These cute little two bite mini apple butter cupcakes are super simple to put together. They only take 4 ingredients to make and they are perfect for fall.
If you are looking for the perfect easy fall treat, you are in the right place. These cute mini cupcakes have apple butter and apple juice baked inside to celebrate fall’s favorite fruit.
Mini cupcakes are so much fun to make and eat. These yummy apple butter cupcakes have just a hint of spice and big apple flavor. The best part is they start with a cake mix, so they take almost no effort to put together.
We topped ours with some apple butter buttercream to really amp up the apple goodness. However they would be fabulous with decorator’s cream cheese frosting or even some easy caramel buttercream.
They are easy to dress up with a cute little swirl of frosting or a couple of sprinkles. Or just spread a little bit of frosting on and dig in.
Either way the moist little cake are perfect for popping in your mouth. Bake up a batch for a party or enjoy them all for yourself.
Making the Cupcakes
These mini cupcakes couldn’t be any easier to make. Just start with a cake mix.
I like using a yellow cake mix to let the apple flavor shine though, but you could use a spice cake mix if you want. Either way they are sure to be delicious.
Essentially you are making the cake batter according to the box directions, but instead of oil you are using apple butter. And instead of water, you will use apple butter or apple cider.
Mix in the eggs and you are ready to go. The recipe makes about 72 mini cupcakes, so have your cupcake tins and paper liners ready.
I find the easiest way to portion the batter is to use a small cookie scoop. It gets a pretty even Tablespoon of batter into each well without having to work.
If anything, go just a little bit shy of a full scoop. Too much and the cupcake tops can spill onto the pan.
It’s not the end of the world, but smaller cupcakes bake more evenly and give you more surface for frosting. So go ahead and get the full batch if you can.
If you don’t have enough mini cupcake tins to bake all 72 cupcakes at once, just cover the remaining batter. Once the first set of cupcakes, remove them from the pan, pop in another set of liners and fill them right on up.
Once the cupcakes are cooled, they are ready for frosting. Pipe in on or smooth on a bit with a knife.
Can I make this recipe as full sized cupcakes?
Yes, to make regular sized cupcakes use the ingredients as listed and bake for the time listed on the cake mix for cupcakes.
More Great Apple Dessert Recipes
Of course it is hard to talk apple desserts without thinking of apple pie or even a tasty apple crisp. But if cake is what you are after, I have some more great recipes for you.
Try apple pie stuffed cupcakes for a fun treat that includes homemade cake batter and bit of apple pie filling in the cake and piled on top. They are tasty and the apple filling makes for a fun surprise.
Caramel apple upside down cake is another tasty treat. The apples are cooked in a spiced caramel and the batter bakes on top. Turn it out a caramel apple topped cake.
My great-great-grandma’s dutch apple cake is another simple but tasty option. It is topped with a buttery crumb and is perfect as a coffee cake or a simple dessert.
For more great apple ideas, check out my collection of apple recipes. Then tell me what your favorite apple recipes are below in the comments.
Apple Butter Mini Cupcakes
Ingredients
- 1 yellow cake mix
- ¾ cup apple juice
- ½ cup apple butter
- 3 large eggs
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F and put paper liners in 72 mini cupcake wells.
- Add all ingredients to a large mixing bowl and mix to combine.1 yellow cake mix, ¾ cup apple juice, ½ cup apple butter, 3 large eggs
- Beat on medium speed for 2 minutes.
- Scoop 1 Tablespoon of batter into each cupcake liner, or fill them about 2/3 full.
- Bake for 15 minutes or until the tops spring back when lightly touched with a finger.
- Cool completely before frosting.
ColleenB._TX.
Saturday 5th of November 2022
Many a times I will add soda or milk in place of water when making a cake or cupcakes using a mix. Can't remember the last time I used just water in a mix. It's usually soda drink of some sorts. I wll use Root Beer soda or Dr. Pepper, Coke to a chocolate cake mix or 7-UP, Sprite, Ginger Ale or Mountain Dew to a white or yellow mix, etc. Just whatever I happen to have on hand at the time. Soda drinks just adds a nice little something to a mix; boxed mix or homemade.
ColleenB.~Tx.
Wednesday 2nd of November 2022
In place of the Apple Butter, you think using my homemade Pumpkin Butter would work ok? Thank You
ColleenB._TX.
Friday 4th of November 2022
@Carlee, Made my Pumpkin Butter (regular size) cupcakes for hubby to take to his workplace for their Thanksgiving potluck for next week.(in the freezer for now but not frosted.)
Was going to use orange juice in place of apple juice but didn't have on hand............so what I ended up using was Orange Crush soda in place of. They smelled good but just don't know how they tasted. Whenever I use a cake mix; I do add an extra egg and normally use milk in place of the water that is required on back of box.
Carlee
Wednesday 2nd of November 2022
That should work great. Now I want to make some that way too, I have pumpkin butter in the fridge!