Applesauce Spice Cupcakes

Ingredients

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 3/4 tsp salt
• 2 tsp cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp nutmeg
• 1/2 cup butter
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1/2 cup packed light-brown sugar
• 4 large eggs
• 1 1/2 cups unsweetened applesauce
• 1 Recipe Cream Cheese Frosting
• 1/2 cup chopped pecans )
• 4 oz . cream cheese
• 1/4 cup butter
• 2 cups powdered sugar
• 1/2 tsp vanilla extract

Directions

Heat the oven to 350 degrees. In a mixing bowl, whisk the flour, baking powder, salt, cinnamon and nutmeg together, then put that bowl aside. In a large mixing bowl, beat the butter, granulated sugar and light-brown sugar with an electric mixer until the mixture looks pale and fluffy, about 3 – 4 minutes. Add the eggs one at a time, mixing after each one. Turn the mixer to low and blend in the applesauce. Add the flour mixture and stir just until everything comes together. Portion the batter evenly into 20 paper lined muffin cups, filling each about 2/3 full. Bake in the heated oven for about 19 – 20 minutes, turning the pan once midway through, until a toothpick poked into the center comes out clean. Let the cupcakes cool for several minutes, then move them to a wire rack to finish cooling. Once they are completely cool, frost them with Cream Cheese Frosting and add the optional pecans on top. Store the cupcakes in an airtight container.