Apple Cider Cupcakes
These Apple Cider Cupcakes are everything you love about fall in one easy dessert recipe.
They’re soft, fluffy, packed with warm cinnamon spice, and made with real apple cider for plenty of fresh apple flavor.
Whether you’re baking for a fall birthday, Halloween party, Thanksgiving dessert table, or simply craving a cozy homemade treat, these fall cupcakes are always a hit.
Finish them with cinnamon buttercream or cream cheese frosting for bakery-style cupcakes that taste like autumn in every bite.
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Why You’ll Love These Apple Cider Cupcakes
- Full of real apple cider flavor
- Soft, moist cupcake recipe with warm fall spices
- Easy recipe using pantry staples
- Perfect for Halloween, Thanksgiving, and fall parties
- Delicious with cinnamon buttercream or cream cheese frosting
- Great make-ahead dessert
How to Make Easy Apple Cider Cupcakes
- Start by creaming butter, sugar, cinnamon, salt, and baking powder.
- Mix in apple cider and eggs, then blend with flour until smooth. Want to intensify the flavor? Simmer your cider down for extra flavor. Let it cool before adding to the batter.
- Fill cupcake liners ⅔ full and bake. Be sure to test for doneness early, around the 14 minute mark — overbaking can dry them out.
- Let them cool completely before frosting.
- To make the frosting, cream butter, brown sugar, cinnamon, and salt.
- Mix in powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla until smooth and fluffy.
- Pipe onto cooled cupcakes and top with apple slices and a sprinkle of cinnamon for a festive finish!
Need to make them ahead of time? Learn how to keep cupcakes fresh so they stay soft and delicious until you’re ready to serve them.
Don’t Forget To…
- Scroll down to print the full recipe with step-by-step instructions and exact measurements.
- Check out my Kitchen Essentials for the pans, mixing bowls, and baking tools I use to make this recipe a breeze.
- Save or share this recipe on Pinterest!
Apple cider is less filtered and has a stronger, fresher apple flavor, making it the better choice for baking.
Absolutely. Simmer apple cider until it reduces by about half before adding it to the batter for a stronger apple taste.
Yes. Freeze unfrosted cupcakes in an airtight container for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight and frost before serving.
Yes, but the cupcakes won’t have as rich or concentrated of an apple flavor.
If you’re baking your way through apple season, don’t stop with these Apple Cider Cupcakes. Browse more Fall Dessert Recipes, Apple Dessert Recipes, and Thanksgiving Cupcake Recipes for even more cozy treats to share with family and friends.
For even more baking tips, take a look at my complete guide to the best apples for baking.
Farberware 12-c. Nonstick Nonstick Bakeware Muffin Pan, Gray
Bake Choice Non-stick 200pcs Standard Cupcake Liners for Baking, Natural, Food-grade Cupcake Wrapper, Greaseproof Parchment Muffin LinersPiping Bags and Tips Set, Reusable Cake Decorating Supplies with 2 Reusable Bags, 12 Icing Tips, 2 Silicone Rings, 2 Couplers and 3 Scrapers, Cake Baking Tools for Cookie Icing Cupcakes
Fix baking fails fast with this handy troubleshooting guide.
Apple Cider Cupcakes
Ingredients
For the Cupcakes:
- ½ c unsalted butter softened
- 1 c white sugar
- 2 eggs
- 1 cup of apple cider
- 2 tsp baking powder
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 2 cup all purpose flour
For the Frosting:
- 1 cup unsalted butter softened
- ½ cup brown sugar
- 3 cup powdered sugar
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 2 Tbsp milk
- 1 tsp vanilla
- Sliced apple pieces to decorate
- Cinnamon to sprinkle
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
- Line muffin tin with paper liners and set aside.
- For the cupcakes – In the bowl of a stand mixer, combine the softened butter, sugar, cinnamon, salt and baking powder. Cream until smooth.
- Add in the apple cider and eggs and mix well.
- Combine with the flour and mix on medium speed for two minutes.
- Using an ice cream scoop, fill each cupcake liner until about ⅔ full.
- Bake in preheated oven for approximately 14-16 minutes or until edges are slightly browned and a toothpick comes out clean.
- Set aside homemade apple cider cupcakes and allow to cool on a cooling rack completely before decorating.
- For the frosting – In the bowl of a stand mixer, combine the softened butter, brown sugar, cinnamon and salt. Cream until smooth.
- Add in the powdered sugar and mix well.
- Add in 2 tablespoons of milk and the vanilla. Mix on low speed for 30 seconds and then medium speed for about a minute.
- Stop the machine, scrape down the sides and mix again. If the frosting appears too lumpy and dry, add another tablespoon of milk, only if needed. Mix again.
- Transfer the frosting to a piping bag fitted with a large star tip. Pipe a mound of frosting on each cupcake.
- Decorate with a slice of apple if desired and sprinkle of cinnamon. Enjoy!
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