Apple Spiced Cupcakes

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Hear Ye! Hear Ye!
'Tis time to fire up thy ovens, Dust off thy beaters and bowls.
And prepare thy kitchen for the makings of something magnificent!
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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 19th
is the day when the
Mrs. Kringles CAKE 'N CRUMBS Cookie Bakeoff
will be officially kicked off, right here at Tongue-N-Cheeky.com
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There will be prizes.
Oodles and doodles of prizes.
One GRAND PRIZE winner will recieve
$100 CASH,
a featured spot on the Cake 'N Crumbs webpage
and an incredible package of
BAKEWARE valued at more than $100
all generously donated by sponsor
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To get your wonder wheels a 'turnin
(and because, quite frankly, you readers are the apple of my eye and I'd do just about anything for you)
here are a few hints and tidbits that will help you prepare your brains and blogs for bakeoff:
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(1)
This Years Bakeoff THEME is...
SANTA'S FAVORITE COOKIES
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(2)
To be eligible to win the GRAND PRIZE,
your recipe must be posted on your blog sometime between November 19th and December 7th. All bakeoff details will be posted here, at Tongue-N-Cheeky, on Thursday, November 19th.
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(3)
The recipe does not have to be original, but originality in your presentation of the recipe, and on your accompanying blog post, will get you major kudos. Major.Kudos. Interpret this as you shall, my sweets.
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(4)
Don't feel like baking and blogging? Don't worry! Mrs. Claus has conjured up a boatload of prizes for the lacksadaisical, too! You most especially won't want to miss the beautiful gift package from Beehive Kitchenware, valued at over $75!
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I'm so excited to see your cookie creations, I feel like a cat at Christmas.
Aren't we just going to have the appliest, dappliest time baking together?
I most certainly think we shall. However could pretty kitties like ourselves not have a red-hot time getting ready for Christmas in the kitch?!

Apple Spiced Cuppies

Oh, happy apple. These little cupcakes are a sure fire way to win o'er your heart. Unless, of course, you're heart doth not carry a propensity for four sticks of butter and a stick of margarine (which is how much you'll use between the cake batter and icing. Yipes!). Then again, that's probably just your arterial valves talking. They can be such sticklers when it comes to butter and the like. In that case, forget your arteries, and make your heart happy. Won't the addition of applesauce cancel out the fat? Yeah, I think it will.

1 stick butter

1 stick margarine

1 1/3 c. sugar

3 eggs

1 c. apple sauce

2 T. caramel ice cream topping

(or 2 T. brown sugar)

1 T. ground cinnamon

¼ tsp. cloves

Pinch allspice

½ tsp. salt

¾ tsp. baking powder

3 drops candy apple oil (optional)

½ c. milk

2 ¼ c. flour

In a large bowl, beat together butter, margarine, sugar and eggs until light and creamy. Add remaining ingredients, beat until incorporated. LOW ALTITUTE BAKERS, add 1 TBSP. flour and ½ tsp. ADDITIONAL baking powder. Spoon into large cupcake cups. Bake at 350 degrees for 27-30 minutes, or until top of cupcakes bounce back when touched lightly. For regular sized cupcakes, bake 18-20 minutes. Remove from oven & allow to cool. Frost with cinnamon frosting.

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Cinnamon Spiked Frosting

I mentioned a few posts back my growing penchant for cinnamon extract. It.is.glorious. I most particularly love it because it's such a surprise! Don't you just LOVE surprises? The suspense! The drama! The wild imagination. And, Christmas present? Of course, there shant be a peep or squeak as to what's inside. Nosirree. It's so much more delicious when an unsuspectingly delectable something awaits. As it does in this buttercream. Basic. Buttery. But then...the POP and WaHOOO of cinnamon. Add it to the top of an apple cupcake and any red-lipped human will go giddy with pleasure.

2 lb. powdered sugar

3 sticks butter

6-8 drops cinnamon oil or extract

¼- ½ cup whole milk

2 tsp. Wilton no-taste red food coloring

Cinnamon sticks & mint sprigs to decorate

In a large bowl, combine sugar, butter, oil, and ¼ cup of milk. Beat until smooth, slowly adding milk one tablespoon at a time until desired consistency is reached. Add food coloring. Frost. Garnish as desired.

While I sorrow that I can't gift you all
with the flirty waves of your deepest pettiskirt desires
I am tickled to announce that
STEF, authoress of GIRL.INSPIRED
is the winner of the Pettiskirt Style giveaway.
Congrats to the delightfully creative STEF!
{Do take a peeksy at her beautiful blog. She'll wow you.}
Stef, toss me an email and we'll get your pretty prize in the snail mailbox ASAP.
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Kringley Kisses from the Missus.