These Apple Spice Cupcakes with Salted Caramel Frosting bring together the best fall flavors — cinnamon, nutmeg, and fresh apples — topped with rich, buttery caramel frosting. Each bite is soft, spiced, and perfectly balanced with a hint of salt. A cozy homemade dessert that feels like fall in every cupcake wrapper.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

You’ll love these Apple Spice Cupcakes because they’re moist, full of real apple flavor, and topped with smooth, Salted Caramel Frosting that melts in your mouth. They’re easy enough for a weekend bake yet elegant enough for holidays and gatherings. A must-try for anyone craving a warm, comforting dessert with bakery-quality results at home.

Apple Spice Cupcakes with Salted Caramel Frosting

When the weather cools down and apple season begins, few desserts capture the spirit of fall quite like Apple Spice Cupcakes. Warm, aromatic, and perfectly tender, these cupcakes are a cozy blend of comfort and sweetness — the kind of treat that makes your kitchen smell like cinnamon and caramel.

This recipe celebrates everything we love about autumn baking. Each cupcake is infused with real apple pieces that stay juicy after baking, creating a naturally moist crumb. The gentle spices — cinnamon and nutmeg — give that nostalgic, bakery-style aroma, while the Salted Caramel Frosting adds a silky, rich finish that ties it all together.

What makes this recipe special is its texture. The cupcake itself is soft yet sturdy, balancing sweetness from brown sugar with the tang of fresh apple. The frosting, made with homemade caramel, has a creamy consistency that spreads beautifully and adds depth from the touch of sea salt.

This dessert isn’t just for holidays — it’s perfect for everyday baking, too. You can make them for Thanksgiving dessert, a cozy weekend treat, or a fall bake sale. They’re the kind of cupcakes that make people pause mid-bite and ask, “Did you really make these?”

Ingredient-wise, everything is simple and easy to find. Real apples (Honeycrisp or Fuji work beautifully), warm spices, and pantry staples come together effortlessly. The caramel frosting might sound fancy, but it’s surprisingly easy — butter, brown sugar, and cream melt down to a golden base that’s whipped with powdered sugar until fluffy.

The balance of sweet and salty is what makes these cupcakes irresistible. The salted caramel brings out the apple’s natural sweetness, while the spice blend keeps it from being overly sugary. Each bite feels like a soft, spiced cloud wrapped in buttery caramel.

If you love seasonal desserts, this one checks every box — comforting, flavorful, and picture-perfect. It’s a recipe you’ll find yourself coming back to year after year, just like your favorite fall sweater or first mug of hot cider.

Serve them as-is for a rustic look, or dress them up with a drizzle of caramel sauce and a thin apple slice for presentation. Either way, these cupcakes are guaranteed to impress without the need for complicated techniques.

In short, these Apple Spice Cupcakes with Salted Caramel Frosting are pure fall magic — homemade comfort with a gourmet touch that anyone can bake, love, and share.

Servings & Time

Servings: 12 cupcakes
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 20–22 minutes
Total Time: 45 minutes

Ingredients

Cupcakes

• 1/2 cup (115g) unsalted butter, melted and slightly cooled

• 2/3 cup (135g) packed brown sugar

• 1/3 cup (65g) granulated sugar

• 2 large eggs, room temperature

• 1/3 cup (80ml) milk

• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract

• 1 1/2 cups (190g) all-purpose flour

• 1 teaspoon baking soda

• 1/4 teaspoon baking powder

• 1/2 teaspoon salt

• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

• 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg

• 1 large apple, peeled and finely chopped (about 2 cups)

Salted Caramel Frosting

• 1/2 cup (115g) unsalted butter

• 1 cup (200g) packed brown sugar

• 1/3 cup (80ml) heavy cream, divided

• 1/4 teaspoon salt

• 2–3 cups (240–360g) confectioners’ sugar, sifted

• Optional garnish: salted caramel drizzle and thin apple slices

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350°F (177°C) and line a 12-count muffin pan with cupcake liners.

2. In a large bowl, whisk melted butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar until smooth.

3. Add eggs, milk, and vanilla, whisking until fully combined.

4. In a separate bowl, combine flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg.

5. Gradually mix dry ingredients into wet mixture, stirring just until combined.

6. Fold in the chopped apples gently using a spatula.

7. Divide batter evenly among cupcake liners (about 3/4 full).

8. Bake 20–22 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean. Let cool completely before frosting.

9. To make the frosting, melt butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Stir in brown sugar and 2 tablespoons cream. Bring to a gentle boil and simmer for 2 minutes, stirring constantly.

10. Remove from heat, stir in salt and remaining cream, then let cool for 10–15 minutes.

11. Transfer to a bowl and beat with confectioners’ sugar until fluffy and spreadable.

12. Frost cooled cupcakes and top with caramel drizzle or apple slices if desired.

Tips

• Apple Options: Use Honeycrisp, Fuji, or Gala for best flavor and texture.

• Frosting Texture: If frosting is too thick, add a splash of cream; too thin, add more sugar.

• Make-Ahead: Bake cupcakes a day ahead and frost before serving.

• Storage: Store frosted cupcakes in the fridge up to 4 days; bring to room temp before serving.

• Serving Tip: Drizzle with extra salted caramel just before serving for bakery-style presentation.