Applesauce Spice Cupcakes

            Hello fall and fall birthdays!  This past weekend we celebrated my mom's birthday as well as my husband's mom, aunt and brother's birthdays. We are so lucky to have family close by, and to be able to celebrate together. For dessert I came up with a fall-inspired birthday cupcake, with my own healthy twist of course!
            My inspiration for the dessert was apples. There is nothing like the taste of a juicy crisp apple at this time of year. My mouth is watering already! Apples not only help keep the doctor away, but are full of fiber, vitamins and minerals. One of my favorite ways to enjoy apples is in applesauce. Applesauce also makes a great fat substitute in baking. By replacing some of the fat with applesauce not only do you cut down the calories but add moisture to your baked good.

Below is my homemade applesauce recipe ....

APPLESAUCE

Ingredients

• 6 apples
• 2 cups of cider, or water
• 1 tsp cinnamon

Directions

1. Wash apples then cut apples into quarters (you do not need to peel or core apples).

2. Add cut apples and liquid into a large pot. Boil apples on medium high for 15 minutes or until soft.

3. Once apples are completely cooked let cool.

4. Add apple mixture to a colander and mash apples to remove skins and apple cores.

5. Add cinnamon to applesauce and stir to combine.

         I decided to use my homemade applesauce to make applesauce spice cupcakes. If you don't have the time or apples to make applesauce, store bought no sugar added applesauce works just as well!

Applesauce Spice Cupcakes

 with Maple Cinnamon Frosting

Makes: 12 cupcakes

Cupcake Ingredients

• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 1/3 cup butter, softened
• 1 egg
• 1/4 cup maple syrup
• 1 cup applesauce, no sugar added or homemade applesauce (see above)
• 1 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1/4 tsp salt

Frosting Ingredients

• 2 ounces unsalted butter
• 2 ounces low fat cream cheese
• 1 cups powdered sugar
• 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
• 2 tsp maple syrup
• 1/2 tsp cinnamon

Directions
1. Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees.
2. In a standing mixer cream brown sugar and butter until combined.
3. Add in egg, maple syrup, applesauce and mix until combined.
4. Fold in flour, cinnamon, baking powder, salt.
5. Distribute mixture evenly into a 12 cup muffin tin.
6. Bake for 20 minutes, or until an inserted toothpick comes out clean.
7. While the cupcakes are baking put together the frosting. In a large bowel beat butter and cream cheese together until creamy. Then slowly add in powdered sugar. Once combined mix in cinnamon and maple syrup.
9. Once cupcakes completely cool, spread on frosting with a knife.

Suggestion: These cupcakes are also great as muffins (minus the frosting)!