The Ultimate Apple Cider Cupcakes (Perfect Thanksgiving Dessert!)
There is no flavor that captures the essence of autumn quite like apple cider. It’s the taste of crisp air, cozy sweaters, and golden leaves. This recipe takes that quintessential fall flavor and transforms it into the most incredible, tender, and flavor-packed cupcake you will ever have. These are not just cupcakes with a hint…
There is no flavor that captures the essence of autumn quite like apple cider. It’s the taste of crisp air, cozy sweaters, and golden leaves. This recipe takes that quintessential fall flavor and transforms it into the most incredible, tender, and flavor-packed cupcake you will ever have. These are not just cupcakes with a hint of apple; these are the Ultimate Apple Cider Cupcakes, a true celebration of the season. The secret is in the apple cider reduction, a simple process of boiling down cider until it becomes a thick, concentrated syrup of pure apple flavor. We use this liquid gold in both the cupcake batter and the dreamy cream cheese buttercream frosting. The result is a supremely moist and tender cupcake, bursting with the warm flavors of brown sugar and spice, with an intense apple cider tang. And just when you think it can’t get any better, there’s a surprise inside: a hidden pocket of sweet and spicy apple butter. Topped with a swirl of silky, tangy apple cider buttercream, these cupcakes are pure, unadulterated fall bliss. They are the perfect, elegant dessert for a Thanksgiving feast or any cozy autumn gathering.
Why These Apple Cider Cupcakes Are a Fall Must-Bake!
- Intense, Authentic Apple Cider Flavor: The apple cider reduction is a game-changer, infusing both the cake and the frosting with a deep, concentrated apple flavor that’s simply incredible.
- Supremely Moist and Tender Crumb: The combination of cake flour, sour cream, and oil creates a cupcake that is unbelievably soft, moist, and tender.
- A Delicious Surprise Inside: Every cupcake has a hidden center of sweet, spiced apple butter, adding an extra layer of flavor and moisture.
- The Dreamiest Buttercream: The apple cider cream cheese buttercream is the perfect balance of sweet, tangy, and spiced. It’s silky, smooth, and absolutely addictive.
- The Perfect Thanksgiving Dessert: These elegant, individual desserts are a fantastic and easy-to-serve alternative or addition to traditional Thanksgiving pies.
Recipe Snapshot
| Prep Time | 20 minutes (+ reduction time) |
| Cook Time | 22 minutes |
| Total Time | 1 hour 22 minutes |
| Servings | 14 cupcakes |
| Calories | 522 kcal per serving |
| Course | Dessert |
| Cuisine | American |
| Method | Baking |
Your Autumn Baking Shopping List
This recipe uses a special apple cider reduction to build its incredible flavor. Here’s what you’ll need.
→ For the Apple Cider Reduction
- Apple Cider: 6 cups. You’ll need a good quality, fresh apple cider for the best flavor.
- Cinnamon Stick: 1, to infuse the cider as it reduces.
→ For the Apple Cider Cupcakes
- Wet Ingredients: You’ll need sour cream, eggs, vegetable oil, and whole milk, all at room temperature for the best results.
- Vanilla Extract: For a touch of warmth.
- Cake Flour: This is the secret to a super tender, light cupcake crumb.
- Warm Spices: A classic fall blend of cinnamon, nutmeg, and ground cloves.
- Brown Sugar: For a moist, rich, caramel-like sweetness.
- Leaveners & Salt: Baking powder, baking soda, and kosher salt.
- Apple Butter: For that delicious surprise filling!
→ For the Apple Cider Cream Cheese Buttercream
- Salted Butter: 1/2 cup, at room temperature.
- Confectioner’s Sugar: 3 cups for a sweet, fluffy frosting.
- Cream Cheese: 4 oz, it’s important that this is cold!
- Vanilla Bean Paste or Extract: For a deep vanilla flavor.
- Cinnamon: 1 teaspoon to echo the spice in the cupcakes.
Let’s Bake! Crafting Your Perfect Apple Cider Cupcakes, Step-by-Step
The first and most important step is reducing the apple cider. This can even be done a day ahead to save time!
Phase 1: Make the Apple Cider Reduction (Time: ~30-40 minutes + cooling)
This is where we create the liquid gold that will supercharge our cupcakes and frosting with intense apple flavor.
- Reduce the Cider. Pour the 6 cups of apple cider into a saucepan with the cinnamon stick. Bring it to a boil over high heat, then reduce the heat to maintain a steady simmer. Cook for 30-40 minutes, until the cider has reduced down to exactly 1 cup of liquid.
- Cool Completely. Remove the pan from the heat and discard the cinnamon stick. Pour the reduction into a heat-safe container and let it cool completely.
Critical Tip: The reduction must be completely cool before you use it in the batter or the frosting, so plan accordingly!
Phase 2: Bake the Cupcakes (Time: ~10 minutes prep + 22 minutes baking)
Now we’ll create the moist, spiced cupcake base.
- Preheat and Prep. Preheat your oven to 350°F. Line a muffin tin with 14 cupcake liners.
- Combine Wet Ingredients. In a medium bowl, whisk together 1/2 cup of your cooled apple cider reduction, the room temperature sour cream, whole milk, eggs, vegetable oil, and vanilla extract.
- Combine Dry Ingredients. In the large bowl of a stand mixer or another large bowl, combine the cake flour, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, brown sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and kosher salt. Whisk to combine.
- Mix the Batter. Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients. Mix on low speed (or by hand) until just combined, about 30 seconds. Do not overmix!
- Bake and Cool. Fill each muffin cup about 2/3 full with batter. Bake for 22-25 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Let the cupcakes cool in the pan for 10 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
Phase 3: Whip Up the Buttercream & Assemble (Time: ~10 minutes)
While the cupcakes cool, we can make the incredibly silky and flavorful frosting.
- Make the Buttercream. In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the room temperature butter on low speed for 30 seconds. Add the remaining 1/2 cup of cooled apple cider reduction, the confectioner’s sugar, vanilla, and cinnamon. Mix on low to combine, then increase the speed to medium and beat for 2-3 minutes until fluffy.
- Add the Cream Cheese. Add the cold cream cheese and mix on medium speed for another 1-2 minutes, just until it’s smooth and combined. Don’t overmix at this stage.
- Fill the Cupcakes. Once the cupcakes are completely cool, use an apple corer or a small knife to carefully remove the center of each cupcake. Use a spoon or a piping bag to fill each hole with apple butter.
- Frost and Enjoy! Transfer your buttercream to a piping bag fitted with your favorite tip and pipe a generous swirl on top of each filled cupcake.
WiseRecipes’ Top Tips for the Best Apple Cider Cupcakes!
- Be Patient with the Reduction: Don’t rush the process of reducing the apple cider. This slow simmer is what concentrates the flavor and makes these cupcakes truly special. And it must be completely cool before using!
- Use Room Temperature Ingredients (Mostly!): Having your eggs, sour cream, and milk at room temperature is key for a smooth, evenly incorporated batter. The one exception is the cream cheese for the frosting—using it cold helps the frosting set up perfectly without becoming too soft.
- Don’t Overmix the Batter: To achieve a light, tender cupcake, mix the wet and dry ingredients only until they are just combined. A few small lumps are perfectly fine. Overmixing develops gluten and leads to tough cupcakes.
- The Magic of Cake Flour: Cake flour has a lower protein content than all-purpose flour, which is the secret to creating a super light, soft, and tender cupcake crumb. It’s worth seeking out!
- Cool Completely Before Frosting: This is the golden rule of cupcakes! Even a slightly warm cupcake will melt your beautiful buttercream into a soupy mess. Patience is a virtue in baking.
Creative Twists: Delicious Ways to Customize Your Cupcakes!
- Add a Caramel Drizzle: A drizzle of salted caramel sauce over the top of the frosted cupcakes would be absolutely heavenly.
- Cinnamon Sugar Garnish: Before serving, sprinkle the frosted cupcakes with a little cinnamon sugar for extra sparkle and spice.
- Add a Crunchy Topping: Top the frosting with some chopped toasted pecans or a sprinkle of crushed gingersnap cookies.
- Make it Boozy: Add a tablespoon or two of bourbon or dark rum to the cupcake batter for a delicious, grown-up twist.
- Try a Different Filling: Instead of apple butter, you could fill the cupcakes with salted caramel sauce or a simple cinnamon cream cheese filling.
The Ultimate Apple Cider Cupcakes with Apple Butter Filling
Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- Add 6 cups of apple cider and a cinnamon stick to a saucepan over high heat. Boil for about 30-40 minutes, until the cider reduces to 1 cup. Remove from heat and allow to cool completely.
- Preheat the oven to 350°F and line a muffin tin. In a medium bowl, whisk together 1/2 cup of the cooled reduced apple cider, sour cream, milk, eggs, vegetable oil, and vanilla.
- In a separate large bowl, whisk together the cake flour, spices, brown sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
- Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and mix together until just combined. Do not overmix.
- Fill each muffin cup about 2/3 full. Bake for 22-25 minutes, until a toothpick comes out clean. Let the cupcakes cool completely.
- In the bowl of a stand mixer, beat the butter until smooth. Add the remaining 1/2 cup of reduced apple cider, confectioners sugar, vanilla, and cinnamon. Mix on low, then increase to medium and beat for 2-3 minutes until fluffy.
- Add the cold cream cheese and mix until just combined and smooth, about 1-2 minutes.
- Once the cupcakes are cooled, use a knife or apple corer to remove the centers. Fill each cupcake with apple butter.
- Pipe a generous amount of the apple cider buttercream on top of each cupcake.
Notes
Keep Them Fresh! Storing Your Apple Cider Cupcakes
Because of the cream cheese frosting, these cupcakes should be stored in the refrigerator.
Refrigerator Storage
Store the finished cupcakes in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4-5 days. For the best taste and texture, let them sit at room temperature for about 20-30 minutes before serving to allow the cake and frosting to soften slightly.
Make-Ahead Prep
You can make the apple cider reduction up to 3 days in advance and store it in the fridge. The cupcakes can be baked, filled, and stored in an airtight container in the fridge a day before you plan to frost and serve them.
FAQs: Your Apple Cider Cupcake Questions, Answered!
Can I use all-purpose flour instead of cake flour?
You can, but the texture of the cupcakes will be a bit denser and less tender. If you do use all-purpose flour, a good trick is to measure out the 1 3/4 cups, then remove 3.5 tablespoons of the flour and replace it with 3.5 tablespoons of cornstarch. Whisk it together well to create a closer substitute for cake flour.
Why does the cream cheese need to be cold for the frosting?
This is a great trick for cream cheese frosting! Starting with room temperature butter allows it to get light and fluffy, but adding the cream cheese straight from the fridge helps the frosting to firm up nicely and hold its shape perfectly for piping, preventing it from becoming too soft or runny.
Can I use store-bought apple cider reduction?
Some specialty stores sell “boiled cider,” which is essentially the same thing. It can be a great time-saver! Just make sure it’s pure cider with no added sugars or thickeners.
How do I core the cupcakes without a special tool?
A small, sharp paring knife works great! Simply insert the knife at an angle and cut a small cone shape out of the center of the cupcake. Then, just snip the pointy end off the cone, fill the hole, and place the small “lid” back on top before frosting.
These Apple Cider Cupcakes are a true taste of autumn, baked into a perfect, portable treat. They are a wonderful, elegant dessert that’s sure to be the star of your Thanksgiving table or any fall celebration. The deep apple flavor and creamy frosting are a match made in heaven. I hope you enjoy every single delicious bite. Let me know how they turn out in the comments below!
