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4.3 from 12 votes

Get the Recipe Apple Cider Cupcakes with Bourbon Cream Cheese Frosting

Bake these Apple Cider Cupcakes for a fun fall treat, with their moist, tender crumb and cream cheese frosting - you cannot go wrong! No bourbon? No problem, just use apple cider in the frosting, too.

Prep Time
15 mins
Cook Time
15 mins
Total Time
30 mins
Servings: 12 cupcakes
Calories: 411 kcal
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American

Ingredients

Cupcakes:
  • 1 1/2 /2 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 /2 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2 /2 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/2 /2 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 1/2 /2 cup granulated sugar
  • 1/4 /4 cup brown sugar
  • 1/2 /2 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 2 eggs room temperature
  • 2 Tablespoon vegetable oil
  • 1/2 /2 cup + 2 Tablespoons apple cider
Frosting:
  • 8 oz. cream cheese room temperature
  • 2 Tablespoon unsalted butter room temperature
  • 1 Tablespoon bourbon or sub apple cider
  • 3 1/2 to 4 /2 to 4 cups powdered sugar
  • Optional: 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

Instructions

Apple Cider Cupcakes
    Cup of Yum
  1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Line 12 muffin tins with liners.
  2. In a medium bowl, stir together the flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, and cinnamon. Set aside.
  3. In a separate bowl, use a hand or stand mixer, with a paddle attachment, to cream together sugars and butter for about 2-3 minutes. Once light and fluffy, add vanilla. Add eggs one at a time, mixing between each addition, and scraping the sides as needed.
  4. Combine oil and apple cider. Alternate adding the dry and wet ingredients together, beginning and ending with the dry ingredients (3 dry additions, 2 wet additions). Mix together the batter until just combined between each addition.
  5. Divide the batter evenly between each muffin tin, filling approximately 3/4 of the way full. Bake for 14-17 minutes until the internal temperature reaches approximately 200°F. Be careful to not overbake. Let the cupcakes cool completely before frosting.
Frosting:
  1. In the bowl of an electric mixer, add softened cream cheese and butter; beat until fully combined and smooth.
  2. Add bourbon, and vanilla extract if using, stirring to combine. Add powdered sugar, 1/2 cup at a time, mixing to combine between each addition. Continue mixing until smooth, adding an additional 1/2 cup of powdered sugar for a thicker texture.
  3. Spread or pipe the frosting on top of cooled cupcakes and sprinkle with additional cinnamon, as desired.

Notes

  • Make the frosting alcohol-free by substituting apple cider in place of the bourbon.
  • Apple cider or apple juice? You can use them interchangeably, however, if using juice I'd recommend replacing 1-2 teaspoons of it with lemon juice to add the tart flavor you get with apple cider.
  • When updated in October 2020, the flour increased from 1 1/4 cups to 1 1/2 cups, and the oil was added. The butter amount in the frosting was reduced from 1/4 cup to 2 TBSP to thicken the consistency, and additional apple cider was removed. 

Nutrition Information

Calories 411kcal (21%) Carbohydrates 62g (21%) Protein 4g (8%) Fat 17g (26%) Saturated Fat 10g (50%) Polyunsaturated Fat 1g Monounsaturated Fat 4g Trans Fat 1g Cholesterol 73mg (24%) Sodium 235mg (10%) Potassium 74mg (2%) Fiber 1g (4%) Sugar 49g (98%) Vitamin A 589IU (12%) Vitamin C 1mg (1%) Calcium 44mg (4%) Iron 1mg (6%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 12cupcakes

Amount Per Serving

Calories 411

% Daily Value*

Calories 411kcal 21%
Carbohydrates 62g 21%
Protein 4g 8%
Fat 17g 26%
Saturated Fat 10g 50%
Polyunsaturated Fat 1g 6%
Monounsaturated Fat 4g 20%
Trans Fat 1g 50%
Cholesterol 73mg 24%
Sodium 235mg 10%
Potassium 74mg 2%
Fiber 1g 4%
Sugar 49g 98%
Vitamin A 589IU 12%
Vitamin C 1mg 1%
Calcium 44mg 4%
Iron 1mg 6%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.