Featured on Friday: Tatiana

Happy Friday everyone!  Tatiana is a good friend of mine and is supermom to two little cuties, Walter and George.  Today she is sharing  a fall treat...don't you just love this time of year?!
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Hello Everyday Easy Readers!!!

 Autumn is in the air!!!!  This is my favorite time of the year.... bon fires, walks in the park, beautiful crafts, and APPLES!!!  It has been a family tradition to go apple picking in Wisconsin since I was a little girl.  My favorite part is all of the wonderful recipes that are made in the days that follow a visit to the orchard!  So, I thought I would pass along one of my favorite recipes involving apples (whether they are fresh from the orchard or fresh from the produce section)!

Apple Spice Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting

   .   2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour

   .   2 teaspoons baking soda

   .    1-2 teaspoons ground cinnamon (depending on your taste)

   .   1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg

   .   1 teaspoon salt

   .   8 tablespoons (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened

   .   2 cups sugar

   .   2 large eggs

   .   1 teaspoon vanilla extract

 .  5-6 Apples, shredded (I love Gala or Macintosh)

Preheat oven to 350 Degrees

1.)  Combine flour, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, & salt in a medium bowl, set aside.

2.)  Beat butter and sugar in a mixer on medium speed for 3-5 minutes, until light and fluffy.  Add eggs, on at a time, and vanilla.

3.)  Add apples to mixer and mix on low speed until just combined.

4.)  Add flour mixture in 3 parts, on low, until well combined.

5.)  Pour halfway up into a paper-lined cupcake pan.

6.)  Bake 18-20 minutes, turning halfway, until tops are golden brown and springy.  

7.)  Once completely cooled, frost.

Frosting

1 8 ounce package of cream cheese

1 stick of butter, softened

4 cups confectioner's sugar, sifted

1 teaspoon vanilla

1.)  Beat butter and cream cheese in a mixer on medium-high speed for 3 minutes.

2.)  Add vanilla, combine

3.)  Add sugar, one cup at a time

4.)  Frost!!  I use a pasty bag, but a knife works as well:)

I hope that everyone enjoys these!!!  They are a BIG hit in our house and my boys even love them without the frosting!!!

Happy Autumn,

Tatiana

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 Thanks for sharing Tat! These look amazing!