Apple Cupcakes

These cupcakes were a result of an impromptu baking session with friends. This Monday was a school holiday, and hence one of our friends  visited us during the week with her hubby and her two cute daughters. She and her girls were very interested in baking, so I thought I could make a batch of apple cupcakes for them. I also invited one of my neighbour and her daughter to join us for dinner. It was so much fun preparing dinner and baking and chatting away with everyone.

The kids were so eager to help me with the baking. The oldest was the one doing all the mixing and filling the batter in cups, while the younger ones were too busy waiting for the cupcakes to finish baking. We added colored sprinkles in shapes of cows and dinosaurs, on some of the cupcakes as per request :) I decided not to make any frosting for the cakes, so as to avoid unnecessary sugar for the kids.

The cupcakes were very moist and rich, not too sweet. The 1 cup of grated apple that I added was not very distinct after baking. Maybe next time I could try with 1 ½ cups. I also added some orange essence to give a refreshing taste to the cakes. If your prefer you can replace the 1 teaspoon orange essence + 2 tablespoon milk with 2 tablespoon fresh orange juice. This recipe is adapted from Baked Perfection.

Apple Cupcakes
http://chitra-frommykitchen.blogspot.sg/
makes 12 cupcakes

Ingredients:

1 1/2 cups - all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons - baking powder
1/2 teaspoon - salt
2 - eggs
1/2 cup - sugar
1/2 cup - brown sugar
2 tablespoons - milk
1 teaspoons - vanilla extract
1 teaspoon - orange essence

1/2 cup - vegetable oil
1 1/2 cups - grated apple

Directions:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Grease or line a 12 cup muffin pan.
• In a large bowl swift together the flour, baking powder, and salt.
• In a separate bowl, beat together the eggs and sugars until creamy.
• Beat in the milk, vanilla, orange essence and vegetable oil.
• Slowly add the flour mixture, mix until just combined.
• Stir in the grated apples.
• Bake 20-25 minutes until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.