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These Apple Snickerdoodle Cupcakes are made with an apple cupcake layered with cinnamon sugar! They’re snickerdoodle cookies in cupcake form with an apple twist!
For another fun snickerdoodle dessert recipe, try my Snickerdoodle Layer Cake!
Apple Snickerdoodle Cupcakes Recipe
So a couple of week ago, I had my 12 week ultrasound of the twins. I hadn’t had an ultrasound in what felt like forever! The last time I saw them, they still kind of looked like round blobs with teeny tiny little arms and legs. This time they totally looked like babies! It was awesome!
First of all, it’s still kind of weird to see two babies in there. 🙂 Second, they look like little humans now. It’s SO cool! You can seriously see bone structures like the spine and hands and feet. Not to mention that they were already moving around a ton. That was probably the coolest part. It’s nutty to think that there are two little babies alive in my belly moving around so much like that – and I can’t even feel it.
I’d been expecting to cry at my first ultrasound, but with the shock of discovering it was twins and the fact that they still looked like little circles, the tears didn’t totally hit me until this most recent time. I basically cried the whole time. Seeing two actual babies in there moving around and seemingly healthy – it’s overwhelming and amazing. I can’t wait till my next ultrasound in a couple weeks. After that, I’ll have them every two weeks to monitor the babies. I’m excited I’ll get to see them so much. 🙂
Another amazing thing (although admittedly not as cool 😉 ) are these cupcakes. I’m not craving sweets at this point, but these cupcakes are ones that I wanted to keep all to myself. It’s fall in a cupcake and I’m loving them!
How to Make Snickerdoodle Cupcakes
To start, there’s the cupcakes, which have a few elements. First, there’s the cupcake batter. The apple flavor comes from apple butter. Using apple butter in cupcakes is great and easy. It’s like a very cooked down version of apple sauce, so there’s less moisture and more apple flavor in a smaller amount. It gives the cupcakes great apple flavor without having to use a ton.
Then, when you add the batter to the cupcake liners, you’ll actually do it in a few parts and layer cinnamon sugar into them. I did something similar in these Cinnamon Sugar Swirl Cupcakes several years ago and I was so excited to do something similar in these. The result is just as fantastic!
The cupcakes are topped with more apple flavor in the frosting. To finish them off, I added a sprinkle of leftover cinnamon sugar from the cupcakes and then either a mini snickerdoodle or apple chip on top. Not only are they a fabulous combination of apple and cinnamon sugar, they are so darn fun and cute for fall! Such a moist and delicious cupcake – you definitely need to try them!
Apple Snickerdoodle Cupcakes
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 18 minutes
- Total Time: 33 minutes
- Yield: 12-14 cupcakes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Oven
- Cuisine: American
Description
These Apple Snickerdoodle Cupcakes are made with an apple cupcake layered with cinnamon sugar! They’re snickerdoodle cookies in cupcake form with an apple twist!
Ingredients
CINNAMON SUGAR APPLE CUPCAKES
- 6 tbsp (84g) unsalted butter, room temperature
- 3/4 cups (155g) sugar
- 6 tbsp (86g) sour cream
- 1/4 tsp vanilla extract
- 3 egg whites
- 1 1/4 cups (163g) all-purpose flour
- 2 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 6 tbsp (97g) apple butter
- 2 tbsp (30ml) milk
- 1 1/2 tbsp ground cinnamon
- 1/4 cup (52g) sugar
APPLE FROSTING
- 1/2 cup (112g) butter
- 1/2 cup (95g) shortening
- 4 cups (460g) powdered sugar
- 4 tbsp (65g) apple butter
- Apple chips or mini snickerdoodles, optional
Instructions
1. Preheat oven to 350°F (176°C) and prepare a cupcake pan with cupcake liners.
2. In a large mixing bowl, cream butter and sugar together until light in color and fluffy, about 3-4 minutes.
3. Add sour cream and vanilla extract and mix until well combined.
4. Add egg whites in two batches, mixing until well combined after each. Scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed to be sure all ingredients are well incorporated.
5. Combine the flour, baking powder and salt in a separate bowl, set aside. Combine the apple butter and milk in a small measuring cup.
6. Add half of the dry ingredients to the batter and mix until well combined. Add the apple butter mixture and mix until well combined. Add remaining dry ingredients and mix until well combined. Scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed to be sure all ingredients are well incorporated.
7. In a small bowl, combine the cinnamon and sugar.
8. To fill the cupcake liners, add a little less than a tablespoon of batter to each liner. Sprinkle some cinnamon sugar over the batter, covering it. Add a little more batter to the liner, then another layer of cinnamon sugar. Finish them off with a little more batter, so the liners are filled about halfway, or just a bit more.
9. Bake for 17-19 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted comes out with a few crumbs. Remove from the oven and set aside on a cooling rack to cool.
10. To make the frosting, combine the butter and shortening and mix until smooth.
11. Add about half of the powdered sugar and the apple butter and mix until well combined.
12. Add the remaining powdered sugar and mix until smooth.
13. Pipe the frosting onto the cooled cupcakes. I used Ateco tip 844.
14. Sprinkle on some of the remaining cinnamon sugar from the cupcake filling, then top the cupcakes with some apple chips or mini snickerdoodles.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 Cupcake
- Calories: 386
- Sugar: 46.7 g
- Sodium: 166.9 mg
- Fat: 16.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 58.7 g
- Protein: 2.8 g
- Cholesterol: 15.2 mg
Filed Under:
Enjoy!
These were a big hit at work! I did tweak a little- adding an extra 2 tablespoons of apple butter to the cupcakes and using a cream cheese base for the frosting. Delicious fall flavor!
The cupcakes are delicious by themselves but I was disappointed that there wasn’t much apple flavor. The frosting is meh- I have made so many cupcakes and this frosting just isn’t good 🙁
The shortening makes it extra thick and difficult to pipe- even with the addition of several tablespoons of heavy cream. And there’s absolutely no apple flavor in the frosting as well. What little you get from the cupcake is completely overshadowed by the heavy frosting. I am sure my coworkers will still eat them but I am not a fan.
The cupcakes I will probably do again (with even more apple butter) but paired with a different frosting for sure.
Could this be done in a two layer cake?
That should be fine. You would probably want to double the recipe.
These were wonderful! Very easy to make and everyone loved them.
How do you make apple butter ive never seen it here in ireland
I don’t have a recipe for it, I just buy it in the store. But there should be plenty of recipes available online.
What can I use instead of apple butter? I can’t easily access it in New Zealand.
If you are still wanting the apple flavor, you could try using applesauce and a little extra cinnamon. Otherwise, you can replace it with milk.
These look so good. Wish I could try one! We’re remodeling right now so my house is too messy to try and make anything.
That look so good. To bad I’m alergic to butter. What can I use to substitute the butter?
Lindsay, congratulations on your twins. Very exciting.
Question for you…could I substitute cream cheese for the shortening? Thank you for the recipes…I tried the Boston Cream Cupcakes last weekend. Very yummy.
Yes, that should be fine. I’m so glad you enjoy the recipes!
How can I make this sugar free?
Yum these look so good!! Are there any substitutes for apple butter?
You can replace it with milk.
can the apple butter be left out? i don’t think it can be purchased in the uk. thank you.
Apple butter usually needs to be refrigerated.
Cool. My kids will love this recipe. Look interesting. I will be back with reviews. Thanks.
Congratulations on your twins!
Thank you!
Hi Lindsay – I made these cupcakes last weekend; my boyfriend & I LOVED them!
The icing I made was dry & very thick – don’t get me wrong, it tasted very good. Did I do something wrong making the icing that it was so thick & dry? Is there a trick to it or was it supposed to be that way?
It sounds like you just needed a little more liquid added, in this case a touch more apple butter or even some water or milk. Here’s a post on frosting consistency you might find helpful. Glad to hear you enjoyed the cupcakes!
Hi Lindsay, congrats on seeing the twins alive and kicking. How’s it going with them? I’ll love to see a post later announcing their arrival. Anyway, I use to buy these cupcakes (don’t know if the taste is close) but never thought I could make one myself. So my question is: if I happen to make more than we can consume at a time, can I reheat them?
What’s the apple butter recipe?
You should be able to purchase it in the grocery store, by the jelly and peanut butter.
Congrats on your twins Lindsay! I kinda teared up reading the post, as I always do when I see ultrasounds or pictures of new born babies. Creating a new life is just truly amazing!
Congratulations on the twins. I’m sure they are going to not only enjoy your motherly care but also your prowess with delicious delicacies 🙂
Oh no, I need to make snickerdoodles to do justice to this recipe? Horrors! Autumn in a cupcake – I guess. These look dynamite and I can’t wait to try them over the weekend. We’ve had cooler weather recently and my nesting is underway – AND the season’s best apples are beginning to arrive.
Loving everything you say about the twins and looking forward to more posts, more fun and more smiles as those beautiful little ones, fearfully and wonderfully made are being knit together. All according to His perfect plan.
God bless you real good, my friend and sister in Christ. Praise Him!
hey girl- these look so yummy! Y’all have a great weekend!
Love that sprinkling of the snickerdoodle cinnamon sugar!
Oh Lindsay, what a blessing you are experiencing. What a wonderful thing in your lives! Dezi
Congratulations on your twins! The wonder of babies will never cease to amaze me! The apple snicker doodle cupcakes look delicious! Is apple butter just apple sauce or something else?
Congrats. I would love to try these cup cakes but I don’t know what Apple butter is. Can I make it, if yes how?
This is the apple butter I used. It’s basically apples that are slow cooked with sugar and spices. You can usually find it in the grocery store near the jellies and jams. Here’s a recipe from Food Network, if you’d prefer making it.
I put up my own apple butter and can’t wait to try these! So excited and prayerful for you all and your babies—I have two “grand angels” that are 8 months and 13 months….love me some babies!!!