Apple Spice Cupcakes with Caramel Buttercream Frosting

Yum!  These delicious cupcakes are quite easy to make and they are simply delicious!  Enjoy!

Yields 18-20 cupcakes

Ingredients:

For cupcakes:

-1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, at room temperature

-1/2 cup sugar

-1/2 cup packed brown sugar

-2 large eggs

-1 tsp cinnamon

-1/4 tsp baking soda

-1 1/4 tsp baking powder

-1/8 tsp ground nutmeg

-2 tsp vanilla extract

-1/2 cup sour cream

-1/2 cup milk

-2 cups flour

-1 apple, peeled, cored, and finely diced

For frosting:

-1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, at room temperature

-1/2 cup vegetable shortening

-4 cups powdered sugar
-1/2 cup good caramel sauce
-1 Tbs milk
Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 F. Line cupcake pans with liners and set aside.
In your electric mixer bowl, cream the butter and sugars for the cupcakes.  Once nice and smooth, add the eggs, one at a time, mixing very well.  Add the cinnamon, baking soda, baking powder, nutmeg, vanilla and sour cream.  Give it a good stir.  Add the milk and flour, half of cup at a time.  Stir in the apple.
Pour mixture evenly in prepared pans (about 3/4  way full).
Bake in preheated oven for 20-22 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean. Cool in pan on wire rack for 10 minutes.  Remove from pan onto wire rack and cool completely.
While the cupcakes are cooling, whip the frosting ingredients until nice and fluffy.  Pipe onto cooled cupcakes.
Drizzle with a little extra caramel sauce, if desired, and enjoy!