Cinnamon Applesauce Cupcakes
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Fall has officially arrived, and here at RMK, we’re celebrating in the most delicious way possible—with Four Weeks of Fall! For the next month, I’ll be sharing a lineup of cozy, comforting recipes designed to bring all the warmth and flavor of the season right into your kitchen. Whether you’re craving apples, soups, fresh-baked bread, or pumpkin everything, there’s something here to help you savor every moment of autumn.
Here’s what’s coming up:
- 🍎 Apple Week – Sept 26 to Oct 1
- 🥣 Soup Week – Oct 3 to Oct 8
- 🍞 Bread Week – Oct 10 to Oct 15 (because what’s soup without a slice of warm, buttery bread?)
- 🎃 Pumpkin Week – Oct 17 to Oct 22
Doesn’t that sound fun? I hope these recipes help you slip into the fall spirit—whether you’re baking with family, hosting a cozy dinner, or just enjoying a quiet moment with something warm and sweet.
To kick things off, we’re starting Apple Week with a recipe that’s as simple as it is scrumptious: Cinnamon Applesauce Cupcakes. And in true RMK fashion, we’re giving a boxed mix a flavorful makeover.
It all starts with a spice cake mix, but instead of following the box instructions, we’re adding applesauce and apple juice to boost the moisture and deepen the apple flavor. Then we stir in cinnamon chips for that extra burst of warm spice that pairs perfectly with apples. Finally, we top it all off with a generous swirl of cream cheese frosting—rich, tangy, and the perfect complement to these tender, fall-inspired cupcakes.
Ingredients for Cinnamon Applesauce Cupcakes
- SPICE CAKE MIX
- INSTANT VANILLA PUDDING
- UNSWEETENED APPLESAUCE
- CANOLA OIL
- EGGS
- APPLE JUICE
- CINNAMON CHIPS
- CREAM CHEESE
- BUTTER
- POWDERED SUGAR
- VANILLA
Instructions for Cinnamon Applesauce Cupcakes
Start by preheating your oven to 350°F and lining 24 cups of a muffin tin with paper cupcake liners.
In a large mixing bowl, whisk together a box of spice cake mix and a packet of instant pudding mix to combine. Add in applesauce, vegetable oil, eggs, and a splash of apple juice. Using a sturdy electric mixer, beat the batter on medium speed for about 2 minutes—it’ll be thick, so don’t be afraid to let your mixer do the heavy lifting.
Once smooth, gently fold in 1 cup of cinnamon chips for a burst of warm spice in every bite. Scoop or spoon batter evenly into your prepared muffin pan.
Bake for 15–20 minutes, or until the tops look set and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Let the cupcakes cool completely before frosting—this step is key to keeping the frosting smooth and stable.
To make the frosting, beat together cream cheese and butter until light and creamy. Add vanilla extract, then gradually mix in powdered sugar, one cup at a time, until you reach your desired consistency. Pipe or spread the frosting over the cooled cupcakes, and enjoy a sweet taste of fall in every bite!
FOR MORE RECIPES LIKE THIS, TRY:
- Applesauce Bars
- Applesauce Spice Cake
- Easy Cinnamon Applesauce Muffins
- Streusel Topped Applesauce Bread
Cinnamon Applesauce Cupcakes
Real Mom Kitchen
Ingredients
- 16.5 oz pkg spice cake mix
- 3.4 oz pkg instant vanilla pudding
- 1 cup applesauce
- ¼ cup canola oil
- 4 eggs
- ½ cup apple juice or cider or you can use water
- 1 cup cinnamon chips
Frosting:
- 8 oz pkg cream cheese at room temperature
- ¼ cup butter 1/2 stick, at room temperature
- 4 cups powdered sugar sifted (You can decrease this amount if you don’t care about it being as stiff for piping)
- 1 tsp vanilla
Instructions
- In a large bowl, whisk cake mix and pudding mix together.
- Add applesauce, oil, and eggs, and apple juice to the dry mix.
- Beat with electric mixer on medium speed for about two minutes. Use a strong mixer, this batter is thick.
- Fold in the 1 cup cinnamon chips.
- Scoop batter into 24 lined muffin tins. Bake at 350 degrees for 15-20 minutes until cupcakes don’t look wet and a toothpick inserted in one comes out clean. Allow to cool completely before frosting the cupcakes.
- For the frosting, mix cream cheese and butter until smooth and creamy. Mix in vanilla. Mix in powdered sugar, one cup at a time. Pip or spread frosting over cooled cupcakes.
Nutrition
Recipe is a Real Mom Kitchen original inspired by Culinary Concoctions By Peabody.
