Russian Apple Cinnamon Cupcakes: Tasty and adorable Russian yeast cupcakes with apples, cinnamon and apple pie spices. Great alternative to usual cupcakes!
Aren't these Russian apple cinnamon cupcakes cute? They look like apples and they taste like an apple pie. The whole Christmas baking thing has just started and I can see pictures of chocolate chip cookies 5 times a day on the internet. Here is something different for you to bake in December: Russian Apple Cinnamon Cupcakes.
They are cupcakes because they are baked in a cupcake form and they are Russian because I used Russian-style yeast dough, which smells so good when you open your oven and take them out... Smells like warm cozy home and childhood. The decor is so simple and yet I think it's quite cool: just a clove and a pumpkin seed.
Apples are in season right now, so I can see no reason not to bake these cuties one more time. Or maybe two. You know a saying: An apple a day keeps a doctor away? It might not be about cupcake apples but I don't care. They are so delicious and they look adorable!
How to Make Russian Apple Cinnamon Cupcakes
The baking process is easy if you know what baking is all about. You make the dough, let it rest, prepare the filling, divide and roll, stuff, decorate, bake. It takes a while to make them but it's worth every minute. My husband's eyes lightened up when he first saw these apple cinnamon cupcakes. They are so cool indeed! They are fluffy, moist, crunchy and they taste like an apple pie. They are great to take away, too. Pictures are better than words in this case. Just look at them! Check the recipe below for precise instructions. Don't forget to remove the clove before eating. Happy baking!
Russian Apple Cinnamon Cupcakes
Ingredients
For the dough:
- 60 ml or ¼ cup warm milk
- 2 teaspoons dry yeast
- 2 teaspoons sugar
- 300 grams or 2 ½ cups plain flour
- 50 grams or ¼ cup sugar
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon baking spice mix (cloves nutmeg, vanilla and cardamom)
- 1 large egg beaten
- 75 grams or ⅓ cup softened unsalted butter
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 5 large apples
For the filling:
- 50 grams or ¼ cup brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon baking spice mix (cloves nutmeg, vanilla and cardamom)
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice
- 2 tablespoons flour
- 1 egg beaten
- 12 pumpkin seeds
Instructions
- In a small bowl, mix warm milk, yeast and 2 teaspoons of sugar. Stir and leave for 5 minutes for the yeast to ferment.
- In a large bowl, combine the flour, 50 grams sugar and spices. Add the butter and mix it with your hands. Make a hole in the center and pour the beaten egg and yeast mixture. Knead the dough until smooth. If necessary, add more milk or flour.
- Put the dough on a flour dusted working surface and knead it for 5 minutes until it's smooth and elastic. Form a ball and place it in a greased bowl. Cover with a kitchen towel and let it rest for 90 minutes.
- Meanwhile, prepare the filling. Peel and dice apples. Put a saucepan or a skillet on medium heat. Add apples, brown sugar and spices. Stir for a few minutes and add the lemon juice. Reduce the heat and let it stew under the lid for 10-15 minutes, until the apples are tender. Then add flour for thickening.
- Lightly grease cupcake forms with butter. Once the dough has doubled in size, place it on the flour dusted surface and knead for 1 minute to remove the excessive air. Divide it into 12 pieces and form balls.
- With a rolling pin, roll the balls until they are roughly 12-13 cm in diameter. Roll the edges thinner than the center. Put one tablespoon of the filling in the center. Fold the edges around the filling, forming a knot on top. Don't worry if it looks bad, it won't be visible anyway. Transfer it to the cupcake form, with the knot facing down. Repeat with the remaining dough balls and filling. Leave in a warm place covered by a kitchen towel for 30 more minutes. 10 minutes before you want to put the cakes in the oven, heat it to 180 °C (350 °F). Then brush the cupcakes with a beaten egg, insert cloves in the middle of each "apple" and lay pumpkin seeds as "leaves" next to the cloves.
- Bake for 10-15 minutes until golden brown. Cool before serving. Don't forget to remove the clove before eating. Enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition
What do you think about these Russian apple cinnamon cupcakes? Would you bake them?
I have one more amazing recipe for you: Pumpkin Yeast Bread in a Jar!
Love,
Elena
Persephone N Martinez says
I made these last year
And i love them so much
Im going to make them again this year!
Elena Szeliga says
That's so nice to hear, Persephone! It's an old recipe and I almost forgot about it although these cupcakes were really yummy. Have to make them again soon! Thank you for your kind feedback 😉
adina says
I love this recipe, something completely new for me. 🙂
Elena Szeliga says
Thank you, Adina! I encourage you to try it, you won't be disappointed! 🙂