During Rosh Hashanah celebrants of the Jewish New Year typically eat lots of sweet foods. This is to start out a new year on the right track hoping that the year to come will be a sweet one. A very traditional combination is apples and honey. Dipping apple slices in honey has been a tradition that Cassie has enjoyed as far back as she can remember. This year when her family decided to have a belated Rosh Hashanah celebration Cassie offered to make dessert. She wanted something different and delicious, but still with a bit of tradition. What she found was a recipe for apple cinnamon cupcakes. The cupcakes called for mead frosting, but instead Cassie decided to experiment with a normal buttercream frosting with the addition of honey to it. We used a good alfalfa honey because it typically has a stronger flavor than normal clover honey. It provided a really rich honey flavor to the frosting. We doubled the cupcake recipe and had enough batter for ~36 cupcakes.
Apple Cinnamon Cupcakes
adapted from the blog Cupcake Project
2 sticks of butter softened
1 c. + 2 T. evaporated cane juice
2 c. whole wheat pastry flour
4 eggs
1 1/2 c. applesauce (unsweetened)
1 1/2 t. cinnamon
1 large apple, cored, peeled and chopped
1) Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
2) With a mixer cream the butter and sugar on medium. Add the eggs 1 at a time until incorporated. Slowly add the flour.
3) Once the flour is incorporated add the applesauce and the cinnamon and mix well. Stir in the apples.
4) Measure about 1/3 cup of batter into paper lined muffin cups and bake for 20-25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Let cupcakes cool fully before frosting.
Honey Buttercream Frosting
adapted from this recipe found on the Food Network website
3 c. organic confectioners' sugar
1 c. butter softened
1 t. vanilla extract
1-2 T. milk
honey to taste (we probably used close to a 1/4 c. of honey)
1) In a standing mixer fitted with a whisk, mix together sugar and butter. Mix on low speed until well blended and then increase speed to medium and beat for another 3 minutes.
2) Add vanilla and the milk and beat on medium for 1 minute. Add more milk as necessary for the desired consistency.
3) Slowly start adding honey to the frosting while the mixer is still going. It will give the frosting a nice honey hue. Add the honey till you have the desired potency of flavor. Frost cupcakes and enjoy.
Posts
