Letters From My Kitchen: A is for Applesauce: Applesauce Spice Cupcakes (Jessica)

Aloha!

We did it! I'm so thrilled and amazed that Jen and I have completed this challenge and are still keen to do more! At this important milestone, I chose a cupcake recipe to bring to you this week.
Cupcakes are REALLY what started my love of baking. About three years ago, I had some friends who liked baking box cakes when they cooked dinner. One day, I was going on and on about Red Velvet cupcakes and they suggested I make some. I was hooked. Well, actually, those cupcakes turned out pretty poorly, but then I kept trying more cupcake recipes....and then I was hooked.

This week's recipe is from my favorite-ist cupcake book by Martha Stewart (check it out here). You already knew I was picking a recipe that featured applesauce, and this one stood out! It was perfect for this time year!

Applesauce Spice Cupcakes
makes 20 cupcakes
from Cupcakes, by Martha Stewart

Ingredients:
2 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
3/4 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
1/8 teaspoon ground cloves
1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, room temperature
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
4 large eggs, room temperature
1 1/2 cups unsweetened applesauce

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line muffin tins with paper liners.
2. Whisk together flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves.

3. With an electric mixer, cream butter and both sugars until pale and fluffy.

Add eggs one at a time. Scrape down sides of bowl as needed.
4. Reduce speed to low and add applesauce.

A half-filled jar of applesauce: proof I used my ingredient!

Then add flour mixture. Beat until just combined.

5. Fill muffin tins 3/4 full and bake for about 20 minutes (until toothpick inserted into center comes out clean). Transfer to wire racks to cool completely before removing cupcakes.
6. To finish, frost with whatever frosting or glaze you'd like! (Martha suggests Brown-Sugar Cream Cheese Frosting, but I didn't do that...I just bought some frosting as I do NOT like making frosting)

Review:
These were a great Fall treat! Without any frosting, they were more muffin-like, not too sweet; with frosting, they were definitely a dessert. The spice combination was excellent and they actually reminded me of Havdalah (probably because of the cloves!). I brought these to cooking club (how fitting for another A recipe) and I love how un-messy they are to enjoy. I hope you get to make them as it really becomes Fall--the perfect season for apples!