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To make the apple filling, peel and core the apples, then chop into small chunks. Add to a pan on a low heat along with the light brown sugar, cornflour, cinnamon and mixed spice. Stir everything together
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Cover with a pan lid, and cook the apple for 10-15 minutes until soft
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Remove from the heat and leave to cool completely
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To make the crumble, pre-heat your oven to 180C Fan/200C/375F/Gas Mark 5, and line a baking tray with baking paper
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Put the plain flour, light brown soft sugar and cinnamon into a bowl and stir together
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Add the butter and use your fingers to rub the butter into the dry ingredients until it resembles breadcrumbs. You can also use a fork to do this
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Spread it out onto a lined baking tray and bake for 10-15 minutes until it is golden and feels firmer to the touch (it will firm up more as it cools)
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For the cupcakes, pre-heat your oven to 160C Fan/180C/350F/Gas Mark 4, and line a cupcake tin with cupcake cases
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To make the sponge, mix together the butter and sugar, ideally using an electric mixer, until smooth
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Add the eggs and whisk well
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Then gently whisk in the self raising flour, cinnamon and mixed spice
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Divide the mixture between the 12 cupcake cases
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Bake them for 20-25 minutes or until they are golden brown and a skewer inserted in the centre of the cupcakes comes out clean. Leave to cool completely
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Use a cupcake corer or a knife to make a hole in the middle of each cupcake
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Fill the holes with the apple filling
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Make the buttercream by mixing the butter on it’s own for a few minutes, then add the cinnamon, icing sugar and milk, and mix until smooth. For best results use an electric hand mixer or a stand mixer with the paddle attachment. If the buttercream is too stiff you can add a little more milk
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Pipe the buttercream onto each cupcake using a piping bag fitted with your chosen nozzle (I used an Ateco 829 nozzle). Or spread on with a spoon
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Add the rest of the apple filling to the top of each of the cupcakes
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Sprinkle the crumble over the top – or wait and do this later if not serving immediately as it will go softer from being in contact with the buttercream after a little while
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Store in an airtight container in a cool place, eat leftovers within 3 days