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Spiced Apple Cupcakes

October 7, 2021 Modified December 28, 2022 By Nicole Charles 8 Comments
This post may contain affiliate links.

These paleo and AIP Spiced Apple Cupcakes are light, fragrant and absolutely delicious. They’re paired with a spiced-vanilla frosting that compliments these cupcakes for the perfect Fall treat.

three spiced apple cupcakes with spiced vanilla frosting on a light beige speckled plate against a light tabletop. o the right of the plate in the background is a cupcake with the liner peeled away from it reveal the cupcake. There is a cinnamon stick to the right of the plate and in the foreground of the image to the left is another cupcake

While pumpkin gets all the glory, baked goods with apple are my favorite Fall treats and these Spiced Apple Cupcakes might just be my favorite recipe created to-date. Their texture is so amazingly soft and fluffy and the naturally sweet and rich flavor of the tigernut flour lends itself perfectly to the warm spices of cinnamon, ginger, mace and clove.

Here are the main ingredients in these Apple Spice Cupcakes:

unsweetened applesauce – this is the entirety of the apple content in this recipe and used to create the moist, soft texture in these cupcakes

cinnamon, ginger, mace and cloves – these ground spices provide the most delicious compliment to the apple flavor in this recipe.

tigernut flour, cassava flour and coconut flour – this is the flour mix that provides the best texture in these recipes and I do not recommend any substitutions to this combination

coconut sugar – you can also substitute maple sugar here if you prefer.

full fat coconut milk and olive oil – these are the fats in this recipe. I haven’t tried any other substitutions here.

palm shortening, tapioca starch, vanilla extract – for the frosting

  • ingredients for spiced apple cupcakes in small brown wooden bowls and glass bowls including coconut milk, apple cider vinegar, applesauce, coconut sugar, coconut flour, tigernut flour, baking soda, vanilla extract, cinnamon, ginger, mace and cloves
  • glass bowl with wet and dry ingredients for spiced apple cupcakes

Spiced-Apple Cupcakes FAQs

Can I substitute the palm shortening?

If you want to avoid palm shortening you can try drizzling the cupcakes with melted coconut butter or substituting whipped coconut cream but I haven’t tried myself so cannot guarantee this substitution.

Can I freeze these?

These freeze well but would recommend freezing before you frost them.

Can I make these coconut free?

The coconut flour is key to the texture in this recipe. But if you’re looking for a coconut free recipe that’s similar, try this Apple Cake.

Can I make the frosting in advance?

Yes. You can store it in the fridge, but it will harden a bit. Before you ice the cupcakes, allow frosting to come to room temperature and whisk once more until desired consistency is achieved. 

three spiced apple cupcakes with spiced vanilla frosting on a circular stainless steel cooling rack. The liner of the cupcake to the foreground is pulled down revealing the cupcake with a bite taken out of it

If you loved these Spiced Apple Cupcakes I would appreciate it if you would give the recipe a rating and review. Be sure to snap a picture of the finished product and share it with me on Instagram by tagging @healmedelicious and using the hashtag #healmedelicious. 

Here are some other Fall treats you might enjoy:

  • Apple Spice Cake
  • Pumpkin Scones
  • Plum Sheet Cake
  • Pumpkin Cake Donuts
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three spiced apple cupcakes with spiced vanilla frosting on a light beige speckled plate against a light tabletop. o the right of the plate in the background is a cupcake with the liner peeled away from it reveal the cupcake. There is a cinnamon stick to the right of the plate and in the foreground of the image to the left is another cupcake

Spiced Apple Cupcakes (AIP, paleo)


★★★★★

4.5 from 4 reviews

  • Author: Nicole @healmedelicious
  • Total Time: 30 minutes
  • Yield: 6 cupcakes 1x
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Description

These paleo and AIP Spiced Apple Cupcakes are light, fragrant and absolutely delicious. They’re paired with a spiced-vanilla frosting that compliments these cupcakes for the perfect Fall treat.


Ingredients

Scale

Cupcakes

  • 3/4 cup tigernut flour
  • 1/4 cup cassava flour
  • 1/4 cup coconut flour
  • 3 TBSP coconut or maple sugar
  • 1/2 tsp sea salt
  • 1 tsp cinnamon 
  • 1/2 tsp ginger
  • 1/4 tsp cloves 
  • 1/4 tsp mace (or nutmeg – AIP reintroduction)
  • 3/4 tsp baking soda
  • 1.5 tsp gelatin
  • 1/4 cup olive oil
  • 1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
  • 1 tsp pure vanilla extract 
  • 1/2 cup full fat, additive-free coconut milk
  • 1.5 TBSP apple cider vinegar

Frosting

  • 1 cup palm shortening
  • 1/4 cup tapioca starch
  • 3–4 TBSP coconut sugar*
  • 3/4 tsp cinnamon
  • 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
  • pinch of sea salt

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 375F and line cupcake pan with 6-7 liners.
  2. To a large bowl add tigernut flour, cassava flour, coconut flour, coconut or maple sugar, sea salt, cinnamon, ginger, cloves, mace, baking soda and gelatin. Stir to combine.
  3. Make a well in the center of the bowl and add olive oil, unsweetened applesauce, vanilla and full fat coconut milk. Stir to combine.
  4. Fold in the apple cider vinegar. The batter consistency should change slightly, and will be thick but light.
  5. Distribute batter evenly into cupcake pan. Should make 6 cupcakes.
  6. Bake in middle rack of oven for 20 minutes.
  7. While the cupcakes bake, make frosting.
  8. In a large bowl or the bowl of stand or handheld mixer combine palm shortening with tapioca starch, coconut sugar, cinnamon, vanilla extract, and a pinch of sea salt. Whisk or beat until combined.**
  9. Allow cupcakes to cool completely before frosting.

Notes

*3 TBSP is more than enough sweetener for my taste but if you prefer a sweeter frosting, use 4 TBSP/1/4 cup coconut or maple syrup.

**If making frosting in advance, store in fridge. Allow to come to room temperature and whisk before frosting the cupcakes.

 

 

  • Prep Time: 10 minutes
  • Cook Time: 20 minutes
  • Category: Desserts
  • Method: Baking

Keywords: aip, paleo, fall baking, apple cupcakes, apple spice, apple spice cupcakes, grain free baking

Did you make this recipe?

Share a photo and tag @healmedelicious — we can’t wait to see what you’ve made!

Categories: AIP, All Recipes, Cakes, Dairy Free, Desserts, Gluten Free, Paleo Tagged With: AIP, aip desserts, dairy-free, fall in love, grain-free, paleo, spiceszn

Previous Post: « Balsamic Mushroom Pasta
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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Mikayla

    December 23, 2022 at 5:59 pm

    These were ok. Nicely spiced but very crumbly. I definitely wouldn’t call these cupcakes, they’re more like lightly sweetened apple spice muffins.

    ★★★

    Reply
    • Heal Me Delicious Team

      January 4, 2023 at 8:48 pm

      Hi Mikayla, thank you for leaving your review! These shouldn’t be crumbly due to the gelatin as the binder. Ensure that they’re fully cooled so the gelatin can set.

      Reply
  2. Kelly

    September 8, 2022 at 10:22 pm

    Oh my gosh, these are fluffy and spiced and PERFECT. Obsessed, can’t wait to try more recipes! 💛

    ★★★★★

    Reply
  3. Angela

    October 25, 2021 at 9:43 pm

    Even with a little less coconut sugar than the recipe called for (I ran out) these cupcakes were amazing!

    Reply
  4. ahs

    October 24, 2021 at 9:04 pm

    Wow! These cupcakes are wonderful! I roasted a turkey this evening and was very excited to end the meal with these. I served them cooled down from the oven but still a little warm and freshly frosted and they were just SO GOOD! I flagged this recipe when it went on the blog b/c I was looking for something to do with a handful of extra apples I had in the apartment. I happily put three of my extras into the food processor for this recipe and they made just the right amount of applesauce for a double batch of these! I will definitely make them again! The frosting! Perfect!

    ★★★★★

    Reply
  5. Schia

    October 18, 2021 at 12:03 pm

    Excited to try these! Do you think I’d be able to use avocado or canola oil in this recipe instead of olive oil?

    Reply
  6. Amy

    October 16, 2021 at 10:40 pm

    These cupcakes are *delicious* and the recipe works flawlessly! I have made so many failed baked goods from other AIP blogs, but EVERYTHING I’ve baked from this blog works perfectly. Nicole, your recipes are some of my absolute favorites. ❤️

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Nicole Charles

      October 18, 2021 at 9:48 am

      Thanks so much Amy, and too for taking the time to leave a review – much appreciated.

      Reply

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Hi! I’m Nicole, the recipe developer, food enthusiast and photographer behind Heal Me Delicious. Read More

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