Applesauce-Spice Cupcakes with Brown Sugar-Cream Cheese Frosting

This is adapted from a Martha Stewart recipe.

What You'll Need:

For the cupcakes:

2 cups all-purpose flour

1 tsp baking soda

1/4 tsp salt

2 tsp cinnamon

1/2 tsp nutmeg

1/8 tsp ground cloves

1 stick unsalted butter, at room temperature

1 cup granulated sugar

1/2 cup packed light brown sugar

4 large eggs, at room temperature

1 1/2 cups unsweetened apple sauce

1/2 cup toasted pecans, chopped (optional)

For the frosting:

1 stick unsalted butter, at room temperature

1 8 oz pkg cream cheese, at room temperature

1 cup packed light brown sugar

How to Make It:

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Whisk together the flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves. In a large bowl, with an electric mixer on medium speed, cream the butter and two sugars until pale and fluffy. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. On low speed, add the apple sauce and beat to combine. Add the flour mixture and beat to combine. Fold in the pecans, if you're using them. Pour the batter into 18 paper-lined muffin cups and bake for 20 minutes until done, rotating the tins after 10 minutes of baking. Move the pans to wire racks to cool completely before frosting.

To make the frosting, in a medium bowl beat the cream cheese, butter, and brown sugar until completely incorporated and creamy. If you're not going to use the frosting immediately, refrigerate it until ready to use. Then bring it to room temperature and stir well before frosting.