Apple Cupcakes with Maple Icing

Simply wonderful!

Cupcakes:

1 ¾ cups all purpose flour

1 ½ tsp baking powder

½ tsp ground cinnamon

¼ tsp salt

1 cup soft butter

1 cup dark brown sugar

1 tsp vanilla extract

½ cup apple cider

1 large apple peeled, cored, coarsely chopped

Icing:

4 tbsp butter softened

1 ½ cups confectioners sugar

1 tbsp apple cider

½ tsp maple extract

Heat oven to 350F.  Line 12 cup muffin pan with paper liners.  In medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, cinnamon and salt.

In large bowl with an electric mixer, cream together butter and brown sugar until fluffy.  Add vanilla and mix.  Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition.  Beginning with the flour mixture, alternately add flour mixture then apple cider to the batter.  Stir in apples.

Divide mixture evenly among prepared muffin cups.  Bake until toothpick inserted in centre comes out clean, about 30 minutes.  Cool on wire rack 5 minutes.  Remove from pan and let cool completely.

To make icing, beat butter, confectioners’ sugar, cider and maple extract in medium bowl until light and fluffy.

Makes 12 frosted cupcakes.