Applesauce-Spice Cupcakes with Brown-Sugar Cream Cheese Frosting

Ingredients

Applesauce-Spice Cupcakes

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 3/4 teaspoon salt
• 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1/8 teaspoon cloves
• 1/2 cup unsalted butter room temperature
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1/2 cup packed light-brown sugar
• 4 large eggs room temperature
• 1 1/2 cups unsweetened applesauce

Brown-Sugar Cream Cheese Frosting

• 1/2 cup unsalted butter room temperature
• 8 ounce cream cheese room temperature
• 1 cup packed light-brown sugar

Directions

Cupcakes

1. Preheat oven to 350ºF. Line muffin tins with paper liners.
2. Whisk together flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves.
3. Cream butter and sugar with an electric mixer on medium speed until light and fluffy.
4. Add eggs, one at a time, scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed.
5. On a low speed, add applesauce and then the flour mixture, beating until just combined after each.
6. Fill each cup 3/4 full with batter.
7. Bake, rotating thins until halfway through, until testers inserted in the center come out clean, for about 20 minutes.
8. Cool on wire racks and frost with Brown-Sugar Cream Cheese Frosting.

Brown Sugar Cream Cheese Frosting

1. With an electric mixer on medium-high speed, mix cream cheese, butter, and light brown sugar until smooth.
2. Spread cream-cheese frosting on cupcakes. Cupcakes can be refrigerated in airtight containers up to 4 days.