Apple Butter Pecan Cupcakes w/Caramel Butter Cream

Name: Apple Butter Pecan Cupcakes w/Caramel Butter Cream
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 50 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: CUPCAKES; 1 (1 lb 2.25 oz) yellow cake mix; 1 tsp ground cinnamon; 1/2 tsp ground nutmeg; 1/4 tsp ground ginger; 1/4 tsp ground cloves; 1 c buttermilk; 1/3 c butter, softened; 3 large eggs; 1/2 c toasted pecans, chopped; 1/3 c apple butter; BROWN SUGAR CARAMEL FROSTING; 1/2 c dark brown sugar; 1/2 c butter, melted; 6 to 8 Tbsp half and half; 2 lb powdered sugar; 1/2 c butter, softened; 1/4 tsp salt, optional; 1 tsp pure vanilla extract

By Diane Hopson Smith
@DeeDee2011

Apple butter is a favorite treat for me at breakfast time on a hot buttered English Muffin or a hot buttered biscuit fresh out of the oven.

It's also useful in baking cakes and breads, adding moisture and reducing fat.

These cupcakes were wonderful even with the very rich frosting. Sorry couldn't reduce the fat there!

I used homemade apple butter, but store bought will work just the same.

Hope you enjoy!

Rating:

★★★★★ 2 votes5

Comments:

29 Comments

Prep:

20 Min

Cook:

30 Min

Method:

Bake

Ingredients

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CUPCAKES
1

(1 lb 2.25 oz) yellow cake mix
1 tsp

ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp

ground nutmeg
1/4 tsp

ground ginger
1/4 tsp

ground cloves
1 c

buttermilk
1/3 c

butter, softened
3 large

eggs
1/2 c

toasted pecans, chopped
1/3 c

apple butter
BROWN SUGAR CARAMEL FROSTING
1/2 c

dark brown sugar
1/2 c

butter, melted
6 to 8 Tbsp

half and half
2 lb

powdered sugar
1/2 c

butter, softened
1/4 tsp

salt, optional
1 tsp

pure vanilla extract

How to Make Apple Butter Pecan Cupcakes w/Caramel Butter Cream

Step-by-Step

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line jumbo cupcake tins with paper liners. This recipe made 10 jumbo cupcakes. (This recipe would make 24 regular size cupcakes, you would need to adjust baking time)
In a large mixing bowl combine cake mix and seasoning; whisk.
Add buttermilk, softened butter and eggs; mix on low with electric hand mixer for 30 seconds. Scrape sides down. Increase speed to medium and beat 2 minutes, scraping sides of bowl as needed.
Stir in pecans and apple butter. Divide batter evenly between 10 muffin cups.
Bake 25 to 30 minutes or until cake tester or wood toothpick inserted in center of cupcake comes out clean. (If baking regular, adjust baking time to 20 to 25 minutes)
Remove from oven; cool for 10 minutes in pan. Remove cupcakes from pan to wire rake and cool completely (about 30 minutes) before frosting.
CARAMEL BUTTER CREAM FROSTING:
Combine brown sugar, melted butter and 4 Tbsp of half and half in a microwave save bowl; whisk to combine. Heat on high for about 2 minutes or until mixture comes to a full boil. Watch to ensure mixture does not boil over. I used a large batter bowl.
Remove from microwave; cool for about 15 to 20 minutes.
Place powdered sugar, softened butter and 1 or 2 Tbsp half and half in bowl of electric mixer; mix on low for 1 minute and then increase speed to medium and mix for about 2 minutes. Add vanilla and cooled brown sugar mixture; mix for 4 to 5 minutes. Add additional cream if too dry or additional powdered sugar for a stiffer frosting.
NOTES: there was more frosting than I needed for 10 cupcakes. Would be about right for 24 regular size cupcakes or a 2 layer cake.

You could use a spice cake mix, however, you would need to eliminate spices.