Caramel Apple Cupcakes

Cupcakes

Ingredients
2 1/2 cups bleached all-purpose flour (half whole wheat, half regular)
1/4 cup cornstarch
4 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons ground ginger
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon ground allspice
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
1 cup milk (I used fat free milk)
3 large eggs (I used egg beaters)
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 cup unsalted butter, softened until easily spreadable (I used applesauce)
2 cups dark brown sugar (I used half splenda, half brown sugar)
6 apples (peeled, cored and cubed) -- I used fuji apples

Directions
Heat oven to 350 degrees
Adjust oven rack to middle position and heat oven to 350 degrees. Grease and lightly flour a metal or disposable foil 9-by-13-inch pan. Whisk dry ingredients and spices in a large bowl. Mix milk, eggs and vanilla extract in a 2-cup measuring cup.
Beat softened butter into dry ingredients, first on low, then medium, until mixture forms pebble-sized pieces. Add about 1/3 of the milk mixture and beat on low until smooth. Add remaining milk mixture in two stages; beat on medium speed until batter is just smooth. Add the sugar; beat until just incorporated, about 30 seconds. Pour batter into cupcake pans (fill about 1/2 way). Add a few chunks of apple to each cupcake. Fill cupcakes the rest of the way with batter.

Bake until a cake tester or toothpick inserted into the cake's center comes out clean, about 40 minutes. Set pan on a wire rack; let cool for 5 minutes. Run a knife around the pan perimeter and turn cake onto rack. Let cool.

Frosting
Ingredients
1 package cream cheese (I use 1/3 less fat)
Softened 1/2 cup butter softened (I used I can't believe its not butter)
2 cups sifted confectioners' sugar (I use half splenda, half sugar)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions
In a medium bowl, cream together the cream cheese and butter until creamy. Mix in the vanilla, then gradually stir in the confectioners' sugar. Store in the refrigerator after use.

Once frosted drizzle with caramel sauce.

Enjoy!!