We have a treat for you for Halloween (or any day!). Our Kefir Caramel Apple Cupcakes are a decadent dessert ripe with fall flavor. The recipe is made with fresh, tart apples and the dynamic duo of Lifeway Kefir and Lifeway Farmer Cheese. Mixing Lifeway Kefir into the batter gives the cake a flawlessly light and fluffy texture while the creamy frosting, made with Lifeway Farmer Cheese, boosts this treat with protein, probiotics, and adds a cool, smooth finish.
These Kefir Caramel Apple Cupcakes are also a great recipe to treat kids and adults. Just be warned, these go fast, so be sure to make enough! They’re also a fun way to display your love for Halloween since they offer a festive look with just the right amount of spooky appeal.
For this recipe, we used our whole milk plain kefir, but you can also use our low-fat plain kefir to lighten things up a little. Our kefir keeps the cupcakes soft and tender and makes a great replacement to buttermilk. For a richer flavor, you can also opt for our vanilla kefir.
The final touch is a homemade date caramel sauce and frosting made with Lifeway Farmer Cheese to seal the deal on these becoming a seasonal favorite you’ll want to repeat year after year!
The Benefits of Cultured Dairy for Better Health:
Research continues to show the importance of eating healthy foods, including cultured dairy such as kefir, for optimal digestion and gut health, a strong immune system, and to support the microbiome. Fermented foods like kefir hold important value in this line of research due to the link between the gut-brain axis and overall health. Specifically, kefir has been shown to help diversify the microbiome, improve digestion, reduce inflammation, support healthier blood sugar levels, and improve satiety since the bioavailable protein it contains triggers the release of GLP-1.
Lifeway Kefir is packed with variety of vital nutrients important for overall health, including bone and muscle health; these include vitamin D3, K, calcium, and vitamin B12. Along with our probiotic-rich kefir, Lifeway also offers artisan-made Farmer Cheese, a creamy high-protein cheese made with live and active cultures to support healthy muscles and healthy microbiome. Lifeway Farmer Cheese is easy to spread, free of gums and thickeners, and contains no added salt or sugar for optimal health benefits.
Prep Time: 30 mins Servings: 12Ingredients
For the Cupcakes
- 1 1/2 cups gluten-free flour
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1 1/2 tsp. cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp. salt
- 1/2 cup butter
- 1/2 cup unrefined sugar of choice (we used raw organic cane sugar)
- 4 large eggs
- 1 tsp. vanilla extact
- 3/4 cup Organic Whole Milk Plain Kefir
For the Apple Compote
- 1 apple of choice - we used a green apple for extra tartness
- 1/4 cup light brown sugar or coconut sugar
- 1/2 lemon, juiced
- 1/8 tsp cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp arrowroot starch or cornstarch
For the Topping
- Green Apples
- Farmer Cheese Frosting (see below)
- Homemade Date Caramel Sauce (see below)
For the Farmer Cheese Frosting:
- 4oz cream cheese
- 4 oz. Farmer Cheese
- 4 tbsp. unsalted butter, cubed, at room temperature
- 1 cup confectioners' sugar
- 1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract
For the Homemade Date Caramel:
- Soak 1 cup dates in water for 20 minutes, strain, and blend in a food processor with 2 tbsp. warmed tahini or cashew butter, and 1 tbsp. honey or maple syrup
Directions
- In a small saucepan over medium heat, combine all ingredients for the apple compote. Cook until it comes to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 15-25 minutes, or until the apples are tender and the sauce has thickened.
- In a medium sized bowl, whisk flour, baking powder, cinnamon and salt together.
- In a large bowl with a hand mixer (or standing mixer), beat together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Turn down the speed on the mixer and add in the eggs one at a time. Add in the vanilla once the eggs have been incorporated.
- Add in the flour mixture slowly while the mixer is still going. Add in the Lifeway Kefir at the same time.
- Add the batter to a muffin tin with cupcake liners about 3/4 full.
- Bake at 350 degrees for 15-20 minutes. While they're baking, make the frosting and the caramel sauce and set aside.
- Once the cupcakes have cooled, remove from the pan, place on a plate, and cut a large piece out of the middle of each cupcake, fill it 2/3 way with the the apple compote. Fill the rest of the hole with the farmer cheese frosting. Add a thin layer of farmer cheese frosting to the top of each cupcake.
- Slice each apple in half horizontally. Add in a decorative stick or popsicle stick to teach apple and top each cupcake with one.
- Drizzle the date caramel sauce over top of the apples, sprinkle cinnamon and enjoy!
