Apple Pie Cupcakes

Let's begin on the couch where I sit and have a ritual morning cup of coffee while reading some kind of cookbook or craft book. The one time I choose to be completely unaware of the growing mess my children are making throughout the house. Why a person would put their pajamas in the hamper is beyond me; they look much nicer on the dining room floor. And my children agree. There it's settled then. We'll all be careless for this ten minute cup of coffee... so that I can THINK!!! And these Apple Pie Cupcakes are what I thought about. I had seen different versions of this idea around the Internet. After combining different components from some of the recipes that are out there I came up with my own. I made these for my mother in law's birthday dinner and let me just say, everyone had seconds. Yes!! Success. You must try them.There are three different levels of flavor in each bite. A spicy moist cake bottom layer. A sweet and tart apple pie center. Finished with a sweet caramel butter cream. So good...TRY THEM!

To bake the cake you'll need:

 Spice cake mix or use your favorite recipe

Ingredients to bake cake

Small box butterscotch pudding mix

Cupcake liners

 Cupcake pans

To make the Apple Pie Filling:

4 tbsp. butter

4 tsp. cinnamon

6 tbsp. sugar

6 large Granny Smith apples, peeled, cored and diced

To make the Caramel Butter Cream:

1 Stick Butter, softened

1/2 C Shortening

2 tsp. Good quality vanilla

16 oz. Powdered sugar

2-4 Tbsp. Heavy cream

1/3 cup caramel ice cream topping or favorite recipe 

Now preheat your oven to the cake recipes specifications. I always bake cakes at 325.

I used a box mix to make my cupcakes. It was super simple. I followed the box direction but added my butterscotch pudding mix to the dry cake mix before I started. I generously filled my lined cupcake tins with cake batter and baked as directed.

Then I made my pie filling.

Heat your butter in a medium skillet. Add the cinnamon and sugar and cook for 1 minute. Next, add the apples and mix to evenly coat each apple. Cook for about 10 minutes. Let this cool while you prepare the cupcakes.

I just cut all the way around the top of the cupcake at an angle to take out a pyramid shaped piece of cake. Just eat those.. no one will know:) 

Next fill each cupcake with equal portions of filling. Don't be stingy with the juices.

Now for that delicious caramel butter cream.

In stand mixer or with hand held mixer, cream your butter, shortening, and vanilla together until smooth. Then alternate sifting in powdered sugar and cream until all of the powdered sugar is gone and you have the right consistency for piping. Pipe a generous amount of frosting on top of each cupcake.

And Voila! The Best Cupcakes Ever!!

S'mores on a Stick

Our Girl Scout troop recently hosted on a night hayride and bonfire for about 50 people. Which by the way was a super duper fun time! Naturally we wanted to roast s'mores at the bonfire but the idea of organizing 50 people with sticks and hot sugar was not exactly all that appealing. So I came with the idea of a s'more on a stick. They were simple to put together and I only needed 4 ingredients! Bonus:) What's that you say? "Show me how!!" Oh alright!

First you'll need to gather your supplies:

One sleeve of graham crackers, a bag of marshmallows, 12oz. bag of milk chocolate chips,
1 tablespoon vegetable oil. a waxed paper covered cookie sheet or tray,
and a microwave safe bowl, and some lollipop sticks or toothpicks.
Actually, little twigs would be super cute to use... darn thought of that one too late!

Now you are ready to begin!

Cover the tray that you are going to serve them on with wax paper and then line up all of your mallows like so.

Then, insert put a lollipop stick in each mallow. I made 50.

Next, take your chocolate chips and pour about 3/4 of the bag into a microwave safe bowl with

1 tablespoon vegetable/canola oil. Microwave the chips and oil in 30 seconds increments until melted.

Place 1/2 a sleeve of graham crackers into a zip lock bag and smash with a rolling pin until you like the size of your graham cracker pieces. I left quite a few small chunks.

Now you should be all set up to do these babies assembly line style like below.

Now it's just a dip in the chocolate...

Followed by a dip in the crushed graham crackers....

And you're done!!! These little yummies got a ton of compliments at the bonfire and were pretty tasty!

If you have a kitchen torch... which I desperately desire, *wink* *wink* if your reading mom;), you could brown the tops of the mallows for a toasted effect!

I served mine right off of the same tray that they were made on so I only had to clean up once. Just throw out the wax paper and voila your done!

With all of the holiday vacations coming up for those of us with little ones. This would make a great project to do with your kiddos during a family camp-in. Just set up a tent in your living/family room. Turn off the TV. Get out the flashlights. Tell some ghost stories. Make a pretend fire. And roast your s'mores on a stick!

Sew up a camp out set for your little one with our easy S'more Fun Campout pattern.

Happy Crafting!!!