Apple Cupcakes with Cinnamon Cream Cheese Frosting

Do you like team sports? Do you get into playoffs? If you said yes to both...you have just won a NEW CAR!

I joke. Unless you just read this and happened to win a new car. That's pretty cool if you did.

I personally really like to watch hockey, and football, and really most sports. Except golf. I don't really understand the draw to golf. But you are probably thinking to yourself, I don't really understand the draw to any of the sports she just listed. So let's just agree to disagree. You don't haaave to like everything that I like. You just have to like my blog. Or you don't really, you just have to read it. And maybe comment on it. And maybe try the recipes. Or at least look at the pictures once or twice. Alright, I will stop being so demanding.

What I like about the hockey play offs is getting into something for a couple of months. Its madness. I now understand this March Madness business. Because that is truly what it is. It is pure madness. And you never know what is going to happen. That's what makes it so fun. Plus, I find that you actually start to invest yourself in it, you become disappointed when your team isn't winning, and you start to emotionally attach yourself to the cute players, or the players that perform really well. It's a perfect spring relationship. And its over before summer, so you can really get a new fling started when the seasons change. Sounds kind of perfect right?

Of course, I have my engineer, so why would I need a spring fling....

What do I need? Spring cupcakes. Apple Cupcakes. With a bit of spice. And some cream cheese frosting to seal the deal. Coming at you in the 3, 2, .....

Apple Cupcakes with Cinnamon Cream Cheese Frosting (adapted from Joy the Baker)
Makes 12 small Cupcakes (or 10 medium sized cupcakes)

Cupcakes:
1 cup all-purpose flour (I used 3/4 cup brown rice flour, 1/4 cup corn starch for gluten free)
1/2 cup sugar
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
pinch of salt
3 tbsp unsalted butter, at room temperature
3/4 cup apple sauce
1/4 cup whole milk
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 tsp cinnamon

Frosting:
1 cup powdered sugar, sifted
1/3 cup cream cheese
1/4 tsp vanilla extract
1/4 tsp cinnamon

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line a muffin pan with 12 liners and set aside.

2. Put the flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda and butter into a large bowl and mix with a handheld beater on slow speed until the mixture is a sandy consistency and everything is combined.

3. Gradually pour in half of the milk and beat until the milk is just incorporated. Whisk the egg, vanilla and remaining milk together in a separate bowl for a few seconds, then pour into the flour mixture and continue beating until just incorporated. Scrape any unmixed ingredients from the side or the bottom of the bowl with a rubber spatula. Continue mixing until the batter is smooth. Just a few minutes. Do not over-mix.

4. Spoon the batter into paper lined muffin tins, dividing between the 12 cups. Bake for 20-25 minutes or until light golden and a skewer inserted in the center comes out clean. Let the cupcakes cool slightly in the pan, then turn them out onto a wire rack to cool completely before frosting.

5. To make the frosting, beat the powdered sugar and cream cheese together with a hand mixer on medium low speed until the mixture comes together and is well mixed.  Add the vanilla extract and cinnamon and continue to mix on high until the frosting is light and fluffy, at least 5 minutes. The longer the frosting is beaten, the lighter it becomes. 

6. Top the fully-cooled cupcakes with the frosting.

7. Put the cupcake on a pretty plate. Find a comfy place on the couch, and then subject yourself to the hockey playoffs!

(Of course, number 7 is a totally optional step.)