These apple cider cupcakes with bourbon icing and bourbon caramel are dreamy (and a bit boozy) fall cupcakes.
The cake is made up of reduced apple cider, honey crisp apples, and spices for days. They are then topped with a bourbon cream cheese frosting (which contains a full glass of bourbon) and a rich bourbon caramel sauce. This recipe makes 12-13 cupcakes and plenty of frosting.
THE CAKE:
The apple cider cake is made with one cup of apple cider that has been reduced down to one-half cup, one puréed honey crisp apple, and tons of cinnamon, allspice, clove, and nutmeg. The cider I used is Trader Joe’s, which I think is by far the best out there.
THE KEY TO GOOD CUPCAKES:
Using room temperature, eggs, butter, and milk is key to having a good, even cake. Ingredients that are too cold can cause the cake to split in the oven. It’s also a good idea to tap your cupcake pan against the counter to release any air pockets and that have been created.
THE ICING:
The base for the bourbon icing is a cream cheese icing, but it isn’t tangy like most cream cheese frostings, and you can definitely taste the bourbon. It has ¼ cup plus three tablespoons bourbon, which makes it a real party. It uses one eight-ounce slab of cream cheese (full fat because the low-fat version will make it too watery) and 5 cups of powdered sugar in addition to the bourbon. If it becomes too watery, chill it for 20 minutes, and it will be perfect! For the bourbon, I used Woodford Reserve.
The Bourbon Caramel
The trick to caramel is to leave it alone and watch it like a hawk, so it doesn't burn. Start by mixing the water and sugar, then bring it to a boil, then simmer over medium-high heat for 10 minutes, until the mix begins to change color and becomes a deep amber color. Gently swirl the pan from time to time to distribute the heat. Remove from the heat and carefully stir in the cream, bourbon, and butter. If the caramel starts to crystalize, return the pan to low heat and stir until smooth. Let it sit for about 30 minutes so that it can cool and thicken.
OTHER FALL RECIPES:
APPLE AND CARDAMOM GALETTE WITH BOURBON CARAMEL
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Apple Cider Cupcakes with Bourbon Icing
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Total Time: 55 minutes
- Yield: 12 cupcakes 1x
Ingredients
For the cake:
- 1 cup apple cider
- 1 ¾ cups of all-purpose flour
- 1 ½ tsp baking powder
- ½ tsp salt
- 8 tablespoons of unsalted butter (one stick)
- 1 cup plus 2 tablespoon sugar
- 1 large egg
- ½ cup whole milk
- 1 tsp vanilla
- 1 ¼ tsp ground cinnamon
- ¼ tsp ground clove
- ⅛ ground nutmeg
- ¾ tsp allspice
- 1 Honey Crisp apple, peeled and cored, and then pureed
For the icing:
- 1 8 ounce package of cream cheese
- 1 stick of butter
- 5 cups of powdered sugar
- ¼ cup plus 3 teaspoon bourbon
- ½ tsp vanilla
For the caramel sauce:
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- ¼ cup water
- ¼ cup plus heavy cream
- 1 tbsp butter
- 1 ½ tbsp bourbon
Instructions
For the cupcakes:
- Heat the apple cider in a small saucepan on medium heat until it reduces by half, making ½ cup
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees and line a muffin tin with cupcake liners.
- Whisk flours, salt, spices, and baking powder together in a large bowl.
- Cream butter and sugar together in a stand mixer until light and fluffy. About 3 minutes.
- Add the egg and beat until well combined.
- Mix milk and vanilla together and while the mixer is on low add ⅓ of the flour mixture followed by ⅓ of the milk, keep alternating wet and dry ingredients until all are incorporated.
- Pour in the pureed apples and reduced apple cider and mix to combine.
- Divide the mixture evenly between the cupcake liners and bake for 20-25 minutes or until the cake springs back when touched and a knife comes out clean.
For the icing:
- In a stand mixer with the paddle attachment, beat the cream cheese and butter together.
- Slowly add in the powder sugar one cup at a time.
- Add in the vanilla and bourbon and mix until combined.
For the caramel:
- Make the caramel sauce by mixing the sugar and water in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil, then simmer over medium-high heat for 10 minutes, until the mix begins to change color and becomes a deep amber color. Gently swirl the pan from time to time to distribute the heat. Remove from the heat and carefully stir in the cream and bourbon. If the caramel starts to crystalize, return the pan to low heat and stir until smooth. Set aside to cool and thicken for about 30 minutes.
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