Hi happy bakers!

So I normally write these posts from my kitchen table. There is usually a disaster of dishes around me that I will swear I’ll clean up in a minute. “In a minute” means I’ll forget and my saint of a husband will just do them. Goodness, I love that man.

Today this post comes from a crowded downtown city bus stop. If you are someone who uses public transit in a big city than you know I’m currently sitting in a glamorous bus shelter that has been decorated will all sorts of “colorful” words and pictures. I don’t know who “Tim” is but apparently he is up for a good time. And I didn’t know inspirational quotes including the F-Word were necessary to share with the public but they are. Oh, the dear old public transit system.

Why am I telling you all this? Well, why do I really tell you anything? Is it because I missed both my busses and now I have 15 minutes to kill? Maybe… or maybe it’s because one of my fellow riders is wearing an inspirational teeshirt. The front is a huge Eagle head and the back is an eagle flying down into… well into his butt. It really looks like that at least. I think it would make a fantastic meme. It also makes me think of the stereotypical symbols of America. Eagles are probably the biggest but coming in a close second is the Apple Pie. I just happen to have a fantastic Apple Pie Cupcake recipe that I have been saving for the perfect moment. I think this oddly might be it.

I found this recipe on The Disney Diner and as soon as I saw it I knew we needed to make it. It was offered during a “Limited Time Magic” promotion.

You know Disney loves their cupcakes.

Ingredients Cupcakes:

• 1 vanilla cake mix

• 21 ounce can of apple pie filling

Instructions Cupcakes:

1. Make the cupcakes as per the directions on the box. Bake and let cool completely before continuing.

2. Cut a quarter size hole in the top of the cooled cupcakes. Cut about 1/2 inch deep. Remove the “hole” in one piece. Save for later. I like to make it a triangle shape.

3. Fill the center of each cupcake with apple pie filling.

4. Place the removed piece of the cupcake back on top of the cupcake upside down. The flat side of the cut out against the apple filling.

5. Place the cupcakes aside as you prepare the frosting and the streusel.

_____________________________

Ingredients Apple Cinnamon Streusel:

• 2 packets of Apple-Cinnamon instant oatmeal (single serving packets)

• 1/3 cup all-purpose flour

• 1/2 cup light brown sugar

• 4 tablespoons melted butter

Instructions Apple Cinnamon Streusel:

1. Preheat your oven to 350F

2. Cover a baking sheet with parchment paper.

3. In a large bowl, combine the oatmeal, flour, and brown sugar. Mix together.

4. To the oatmeal mixture, add the melted butter and mix until everything is well coated.

5. Spread the mixture over the prepared baking sheet.

6. Bake for 10 minutes. It will become golden brown. Keep an eye on it so it doesn’t burn.

7. Let cool completely.

8. Once cool, break the pieces into small pieces.

____________________________

Ingredients Caramel Buttercream Frosting:

• 1/2 cup butter, room temperature

• 1 cup vegetable shortening

• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

• 3 tablespoons caramel sundae syrup

• 7 cups powdered sugar

• 4-6 tablespoons milk

Instructions Caramel Buttercream Frosting:

1. In a stand mixer with a paddle attachment, combine the butter, vegetable shortening, vanilla, and caramel syrup. Cream until light and fluffy.

2. Add 1/3 of the milk and mix.

3. Add 1/3 of the sugar and mix.

4. Continue alternating between the milk and sugar until complete. If the frosting is to thick/thin, add more milk or sugar to thin/thicken it out.

5. Place the frosting into a piping bag or a large ziplock bag with the corner cut off.

___________________________________________

To Assemble the Cupcake:

1. Starting on the edge of the cupcake, pipe the frosting around the edge and moving upwards with every turn towards the middle.

2. Using your hands, press the cooled streusel into the edges of the cupcake.

TADA Apple pie cupcake for your next fourth of July party… or Tuesday afternoon because cupcakes are delicious.