Black-bottom Apple Cupcakes

Total Time: 1 hr 5 mins Preparation Time: 30 mins Cook Time: 35 mins

Ingredients

• Servings: 12
• 1 1/2 lbs granny smith apples, peeled, halved, cored and cut into 1/2-inch pieces (4 cups)
• 3/4 cup packed brown sugar, divided
• 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
• 6 ounces cream cheese, softened
• 1 egg
• 3/4 cup flour
• 1/2 cup apple juice
• 3 tablespoons oil
• 3 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1 1/2 teaspoons cider vinegar
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon salt

Recipe

• 1 preheat oven to 350°f.
• 2 line 12 muffin cups with paper liners.
• 3 heat a large nonstick skillet over high heat.
• 4 stir in apples, 1/4 cup brown sugar and butter. cook for 5 minutes or until apples are carmelized. cool.
• 5 beat cream cheese, 1/4 cup brown sugar and egg on medium speed for one minute or until smooth, light and fluffy. set aside.
• 6 put the last of the brown sugar and the remaining ingredients in a medium bowl, stirring with a whisk until well blended.
• 7 divide mixture evenly among muffin cups. top with 1 tbsp apples, 1 heaping tbsp cream cheese mixture, and then the remaining apples.
• 8 bake for 30 minutes or until cream cheese has puffed and set.
• 9 cool in pan on a wire rack for 5 minutes before removing to cool completely.