This has to be my favorite season of the year. The weather, the leaves and the mood of those all around makes this such a special time.
Last year, our dear friends introduced us to a Kansas City treasure that I hadn’t known about. Hard to believe that a die hard foodie like myself missed this one all these years. On a crisp, fall day, we met two other families at Dunn’s Cider Mill. The experience was truly a “Norman Rockwell” type of day. We enjoyed hot, fresh cider doughnuts and quenched our thirst with Dunn’s crisp apple cider. The kids had a great time and the parents were able to sit a while and catch up. I will treasure the memories of that fall day for years to come. When fall rolled around this year, one of the first “field trips” I wanted to take was back to Dunn’s. We enjoyed another day at Dunn’s recently and once again savored the doughnuts and cider. This time we purchased cider to bring home to enjoy.
The cider enticed my taste buds and lured me toward a Babycakes Cupcake Maker recipe. These apple butter filled sweet cakes are the best way that I can think of to sum up all the pleasures of this season. There are still some gorgeous weekends to come. Why not pack up your family and friends and try Dunn’s for yourself? Make sure to purchase cider to so that you can enjoy the experience long after by baking these apple delights.
(Just for the record, I do not work for Dunn’s and they don’t know who the heck I am but I sure do enjoy their hot, fresh doughnuts and highly recommend them!)
Apple Butter Filled Apple Cider Cupcakes
1/3 cup butter, softened
3/4 cup sugar
1 egg
1 cup plus 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/8 teaspoon ground cloves
3/4 cup apple cider
4 tablespoons apple butter
Apple Cider Frosting
1/2 cup butter, softened
3 cups confectioners’ sugar
2 tablespoons apple cider
1 tablespoon apple butter.
In a mixing bowl, using an electric mixer on medium speed, cream together butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add egg and blend well.
In a small bowl, combine flour, baking soda, cinnamon and cloves. Add flour in 3 additions and cider in two additions, beginning and ending with flour. Beat well after each addition.
Place paper liners in Babycakes Cupcake Maker. Fill each well with about 1 1/2 tablespoons batter. Bake for 5 to 7 minutes, or until a wooden pick inserted in the center comes out clean. Transfer cupcakes to a wire rack to cool.
Using a serrated knife, cut a small circle out of each cupcake and fill with approximately 1/2 teaspoon apple butter. Frost with Apple Cider Frosting.
To prepare Apple Cider Frosting: In a large bowl, combine butter and confectioners’ sugar, using an electric mixer on medium speed. Add apple cider and apple butter and beat until smooth consistency.
Makes about 24 Babycakes Cupcake Maker bite-size cupcakes
Oven Tip: If you don’t own a Babycakes cupcake maker, these can be made in a standard cupcake tin. Preheat oven to 375ºF. Place paper liners in cupcake pans and fill 2/3 full with batter. Bake cupcakes for about 20 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in the center comes out clean. This will make approximately 10 regular size cupcakes.
These look delicious! The apple cider frosting sounds so good, never had a frosted cider donut.
dunns is one of my favorite places and its close to my house! These cupcakes sounds amazing!!
I’m not even exaggerating when I say that this dessert looks like one of my DREAM desserts! I love apple butter and apple cider (heck, really, just apples.)
What a fantastic idea!