I simply love February! All that pink, red, mush, chocolate, wine.. I love it! As I am growing older, I seem to have a renewed liking for V day (though I expect it to be otherwise). Food is an integral part of any big day so the fact that some of the major celebrations like Christmas, Australia day and V day fall in summer for us, makes my liking go up by a few levels. Raspberries, cherries, plums in Feb…more reasons to love! Red inspiration is right there at the fresh produce markets. I’ll come to all of that soon. I have many romantic desserts coming up for you but today I’m sharing something every day…something lunchbox or you can call it an after school treat. Apple Cinnamon Cupcakes. Yes, the Mum in me has to think of nutrition and healthy lunches as well.
When did cupcakes become healthy…you might be wondering. The cupcakes are actually great! Minus the frosting you may call them muffins. They are tasty and make a delicious apple filled snack. This is where the pastry lover in me steps in and wants to frost them. A treat once in a while is fine, don’t you think? My boys love cupcakes so when they are at their best behaviour, I do reward them….the muffins graduate into cupcakes. I select a frosting, out comes the piping bag and a treat is in the making. I know. Funny. But it makes Mum and kids happy:-)
Apple Cinnamon Cupcakes with Honey Buttercream
Yields 12
2 cups plain flour
1 tablespoon baking powder
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
2/3 cup brown sugar, firmly packed
2 medium (about 375 g) Granny Smith apples, cored, peeled, chopped
125 g butter, melted, cooled
2 eggs, lightly whisked
3/4 cup milk
Honey Buttercream
250 g unsalted butter, softened
1/3 cup honey
4-5 cups icing sugar
1-2 tbsp milk
Preheat oven to 200 degrees C (180 degrees C for fan forced). Grease or line a 12-hole muffin tray with paper liners.
Sift the plain flour, baking powder and cinnamon together into a large bowl. Stir in the brown sugar, apples and raisins until well combined. Whisk together the butter, eggs and milk until well combined.
Add the milk mixture to the flour mixture and stir with a large metal spoon until just combined. Do not over-mix or the resulting cupcakes will be dry. Spoon the mixture evenly into the muffin pans.
Bake the muffins in the preheated oven for 20 minutes or until golden and cooked through. To test if they are cooked, insert a skewer into the centre of one – if it comes out clean, it is ready If not, cook for a little longer before testing again. When cooked, remove from oven and stand for 2-3 minutes before turning onto a wire rack. Once cool, frost them.
To make the Honey buttercream, in the bowl of your mixer, cream together the butter and honey. Add half the icing sugar.
Start on low speed on the mixer, beat until smooth and creamy, about 3-5 minutes.
Gradually add the remaining sugar, 1 cup at a time, beating well after each addition (about 2 minutes), until the icing is thick enough to be of good spreading consistency. Use milk to thin out frosting to reach desired consistency.
Great recipe and fantastic photos.
I love everything cinnamon 🙂
Thanks Flore! I am glad you liked them.
What a TREAT Sonali! To wake up and find your new post and get started for the day with such brightness and joy. These are a must to try! For us here in the north, we are thrilled that January is over though we are getting a snow storm today! But spring will come soon enough.
Gorgeous photography as usual and so inspiring! XOXOX Anita
I’ve never seen snow in my life other than pictures Anita! Stay warm. Spring is not very far Thanks for your lovely words and putting a big smile on my face always:-)
I want to try that frosting!!
Absolutely:-)
So pretty and sweet. I love frosting and muffins and I’m so happy the two have met!
Indeed! That’s a match made in Heaven. Thanks lovely Abbe!
I know feelings run strong on this but I have to tell you I love Valentine’s Day, always have. : ) I adore all the hearts and pink, and certainly, all the chocolates! These pretty cupcakes are a perfect example! I just smile looking at them…they are just lovely.
I am thrilled if they made you smile. Cupcakes are pretty little versatile things. I have many in mind to make this year. Thanks so much:-)
The healthy cupcakes are so adorable, love the wrapper too! Lucky kids to have such a great mom.
I am lucky that there’s a demand for cupcakes at my place. So far so good:-) Thanks my friend!
Sonali, these are so pretty! Gorgeous photography, light, styling (how creative with those upside down glasses!), just beautiful!
Thanks so much Lili! You are too sweet:-)
Love love love these muffins/cupcakes! Red has such an amazing effect on us all doesn’t it? I guess as Indians we are kind of addicted to it. I know I am. I just gravitate towards anything red!
These muffins look so good. Pinned!
Thanks so much dear Rakhee! Yesssssss…love red, love pink! Actually I LOVE colours!
Oh this is such a lovely treat for the boys after school, hey a little naughty treat is great. Hope the kids are settled back into their routine.
It’s so nice to have special days in summer for you, feels bright and great. They are some great bright and cheerie looking treats my dear.
xx
Thanks lovely! The boys have settled well into their new classes. Back to work for me as well. I love my job! Who wouldn’t love making, shooting and eating cakes for a living. Hope you are enjoying the last of winter!
Oooh these look so good! Love your photos. Pinning!
These are gorgeous and sound delicious!