When the apples I received in my farm share were described as baking varieties, I had a great excuse to bake. These cupcakes from Martha Stewart Kids are very moist, and especially good because of the cream cheese frosting. I elected not to make the marzipan apple decorations, but included the instructions below. This recipe makes 2 dozen cupcakes.
- 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons baking soda
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 8 tablespoons (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened
- 2 cups sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 4 cups coarsely shredded apples, such as Macintosh (about 1 3/4 pounds)
- Cream-Cheese Frosting (below)
- Marzipan Apples (below)
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line two standard muffin tins with paper liners; set aside.
- Whisk together flour, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt in a medium bowl; set aside.
- Cream butter and sugar on medium-high speed in the bowl of a mixer fitted with the paddle until pale and fluffy, about 5 minutes. Mix in eggs and vanilla.
- Reduce speed to low; mix in apples. Add flour mixture; mix, scraping down sides of bowl as needed, until just combined.
- Fill lined cups halfway with batter; bake until tops are springy to the touch, 18 to 20 minutes. Remove from tins; let cool on a wire rack. When completely cool, frost cupcakes; top with marzipan apples (optional).
- For marzipan apples: Tint some marzipan red and some green (find it in the baking section of your grocery store). Roll red marzipan into balls on a cornstarch-dusted surface. Score bottoms with toothpick. For leaves, flatten teardrop-shaped green marzipan; add veins with toothpick. Roll worms from un-tinted marzipan; add green nonpareils for eyes. Use brown sprinkles for stems. Make holes for worm and stem, and insert.
For the Cream Cheese Frosting (Makes 3 Cups):
- 1 package (8 ounces) cream cheese, room temperature
- 8 tablespoons (1 stick) unsalted butter, slightly softened
- 4 cups confectioners’ sugar, sifted
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Beat cream cheese in the bowl of a mixer fitted with the paddle until smooth; scrape down sides of bowl. Add butter; mix, scraping down sides of bowl as needed, until smooth, about 2 minutes. Gradually mix in confectioners’ sugar; add vanilla. Mix until smooth, about 1 minute. Use immediately.
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