Spiced Applesauce Cupcakes

These are SO darn good! This recipe makes a nice, big batch of cupcakes - it's good for taking to the office, parties, etc. Recipe is from Sunset.

• Ready In: 35 mins
• Yields: 18 cupcakes

Ingredients

• 1 3⁄4 cups flour
• 1  teaspoon baking soda
• 1  teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1  teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1⁄4 teaspoon ground cloves
• 1⁄2 teaspoon salt
• 1⁄2 cup butter, softened
• 1  cup sugar
• 1  egg
• 1  cup unsweetened applesauce
• 1  cup  finely chopped pecans

• Apple Glaze

• 3⁄4 cup powdered sugar
• 5  teaspoons  apple juice, about

Directions

1. Whisk together flour, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves and salt until very well combined; set aside.
2. In a mixer, beat butter and sugar until creamy; add egg and beat until fluffy.
3. Stir in applesauce.
4. Gradually add flour mixture, beating until well blended; stir in nuts.
5. Spoon batter into paper-lined or well-greased 2 1/2-inch muffin pans, filling each about 2/3 full.
6. Bake in a 350°oven until tops spring back when lightly touched (20-25 min).
7. let cool in pans on wire racks for about 5 minutes.
8. Prepare Apple Glaze, carefully remove cupcakes, place on racks and brush with glaze.
9. Apple Glaze: mix powdered sugar and apple juice until smoothly blended and of a good brushing consistency.