Apple Pie Cupcakes

I remember my first 4th of July holiday like it was yesterday.  My beautiful friend, Sharlene, invited me to stay with her and her husband’s family at picturesque Chatham on the Cape.

It was everything I would expect from a 4th of July celebration.  Lots of extended family.  Kids running around.  Happy banter.  The requisite barbecue.  Endless food.  The atmosphere was so warm and friendly, and the family so gracious and welcoming.

I will never forget that day.

4th of July represented summer to me.  Living in (sometimes arctic cold) Boston, you relished summer.  The sun.  The clear blue, warm sky.  Weekends at Cape Cod.  Baseball.  Ice-cream.

For at least a couple of months, you are not thinking about how long it takes you to shovel snow from your driveway, you are not thinking about the sub-zero weather outside, you are not thinking about needing to drive so carefully you do not hit black ice and careen into someone’s fence. 

For a few months, winter is behind you.  Summer is here.  Coming from the sub-tropics, for the first time while living in Boston I experienced summer.  A season that was so distinct.  Kerrin at MyKugelhopf just celebrated 1 year in Zurich.  She reminded me of my 5 years in Boston, and the growing familiarity you experience of new surroundings over time. 

To my gorgeous friend Sharlene, her husband, beautiful daughter (and bub #2 on the way), these Apple Pie Cupcakes are for you.  Happy 4th of July to you all. 

{ Apple Pie Cupcakes }

These cupcakes are absolutely moist and delicious.  When they were baking, if I did not know, I would have guessed I really did have apple pie in the oven.

* Ingredients *

Cake batter:
1 ½ cups plain / all purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
½ tablespoon ground cinnamon
125g / 1 stick unsalted butter
¾ cup sugar
2 eggs
¾ cup milk
1 apple, peeled, cored and sliced thinly

Topping:
½ cup cream
2 tablespoons icing sugar
Sweet shortcrust pastry

* Directions *

Preheat oven to 180C / 350F.  Line a 12 count muffin tins with cupcake papers. Sift together flours, baking powder and cinnamon.   Cream butter and sugar until pale and fluffy.  Add eggs beating until each is incorporated.  Add flour in three batches, alternating with milk.  Divide mixture between the cupcake papers.  Carefully insert 3-4 slices of apple on the top of the cake mixture.  Bake for 25-30 minutes or until cake tester comes out clean.  For the topping, beat the cream and icing sugar until just stiff.  Pipe on top of the cupcakes and sprinkle with cinnamon sugar.  Top the cream with sweet shortcrust pastry in desired shape.

4th of July

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