the ingredients for the simple sirup in a saucepan and cook on medium heat for 20-25 minutes. Be careful not to overcook it as it will turn into taffy.
  2. Pour in a small bowl and let cool down. Set aside.
  3. To make the cupcakes, combine the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt in a small bowl.
  4. In another bowl, cream the butter with the sugar with an electric mixer. Add one egg at a time and mix between in addition.
  5. Combine the milk and apple juice. Incorporate the dry ingredients in the wet ingredients alternating with the milk/juice and mix well.
  6. Add the diced apple to the batter with a spatula.
  7. Divide the batter into the cupcake liners and place in the oven for around 15-18 minutes, they are done when the cupcakes are springy to the touch.
  8. To make the icing, cream the butter at high speed with an electric mixer for 3-5 minutes. Incorporate the powdered sugar small amounts at a time and mix well between each additions.
  9. Add the soy milk and simple sirup and mix well. Add a few drops of red food coloring and combine.
  10. Spread the icing on each cupcake trying to form a round shape similar to an apple. Dip each cupcake in the red sugar to cover completely the icing.
  11. Place a small piece of bretzel in the middle of the cupcake. Place one leaf next to the bretzel.

I personally don't like spices in desserts, but if you do, you can add 1 tsp cinnamon, 1/4 tsp allspice, and 1/4 tsp nutmeg in the dry ingredients.