Apple Pie Cupcakes are perfectly spiced, tender cupcakes baked with apple pie filling and topped with stabilized whipped cream. So tender and delicious! They are reminiscent of a slice of apple pie but in convenient cupcake form!
Ingredients & Substitutions
Apples: I prefer to use Granny Smith apples for the filling as they hold up beautifully when baked or fried. Fuji, Cortland, Braeburn, and Honeycrisp apples would also be delicious options. Or, use a combination of apples!
Spices: I chose to use cinnamon in the apple filling and both cinnamon and nutmeg in the cupcakes. These warm spices are such a great complement to the apples to bring out that classic apple pie filling flavor.
Stabilized Whipped Cream: Stabilized whipped cream has better staying power when piped onto the cupcakes. Of course, regular whipped cream or even vanilla ice cream would also be delicious!
Can I use Canned Apple Pie Filling?
Sure! You can use pre-made (as in make it yourself ahead of time) Apple Pie Filling or you can definitely use store-bought canned apple pie filling.
Tips and Tricks for the Best Apple Cupcakes
- Be sure you know your oven. You want the cupcake to be baked fully, but not burned, so keep an eye on it at the 20-minute mark.
- Try store-bought whipped cream for another time-saving trick. You can also use a spice cake mix to make these REALLY semi-homemade.
- Want to be the star of your Thanksgiving celebrations? You can make this cupcake BAKERY worthy by adding a caramel drizzle or heath chips on top.
How To Store Apple Pie Cupcakes
I recommend storing the apple pie cupcakes WITHOUT the whipped cream topping. Then, you can store them in an airtight container at room temperature for a few days. If they are topped with the stabilized whipped cream, the cupcakes would need to be stored in the refrigerator, which can dry out the cupcakes. So, add the whipped topping when serving.
More Apple Treats
The recipe has been tested and updated as of September 2023.
Apple Pie Cupcakes
Ingredients
Apple Filling
- 3 tablespoons granulated sugar
- 3 medium Granny Smith apples, cored, peeled and diced small
- 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 2 teaspoons all-purpose flour
Cupcakes
- 1 ½ cups (187.5 g) all-purpose flour
- 1 ½ teaspoons baking powder
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
- ¾ cup (170 g) unsalted butter, room temperature
- ¾ cup (150 g) granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs, room temperature
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- ½ cup (122.5 g) whole milk
Stabilized Whipped Cream
- 2 ounces cream cheese, softened
- ½ cup (100 g) granulated sugar
- 2 cups (476 g) heavy cream
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 pinch kosher salt
Instructions
Apple Filling
- In a medium bowl, mix the apples, granulated sugar, lemon juice, cinnamon, and salt.
- In a medium pan over medium heat, melt the butter. Add the apple mixture and cook, stirring frequently, for 8-10 minutes, or until the apples are tender and the liquid is bubbling.
- Add the flour, and stir until the liquid thickens.
- Remove from heat and let the filling cool completely.
Cupcakes
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a 12-cup muffin tin with cupcake liners.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt. Set aside.
- In the bowl of a stand mixer with the paddle attachment, cream butter and sugar.
- Add eggs, one at a time, mixing well after each addition.
- Mix in vanilla.
- Alternating between the flour mixture and milk two times, add each to the creamed butter and sugar, mixing until incorporated.
- Divide the batter evenly among the cups of the prepared muffin tin. Top each with about 2 teaspoons of cooled apple filling.
- Bake for about 24-26 minutes, or until an inserted toothpick (around the edge) comes out clean.
- Let the cupcakes cool for a few minutes, then transfer to a rack to cool completely.
Stabilized Whipped Cream
- Before starting, place the bowl and whisk attachment from your stand mixer into the freezer to chill for about 15 minutes. Starting with a cold bowl will help the cream whip up faster and with more volume.
- Once chilled, add the cream cheese and sugar to the bowl. Mix on medium-high speed until fully combined and no lumps remain.
- With the mixer off, pour in the heavy cream. Resume mixing on medium speed until soft peaks have formed (peaks droop slightly). Stop the mixer.
- Using a rubber spatula, scrape the bottom of the bowl to incorporate all of the cream cheese.
- With the mixer back on medium speed, mix until stiff peaks have formed. (Stiff peaks refer to the whipped cream peaks that stand straight up and hold their shape firmly.)
- Finally, add in the vanilla and a pinch of salt, being careful not to overmix.
- Transfer the whipped cream to a piping bag fitted with your favorite tip. Pipe a swirl of whipped cream onto each cooled cupcake.
Did you make this recipe?
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What the Test Kitchen had to say about this recipe:
Elizabeth
These cupcakes are like your own hand-held apple pie. Fun, pretty, and delicious!
Rachael
These taste like an apple pie! I loved this cupcake and the stabilized whipped cream on top was just perfect with it.
Bella
Yum! The classic apple pie flavor is packed into these adorable cupcakes! I enjoy the whipped topping because it's light and creamy!
Annabelle
These are the best! The apple is a little tangy and sweet, and goes perfectly with the light whipped cream!
Family loved this apple cupcakes. Thank you
My family loved the apple cupcakes. Thank you
Made these for my granddaughters softball team (12 yr olds) They Loved them and I’m making them again for St. Patricks Day at my daughters house. Great Recipe Thank you!
The cupcakes were great but the cream frosting was bad. It had an okay taste but the worst part was that the it melted immediately and mad a huge mess:(
So exactly what is a medium Apple. I would like to know how many cups instead.
Thanks
I should have gone with my gut feeling and filled them after they were baked, the apple filling did not sink into the middle of the cupcake it just baked on top. I recommend filling it after they are baked
We made these cupcakes but added the filling after they were done baking by cutting out a little hole. Left the sour cream out basically making whipped cream. Yummy!
The recipe is delicious! But my icing is insanely watery. I’m a novice baker so I’m positive I’m doing something wrong, just not sure what. Any insight?
Really good and easy to make! I would’ve hoped for more intense flavors, but at least these weren’t too sweet, and they were really good anyway! Will be making these again next fall 🙂
It’s basically a whipped cream frosting so you can’t put it on warm cupcakes. I make mine different though no sour cream. Just heavy cream, vanilla, powdered sugar and a little bit of vanilla jello pudding mix. It helps stabilize the whipped cream. I mix ingrediants to taste.