Here is my recipe – Apple cupcakes with Brown Sugar Buttercream Frosting. Enjoy!

Makes 2 Dozen

* 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
* 2 teaspoons baking soda
* 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
* 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
* 1 teaspoon salt
* 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened
* 2 cups sugar
* 2 large eggs
* 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
* 4 cups coarsely shredded apples, such as Macintosh (about 1 3/4 pounds)

____I used 12 jumbo cupcake sizes, golden delicious apples instead of macintosh_____

Makes about 2 cups

* 2 large egg whites
* 1/2 cup packed light-brown sugar
* 3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) cold unsalted butter, cut into tablespoons

Directions

1. Put egg whites and sugar into the heatproof bowl of an electric mixer set over a pan of simmering water. Cook, whisking constantly, until sugar has dissolved and mixture is warm to the touch (about 160 degrees).
2. Attach the bowl to the mixer fitted with the whisk attachment. Beat on high speed until stiff (but not dry) peaks form. Continue beating until mixture is fluffy and cooled, about 6 minutes.
3. Switch to the paddle attachment. With mixer on medium-low speed, add butter, several tablespoons at a time, mixing well after each addition. (If the frosting appears to separate after all the butter has been added, beat on medium-high speed until smooth again, 3 to 5 minutes more.) Reduce speed to low; mix to eliminate any air bubbles, about 2 minutes. Stir with a rubber spatula until frosting is smooth.

I tinted the frosting red, and cut leaves out of dyed fondant to mimic an apple.

Pardon the appearance-I fractured my tailbone and baking/frosting with painkillers was quite interesting…although very fitting for cupcake REHAB

My daughter LOVED them!

http://littlesweetiescupcake.blogspot.com

Here’s my Cupcake Rehab cupcake!

Happy 2nd Birthday!!!