You guys! I am SO excited Fall is knocking at our doors! The cool, crisp air, the yummy fall recipes, the general smell of fall. To me, fall smells like pumpkins, leaves and hot apple cider! I couldn't wait any longer and just HAD to start on my fall baking a little early this year.
When we go on vacation in the fall, we like to get a "fancy" caramel apple. You know the ones! They are covered in caramel, chocolate, M&M's, cookies, nuts. You name it, they will put it on them! I wanted to duplicate that at home, but with a cupcake! I used a Caramel Apple cake mix, Caramel Frosting, and topped with m&m's! Super easy and SO yummy!
Ingredients
1 box Apple Caramel Cake Mix
3 Eggs
1/3 C Oil
1/2 C Apple Cider (recipe below)
M&M's
Directions
Heat oven to 350 degrees.
Prepare cake according to package directions, subbing Apple Cider for Water.
Place 24 cupcake wrappers into muffin pan(s) and spray with cooking spray.
Place batter into tins, filling 2/3 full. Top with Caramel Sauce (included in cake mix) and swirl slightly to mix.
Bake cupcakes according to package directions or 20-23 minutes.
Allow to cool completely.
I topped my cupcakes with this Caramel Cream Cheese Frosting recipe. I did have to almost double the amount of sugar I added because it was a hot day. I also had to allow the frosting to cool in the fridge before icing the cupcakes. Please note, I have not tried the recipe she includes for the Caramel Apple Cupcakes but I do plan to soon. I will let you know how we like them.
Once your cupcakes are frosted, add a stick and sprinkle on some Fall Themed M&M's to make them POP! This also makes them look even more like the "fancy" caramel apples we get while on vacation.
Growing up, every fall, my Granny made her special Apple Cider. It is a SUPER simple recipe that can be made for 100's of people, or just one person. To me, this is THE BEST Apple Cider EVER. Nothing ever compares and most other apple cider's just taste like warm apple juice. YUCK! No thanks.
Red Hot Apple Cider
Ingredients
6 Cups Mott's Apple Juice
1/2 Cup Red Hot Candies
Directions
Pour juice in a medium-large sauce pan.
Add Red Hot Candies and stir.
Allow mixture to boil, stirring often.
Cool just a touch and serve warm.
That's it! Super simple! To make this for just one person, add apple juice to a glass and drop a few red hot's in. Microwave on high 2-3 minutes, or until the candy is dissolved, stopping to stir every 30 seconds.
To find even more AWESOME fall baking recipes, be sure to follow #HarvestFun on Twitter!
Be sure to also print out your coupons for Mott's Apple Juice and M&M's Candies before heading to the store!