Amaretto Apple Streusel Cupcakes



Our darling sweet Lo turned 2!  
It's amazing how fast these precious moments fly by.  It feels like yesterday she was a newborn and just fit into our hands...


This Memorial Day was spent not only celebrating our country's heroes, but also celebrating the birth of our sweet angel.  Lola's favorite food is cinnamon rolls, and it was only fitting to make a special birthday variation of this delicious treat!  

Amaretto was the secret ingredient in these cupcakes and definitely kicked it up a notch--ok, a big notch!  It lends a sweet, nutty, irresistible almond flavor.  Similar to a bear claw; one of my favorite breakfast pastries!  Although these cupcakes have a melt-in-your-mouth sugar glaze drizzled over the tops...heavenly! 


I had one very happy birthday girl! 

Amaretto Apple Streusel Cupcakes
Recipe adapted from Cooking Light 
Yields 12 servings

Ingredients

For Cupcakes:
Cooking spray
1 1/2 cups all purpose-flour 
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
3/4 cup granulated sugar
1/4 cup (2 ounces) low fat cream cheese, softened
1/4 cup butter, softened 
2 tablespoons amaretto, almond flavor liqueur 
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 large egg
1/2 reduced-fat sour cream
1/4 cup 2% reduced fat milk
3/4 cup finely chopped gala apple
1 tablespoon all-purpose flour

Streuesel:
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour 
2 tablespoons brown sugar
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
2 tablespoons butter, chilled
2 tablespoons sliced almonds

Glaze:
1 cup powdered sugar
4 teaspoons 2% reduced-fat milk

Preparation
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Place muffin liners in 12 muffin tin, coat with cooking spray.

Spoon 1 1/2 cups flour in a dry measuring cup, level with a knife.  In a medium bowl combine flour, baking powder, salt, and baking soda, stirring with a whisk.  Set aside. 

Combine sugar, cream cheese, and 1/4 cup butter in the bowl of a standing mixer.  Beat on high until well blended.  Add amaretto, vanilla and egg to sugar mixture, beat on medium speed until well blended. 

Combine sour cream and 1/4 cup reduced fat milk in a small bowl, whisk until well blended, set aside.  Combine apple and 1 tablespoon flour in a separate bowl, toss well and set aside. 

Add the flour mixture and sour cream mixture alternately to the sugar mixture, beginning and ending with flour  mixture.  Beat until just combined.  Fold in apple mixture.  Divide batter evenly between cups.

To prepare streusel, combine 2 tablespoons flour, brown sugar and ground cinnamon in a small bowl.  Cut in 2 tablespoons butter with a pastry blender or 2 knives (or the way I do it...you hands) until mixture resembles coarse meal; stir in almonds.  Sprinkle streusel evenly over the top of the cupcakes.

Bake at 350 degrees for 25-27 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in the middle comes out clean.  Cool in the pan for 15 minutes, and remove. 

To prepare glaze, combine powdered sugar and 4 teaspoons milk in a small bow, stirring with a whisk. Drizzle glaze over cupcakes.

19 comments:

  1. Happy Birthday to sweet Lo! She's so adorable!


    Amaretto is such a wonderful addition to these cupcakes! They look gorgeous!:)

    ReplyDelete
  2. I adore these cupcakes, Katie! I love the addition of amaretto. Happy Birthday to sweet Lo! As always, beautifully done.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Happy birthday to your little one! They do grow up fast-the change from year to year in just their appearance always amazes me. Cool that the birthday also falls on memorial day.
    Your cupcakes do look like a tasty way to celebrate! Amaretto is one of my favorite additions to baked goods-so you definitely made a good choice there. I am sure it adds wonderful flavor to an already delicious combo of apples and streusel. Delicious post!

    ReplyDelete
  4. ((( S T U N N I N G ))))) Love the photos. Xx

    ReplyDelete
  5. Those look amazing! I love when I think a recipe is going to be super heavy and then see "Cooking Light" :)

    ReplyDelete
  6. Aww, how sweet! Happy birthday to your little girl, Katie. You must be so proud!

    ReplyDelete
  7. These cupcakes look amazing, Katie! I love the Amaretto (hard to go wrong with that!) and who doesn't love streusel?

    ReplyDelete
  8. They look delicious! I bought some amaretto a few years ago to make chocolate amaretto cupcakes and they were only okay. This sounds like a good use of the stuff! I love the glaze on top. That's something I need to start doing. :)

    ReplyDelete
  9. Awe, happy birthday to Lo! And these muffins, Katie, they look amazing. The Amaretto has my tummy rumbling!

    ReplyDelete
  10. I'm bookmarking this! I love almond flavour in anything and everything. Plus streusel? Who can resist? I'm officially drooling over here...This one's going straight to my treasure trove of recipes. For sure!

    ReplyDelete
  11. what a precious little baby.
    these cupcakes look diviiine

    ReplyDelete
  12. Happy Birthday to Lo! She is such a beautiful baby.

    Those cupcakes are really tempting! I love that divine combination of flavors.

    Cheers,

    Rosa

    ReplyDelete
  13. Happy birthday to Lo! She is absolutely precious! And these cupcakes are too die for. What a wonderful way to celebrate.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Happy Birthday to your little one! Time certainly does fly. These cupcakes look amazing! I'd imagine they're to die for with that morning cup of coffee or tea.

    ReplyDelete
  15. happy b'day Lo, and may you have many more! how time flies! the cupcakes look gorgeous Katie, just like your little one:)

    ReplyDelete
  16. Happy Birthday to your little girl!! Those cupcakes look wonderful and that drizzle on top...mmmmm.

    ReplyDelete
  17. Happy Birthday to Lola. You made a gorgeous treat for her. So pretty!

    ReplyDelete
  18. Happy Birthday to your little angel! Your cupcakes look and sound delightful!

    ReplyDelete

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...
 

© Epicurean Mom. All Rights Reserved. | Blog Design By Penny Lane Designs