I found these totally cute cupcakes on Tasty Kitchen. I loved the recipe for the cupcakes, but thought the frosting was less than flavorful. I would use this recipe for browned butter frosting instead.

I thought the idea for using green cupcake liners and a craft stick was adorable!

Here's the recipe:

3 cups all purpose flour

1/2 tsp. baking soda

2 tsp. baking powder

1 tsp. salt

1 tsp. cinnamon

3/4 cup granulated sugar

3/4 cup brown sugar

1/2 cup vegetable oil

1/2 cup applesauce

1 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract

3 whole eggs

3 cups finely chopped Granny Smith apples

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Line cupcake pan with liners (20-24 liners)

Combine flour, soda, powder, salt & cinnamon in a large bowl.

Combine sugars, oil, applesauce and vanilla in another bowl. Add eggs and mix well. Add to dry ingredients and gently mix.

Fold in chopped apples.

Pour into cupcake liners about 2/3 to 3/4 full.

Bake 18 minutes or until toothpick comes out not wet. Don't over bake or they get a little dry.

Cool cupcakes and frost with this frosting: (I'd double the recipe.)

Browned Butter Frosting:

3 cups powdered sugar

1 tsp. vanilla

3-4 Tbsp. milk

1/3 cup butter

In med. bowl, place powd. sugar, vanilla, & 3 Tbsp. milk. In saucepan, heat butter over med. heat, stirring constantly, until medium brown. Pour butter over powd. sugar mixture. Beat 1 min. or until smooth. Add remaining milk, if necessary. Generously frost cupcakes.

recipe adapted from irunforcake on Tasty Kitchen