When the temperatures start to dip in the fall, I begin to crave all things apple. It’s probably because I associate fall with apple picking. In the Northwest Georgia mountains, there’s a host of “Pick Your Own” Apple Orchards. One of our favorite fall family traditions is to take a day trip to gather apples. We try to time the trip close to the annual harvest festivals so the kids can enjoy hayrides and corn mazes. The adults enjoy the delicious apple dishes that make an appearance. Fried pies, apple butter, “fried” apples, they all have a special place in our memories and stomachs. After harvesting our apples I usually make a batch of apple pie filling to keep in the freezer. This Easy Caramel Apple Cupcakes Recipe is the perfect way to use my homemade apple pie filling.
Easy Caramel Apple Cupcakes Recipe:
I wanted to make these cupcakes gluten-free so the entire family could enjoy them. To save time and money, I purchased a box of gluten-free cake mix and “amped up” the flavor of the cupcakes by adding my own *secret* ingredients. Don’t want it to be gluten-free? Just use a regular package of cake mix. If I don’t have homemade apple pie filling available, I substitute a 21-ounce can of apple pie filling. You can find this in the baking section of most supermarkets.
Here’s what you need to make the caramel apple cupcakes:
Start by making the cupcakes. Since the gluten-free boxed mix can taste rather bland on its own, I add some extras; sour cream, butter, vanilla and sometimes a little milk. Place spoonfuls of the cupcake mixture into a cupcake tin, filling each cup 2/3 full. This should make about twelve cupcakes. Remember, if you make gluten-free cupcakes underbake the cupcakes by a couple of minutes. Gluten-free foods can turn hard in a hurry!
While the cupcakes are baking, mix the apple pie filling, caramel topping, and cinnamon together to create the filling. Set this aside. In a medium bowl, mix the ingredients for the cream cheese frosting. Place the frosting in the fridge until ready to use.
Wash 12 8-ounce glass jelly jars and allow them to dry completely before using. From experience I know “a little bit wet” is no good. The cupcakes will be soggy! Split the cupcakes in half. Add one half of the cupcake to the bottom of the jar. Add a tablespoon of the apple mixture and then a tablespoon frosting. Repeat the layers; adding the cupcake, the apples, and then rounding the frosting.
Printable Recipe
- For Cake
- 1 package of Gluten Free Cake Mix
- 2 eggs
- 1 cup sour cream
- 1/4 cup milk
- 2 teaspoons vanilla
- 1/2 stick butter
- For Apples
- 1 (21 ounces) can Apple Pie Filling
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 cup caramel ice cream topping
- For Cream Cheese Frosting:
- 1 (3 ounces) package cream cheese
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- 2 tablespoons milk or cream
- 1/4 cup butter
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- For Topping
- Ice Cream, optional
- Pretzel Sticks
- Green gumdrops
- Mix the cake mix, eggs, sour cream, vanilla, milk, and butter together until blended. Pour into greased muffin cups. Bake for 20 minutes at 350 degrees until a fork comes out clean. Allow cupcakes to cool.
- While cupcakes are cooking, mix pie filling, cinnamon and caramel. Set aside.
- Mix the cream cheese, powdered sugar, milk, cream, and vanilla together. Place in the fridge until ready to use.
- Split cooled cupcakes in half. Add one half of the cupcake to the bottom of a pint-sized mason jar. Top with a spoon of apple mixture, then a spoon of frosting. Repeat layers. Top with ice cream, if desired. Sprinkle with red sugar and add a pretzel stick for a stem and a gumdrop for a leaf.
Sprinkle the cupcake with colored sugar in your favorite apple color (red, green, yellow) and add a pretzel “stem.” Place a green jelly drop next to the pretzel stem for “leaves”. You can substitute ice cream for the cream cheese frosting if you are eating the cupcakes immediately. These cupcakes can also be topped with a festive ribbon and be given as gifts. It’s the perfect fall treat.
Have you made anything like this caramel apple cupcake recipe before? Do you have a favorite apple recipe for fall? What is your favorite fall activity?
You Might Like These Recipes:
Easy Apple Dump Cake
Savory Apple Cider Chicken Recipe
Bacon and Tomato Pie Recipe
Have you seen our cookbook?
It has over 100 from scratch Southern recipes with lots of gluten free, dairy free and vegan adaptions, Y’all! You can order it here-> The New Southern Cookbook.
good! I think I need to try these cupcakes out! My birthday is next week and I have to be GF… so, yeah.. trying these out for sure!
That cupcake in a jar looks yummy. I am saving this recipe for the future.
Great recipe – it sounds delicious! Caramel and apple are a great combination xx
Oh that apple cake looks great! I love caramel with apples!
I love the way you packaged the cupcakes so creative.
Thanks for the recipe – they sound delicious!
What an amazing dessert. It looks picture perfect and almost too good to eat.
Now that looks like one amazing cupcake! I just love apple with caramel.
That’s a dessert worth sharing with your friend, Liz. It looks incredible and I’d scrape the jar clean!
Forget my lunch, I want this! I love how it looks so festive as well 🙂
These cupcakes look delicious. I can not wait to make them for my gluten free friends.
I want to make some yummy cupcakes too! They look so pretty served up in jars like that!
This is so cute and looks so tasty I would love to make this for my son and my family especially for the holidays.
That is possibly the cutest cupcake I have ever seen in my life. Love the red sprinkles with the gum drop. SO creative!
I want to try this, I’ve really got to pay attention so I don’t forget. Or write it on a list.
I love these desserts! There are so beautiful and I can’t believe they are also gluten-free. I will definitely be trying these out!
I love these! I see all of these great cupcakes online but I can’t frost all fancy! Mason jar style is right up my alley – cute and I can do it! 🙂
I love how you served the cupcakes in mason jar. I have a tiny obsession of them these days.
Those cupcakes are awesome — they look delicious and I love them in the jars like that!
Those cupcakes look good. I like how you’ve packaged them in the mason jars.
The recipes has my name all over it! I’m craving something sweet!
Those look so tasty! I love treats in jars – yum 🙂
I love anything in a jar! Those are delightful!
. Cupcakes- I always have ingredients on hand for those!
This is such a creative way to make cupcakes. I love all the delicious ingredients too.
I love the presentation in a jar for this cupcake. great suggestion in your image for gifting our carrying too.
I have a recipe for Caramel Apple Cupcakes, but not a gluten-free one, so thank you!
Yum! The caramel apple cupcakes sound fantastic! I love how creative they look in the jar.
Those cupcakes are all kinds of awesome and I love that you served them in jars. YUM!
I love gluten free recipes and I’m always looking for more. I miss apples though 🙁 because of food allergies we can’t keep them in the house anymore.
Oh yum that sounds absolutely delicious – I do love apple based things.
x