Pumpkin Spiced Apple Sauce Cupcakes are a fun, seasonal dessert that your kids will not only have fun making, but eating too. The secret to the flavor in the cupcakes, is in the Apple Sauce. Made with real ingredients, North Coast Organic apple sauce adds all the seasonal flavor you need. Jump on board and join the Pumpkin Spice Craze!

Ingredients

For the cupcakes:

  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature
  • 3/4 cup granulated sugar
  • 2 large eggs, at room temperature
  • 1/2 cup apple sauce
  • 1/4 cup pumpkin puree
  • 1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
  • 1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
  • 2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/3 cup milk, at room temperature

For the frosting:

  • 8 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature
  • 4 ounces unsalted butter, at room temperature
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 2 cups powdered sugar
  • ½ teaspoon pumpkin pie spice

Directions

For the cupcakes:

Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a 12-muffin tin with liners.

To a bowl add the butter and sugar. Beat on high until light and pale using an electric mixer. Add the eggs, one at a time and beat until mixed. Mix in the apple sauce, pumpkin puree, and pumpkin pie spice.

Add the flour, baking powder and salt to a separate bowl and mix well. With the mixer on low slowly add the dry mix to the wet mix, alternating with the milk until all the flour and milk are used. Mix until well combined and smooth. Do not over mix.

Use an ice cream scoop and divide the batter between all the cups, a little over halfway filled.

Bake for 20-25 minutes or until golden. When a toothpick is inserted in the center it should come out clean.

Remove the cupcakes from the oven and cool on a wire rack.

For the frosting:

Beat the cream cheese and butter with an electric mixer, add the vanilla, mix well. Slowly add powdered sugar while beating. Add the pumpkin pie spice and mix well.  Refrigerate for 30 minutes before frosting the cupcakes. Decorate as you wish.