Recipe: Apple Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting

APPLE CUPCAKES WITH CREAM CHEESE FROSTING

FOR THE CUPCAKES:
1 1/4 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
3/4 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup canola oil
2 large eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 large Jonagold or Granny Smith apple, peeled, cored and grated
FOR THE CREAM CHEESE FROSTING:
3 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
1 (3 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
1 1/4 cups powdered sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon lemon juice

TO MAKE THE CUPCAKES:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray 10 muffin cups with nonstick cooking spray and set aside.

Sift together the flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg and cloves. Set aside.

With an electric mixer set at medium speed, combine the sugar, oil, eggs and vanilla; beat 2 minutes. Slowly add the flour mixture, beating for about 1 minute to blend. Then fold in the grated apple. Transfer the batter to the prepared muffin cups.

Bake in the preheated oven about 25 minutes, or until the cupcakes test done in the center. Cool in the pan 5 minutes before unmolding onto a rack. Cool completely.

TO MAKE THE FROSTING:
Beat together the softened butter, cream cheese, powdered sugar, vanilla and lemon juice until smooth.

Frost the tops of the cupcakes and let set up about 1 hour before serving.

Makes 10 cupcakes
Source: Bake and Freeze Desserts by Elinor Klivans