Caramel Apple Cupcakes

It's Friday evening and the tripolatas are watching Topsy and Tim, a children's programme about a brother and sister who are twins (played by actors who aren't related). On his particular episode it was their parents anniversary and the 'twins' were making them a cake.

When the programme ended and the trips had finished singing along to the theme tune, tripolata #1 jumps on my lap and asks if we can make a cake. This was the first time that they'd shown any interest in baking (apart from eating the finished goods), so how could I say no.

I had just about enough ingredients to whip something up and looked through some recipe books for inspiration. I initially wanted to make a pear and almond cake but the tripolatas were having non of it, they wanted cupcakes. Cupcakes are something I tend to avoid as I prefer to just pour everything into one tin. I tried to convince them that a cake would be better, but they really wanted cupcakes and apples. In the end I decided to adapt an apple and cinnamon cake recipe, this was met with their approval so on Saturday morning I got to work.

Note: I've only ever made caramel once before and it didn't work, not wanting another disaster, I searched online for an easy recipe. I found a great recipe for caramel popcorn and halved the measurements given. You could use this or your own caramel recipe, if you have one.

Here's what you'll need (makes 12):

For the cupcakes:

2 apples

225g self raising flour

1 tsp baking powder

80g unsalted butter, cubed

150g light Muscovado sugar

1 large egg, beaten

1 tsp vanilla extract

150ml milk

For the caramel sauce:

Caramel popcorn recipe

Plus:

3 boys who say they want to help but instead spend the day watching Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (the original series) on Youtube.

Here's what you'll need to do:

Preheat the oven to 180 C/356 F

Thinly slice the apples and leave in a bowl of water

Mix the flour and baking powder together in a bowl

Rub the butter into the flour until you get something that resembles breadcrumbs

Mix in the sugar and then make a well in the center

Add the beaten egg and vanilla to the well and mix.

Gradually mix in the milk.

Divide the mix between 12 muffin cases

Top with apple slices

Make the caramel sauce

Pour over each cupcake. How much you put on is up to you, I drizzled mine on not wanting the tripolatas to be hit with so much sugar. If they were just for me I would have doused them in caramel.

This is were the picture of the cupcakes with topped with

the caramel should be but I forgot to take a picture before baking

Place in the oven and bake for approx 18-20 mins

The cupcakes are read when a toothpick or skewer inserted into the centre of a cupcakes comes out clean.

Let the caramel cool before eating.

Enjoy