Caramel Apple Mini Cakes

grandma2969's Note:

This recipe came from a King Arthur flour catalog. I have not made them yet. I like to use their boiled apple cider instead of apple juice concentrate (available from their catalog).

• Total Time: 45 mins
• Prep Time: 25 mins
• Cook Time: 20 mins

Ingredients:

Servings: 12

CAKE

• 2 cups whole wheat flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1 teaspoon apple pie spice
• ¾ cup butter , softened
• 1 ½ cups brown sugar , packed
• 3 large eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 3 tablespoons apple juice concentrate , thawed
• ½ cup applesauce
• 3 cups peeled chopped apples
• ¾ cup walnuts , chopped

FROSTING

• 5 tablespoons butter , softened
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• ½ cup packed brown sugar
• 2 tablespoons corn syrup
• 3 tablespoons milk
• 1 ½ cups powdered sugar
• ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
• ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350°.
2. Grease the wells of a pop up pan or 12 muffin cups.
3. Whisk together the flour, baking powder, salt and spices; set aside.
4. Cream together the butter, and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in the eggs, then mix in dry ingredients, vanilla, boiled cider or apple juice concentrate, thawed; and applesauce.
5. Stir this mixture until evenly moistened and then fold in the apple and walnuts.
6. Transfer the batter to prepared pan.
7. Bake for 20-22 minutes or cake tester inserted near the center comes out clean.
8. Cool the cakes for 15 minutes before turning out of the pan; cool complete before frosting.
9. To prepare the frosting: Melt the butter, stir in the salt and the brown sugar, and corn syrup and cool, stirring until the sugar melts.
10. Add the milk, bring to a rolling boil and pour into a mixing bowl to cool for 10 minutes.
11. Stir in the sugar, vanilla and cinnamon; beat well. If the mixture appears too thin, add more powdered sugar.
12. Spread on the cakes while frosting is still a little warm.