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Apple Crisp Cupcakes

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These Apple Crisp Cupcakes are a cozy twist on classic fall desserts. With a soft spiced cupcake, oat crumble topping, and rich caramel drizzle, they’re the ultimate fall treat—perfect for Thanksgiving, Halloween, or a warm weekend bake.

  • Author: Ella
  • Prep Time: 20 minutes
  • Cook Time: 18–22 minutes
  • Total Time: 40 minutes
  • Yield: 12 cupcakes
  • Category: Dessert, Fall Recipes, Cupcakes
  • Method: Baking
  • Cuisine: American
  • Diet: Vegetarian

Ingredients

For the Cupcakes:

1½ cups all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking powder

½ teaspoon baking soda

½ teaspoon ground cinnamon

¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg

¼ teaspoon salt

½ cup unsalted butter, softened

1 cup granulated sugar

2 large eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

½ cup buttermilk

2 medium apples, peeled, cored, and finely chopped

For the Oat Crumble Topping:

½ cup old-fashioned oats

⅓ cup all-purpose flour

¼ cup packed brown sugar

½ teaspoon ground cinnamon

¼ cup unsalted butter, melted

For the Drizzle:

½ cup caramel sauce (store-bought or homemade)

Instructions

Preheat Oven:
Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a 12-cup muffin pan with cupcake liners.

Make Cupcake Batter:
In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt.
In a large mixing bowl, beat softened butter and granulated sugar until light and fluffy (2–3 minutes).
Add eggs one at a time, mixing well. Stir in vanilla.
Alternate adding dry ingredients and buttermilk, starting and ending with dry. Fold in chopped apples.

Make the Crumble:
In a small bowl, combine oats, flour, brown sugar, and cinnamon. Add melted butter and stir until crumbly.

Assemble:
Divide cupcake batter evenly into liners, filling about ⅔ full. Top each with a spoonful of crumble mixture.

Bake:
Bake for 18–22 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
Cool in the pan for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack.

Drizzle with Caramel:
Once cooled, drizzle caramel sauce over each cupcake.

Notes

No buttermilk? Mix ½ cup milk with 1 Tbsp lemon juice or vinegar and let sit for 5 minutes.

Make it dairy-free: Substitute with plant-based butter and non-dairy milk + acid for buttermilk.

Gluten-free: Use a 1:1 gluten-free flour blend.

Storage:

Room temperature: 3 days in airtight container

Fridge: Up to 1 week

Freeze: Up to 3 months (without caramel drizzle)