Caramel Apple Cupcakes

Oh these cupcakes come with a funny story!  They smell SO GOOD that a squirrel will claw through your kitchen window screen to get one.  Yep!  I found a SQUIRREL sitting on the kitchen ledge INSIDE my house eating a cupcake.  I screamed like a 13 year old girl in a haunted house and THANKFULLY the squirrel exited through the hole it created.  Have you ever heard of that happening?!?  I know squirrels go through trash & get into attics, but chewing through a window screen to get into your kitchen!?! #thecupcakessmelledgooooood
I've got to believe this has happened to someone else...  You know what else? These cupcakes are SO GOOD and prefect for fall.  I am  not a huge "pumpkin everything" person so these will be made on repeat!  I also need to make them again because I have so much left over icing.  I threw aways most of the cupcakes because I was worried we would all die from squirrel germs. #whereisthebleach

the six surviving cupcakes...

Caramel Apple Cupcakes Adapted From Life, Love and Sugar
Cake Ingredients:
1 2/3 Cup Flour 1/2 Brown Sugar 1/2 Sugar 1/4 TSP Baking Soda 1 1/4 TSP Baking Powder 1 TSP Cinnamon 1/8 TSP Nutmeg 3 Egg Whites 2 TSP Vanilla Extract 1/2 Cup Plain Greek Yogurt 1/2 Cup Milk 3/4 Cup Slightly Melted Butter  1 Large Apple {peeled and chopped} Frosting Ingredients:
1 Cup Butter {room temperature} 1 Cup Shortening 8 Cups Powder Sugar 3/4 Cup Caramel Sauce 
Directions: 1.  Make sure all windows are completely closed.  
2.  Preheat oven to 350 degrees and line muffin tins with paper liners.  
3.  In a large mixing bowl stir together the flour, sugars, baking soda/powder, cinnamon, and nutmeg.  
4.  Add the egg whites, vanilla, yogurt, milk and butter.  Mix on low until just combined.   
5.  Stir in the chopped apple by hand.  Fill cupcake liners two thirds full {makes about 18-24 cupcakes}.  Bake for 16 -19 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.  
6.  After the cupcakes cool completely make the frosting.  In the large mixing bowl combine butter and shortening until smooth.  
7.  Add in 4 cups powder sugar and once combined add in caramel sauce.  Add the remaining 4 cups of powder sugar.  Frost the cupcakes!

Happy Friday, friends!