{"id":1267,"date":"2020-10-12T10:10:19","date_gmt":"2020-10-12T10:10:19","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.milehighmitts.com\/?p=1267"},"modified":"2022-09-28T18:33:29","modified_gmt":"2022-09-28T18:33:29","slug":"apple-cider-cupcakes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.milehighmitts.com\/apple-cider-cupcakes\/","title":{"rendered":"Apple Cider Cupcakes with Spiced Buttercream Frosting (gluten-free, whole grain)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Filled with apple cider flavor, applesauce, spices and a little brown sugar, these Apple Cider Cupcakes are extra moist and the perfect sweet treat for Fall.<\/strong><\/em> Made a little healthier than your average cupcake, these cupcakes are whole grain, gluten-free, and made with less sugar. Topped with a homemade Spiced Buttercream Frosting, these cupcakes are still plenty sweet and decadent enough for all to enjoy!<\/p>\n

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\"A<\/p>\n

Before I get to making these Apple Cider Cupcakes, I have a confession to make.<\/em><\/p>\n

I don’t really like frosting.<\/h2>\n

Or, at least, I’m at a solid “Okay some frosting is good. As long as there isn’t TOO much.” So I don’t make cupcakes that are decked out in frosting. Because it’s way too sweet<\/em> and takes away from the cupcake itself, to me.<\/p>\n

On the other hand, my husband is a die-hard frosting lover.<\/strong> He happily takes my scraped off leftover frosting! \ud83d\ude42<\/p>\n

So while I’ve tried to make cupcakes with healthier frosting, it’s sort of been outlawed at our house. Healthier frosting isn’t “real frosting” I’ve been told.<\/p>\n

So while these Apple Cider Cupcakes are healthier than the average cupcake<\/strong>, this frosting is your typical buttercream frosting<\/strong>. And, that’s what I’d recommend too. The only other healthier frosting I’ve ever liked is cashew “cream cheese” frosting<\/a> (which is delicious, and would work great for these too!).<\/p>\n

If you’re looking for a healthier Fall treat, and are okay with some traditional buttercream frosting,<\/strong> then these Apple Cider Cupcakes are IT!<\/p>\n

They’re loaded with apple cider, applesauce, spices, and a little brown sugar<\/strong>. Moist and springy. And topped with a spiced buttercream frosting. After all, apple cider is Fall in a cup, and these are Fall in a cupcake!<\/p>\n

\"Process<\/p>\n

Let’s talk cupcake details now!<\/h3>\n

First, let’s talk about making these Apple Cider Cupcakes, then we’ll talk ingredients.<\/p>\n

To begin, to a small mixing bowl<\/strong> add your oat flour, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice and cloves. Stir till well combined.<\/p>\n

To a large mixing bowl<\/strong>, add your butter and brown sugar and cream them together with a hand blender. Add your applesauce, apple cider, and vanilla, and blend again till all is well combined. Lastly, add your eggs and beat them in.<\/p>\n

Now, combine your dry and wet ingredients<\/strong> and stir them together till you have a cupcake batter. NOW, preheat your oven to 350.<\/p>\n

This gives your oat flour a chance to soak up all the goodness of the wet ingredients while your oven is preheating. *If you’re not using oat flour, feel free to preheat your oven first and the batter does not need to rest.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Once it’s ready, fill your cupcake liners in a muffin pan about 3\/4 way full with batter and bake for about 18-22 minutes<\/strong><\/em>, or till the tops are springy to touch and a toothpick comes out clean.<\/p>\n

TIP: If you buy cheaper cupcake liners, be sure to spray them with non-stick spray!<\/strong> I’ve had liners stick to cupcakes if they aren’t the best quality. Now, I try to do it every time I make cupcakes just in case<\/em>.<\/p>\n

Wait till your cupcakes have cooled entirely to top them with the Spiced Buttercream Frosting.<\/strong> Pipe or spread it on however you’d like!<\/p>\n

Let’s chat about some of the ingredients for these cupcakes too.<\/h4>\n

First, the oat flour.<\/strong> You don’t have to use oat flour if you don’t want to! You can also use all purpose gluten-free flour or regular flour. Both will work great.<\/p>\n

***If you do use oat flour, be sure to use one that’s super fine<\/strong> (I don’t recommend blending it yourself). Or, these cupcakes could turn out super crumbly. If you aren’t sure if your oat flour is fine enough, you can also do a blend of oat flour and all purpose flour (say 1 cup oat flour and 1\/3 cup all purpose flour).<\/p>\n

For the applesauce,<\/strong> you can use sweetened or unsweetened. Either one will work.<\/p>\n

For the apple cider,<\/strong> I recommend you use your favorite one! I’ve used a very sugary store bought one, and a sugar-free apple cider. Both have worked very well in this recipe.<\/p>\n

To make these cupcakes gluten-free,<\/strong> be sure to use certified gluten-free oat flour<\/a> or a gluten-free all purpose flour blend<\/a>.<\/p>\n

To make these cupcakes dairy-free,<\/strong> be sure to use coconut oil or a dairy-free butter alternative<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"Top<\/p>\n

And don’t forget the spiced buttercream frosting! <\/strong>Or, check out my cashew “cream cheese” frosting<\/a> for a healthier alternative. Oh and definitely sprinkle your cupcakes with some fall-colored sprinkles too \ud83d\ude42 Or add a little cinnamon sugar sprinkle on top like I did.<\/p>\n

By the way, do you love frosting?!<\/strong><\/em> Am I the only crazy person who isn’t a huge fan of frosting!? Let me know, below!<\/p>\n

And if you make these cupcakes, let me know how they turned out! I love hearing feedback from all of you.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Looking for other easy, healthier, Fall desserts?<\/strong> Check out my\u00a0Maple Pecan Cookies<\/a>\u00a0and Skinny Mini Pumpkin Cheesecakes<\/a>.<\/p>\n

***09\/28\/2022: This recipe was updated, after several complaints that the cupcakes were too dense. The altered recipe should give you the wonderful flavor of Apple Cider AND a fluffy cupcake!<\/p>\n

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4.29<\/span> from 7<\/span> votes<\/div><\/div>\t\t
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Apple Cider Cupcakes with Spiced Buttercream Frosting (gluten-free, whole grain)<\/div>\n\t\t
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Prep Time<\/div>\n\t\t\t
20<\/span> mins<\/span><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
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Cook Time<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
22<\/span> mins<\/span><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
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Total Time<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
42<\/span> mins<\/span><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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\n\t\t\tServings<\/span>: 12<\/span> cupcakes<\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\tCalories<\/span>: 277<\/span> kcal<\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t
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Ingredients<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Apple Cider Cupcakes<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t