Baked Pear Cupcakes with Brown Sugar Frosting

You know how some people design a room around a single item, like a statement chair or a chic lamp? I do something similar when I bake. My mom made some delicious apple cider cupcakes a few weeks ago, and I fell in love with her brown sugar frosting. I kid you not, I asked her for the recipe before I had even finished eating. Literally. Mouth still full of cupcake. I knew I wanted to use her frosting on a cupcake, so I started brainstorming. What goes well with brown sugar? Pears. BAKED PEARS! Boom, the ideas started flowing. I ended up with a cinnamon pear cupcake, topped with a brown sugar buttercream, and garnished with candied walnuts. Sound intriguing? Read on for the recipe!

Baked Pear Cupcakes with Brown Sugar Frosting | Katie Actually

All in all, these are fairly simple cupcakes! I try to time-manage as much as possible, so I started by taking out my eggs and butter to come to room temperature and pre-heating the oven. I’m not sure why, but my mom always takes her eggs out before baking- anyone know the benefit? The cupcakes themselves are fairly straightforward, and while those were baking, I got started on the walnuts.

These walnuts are SO easy. Toss the three ingredients in a pot, heat it up, and keep stirring until the sugar starts to melt. Making them is the easy part. Refraining from eating them ALL… not so easy.

Baked Pear Cupcakes with Brown Sugar Frosting | Katie Actually

Now for the famous frosting! Again, this is a fairly standard buttercream frosting. Nothing too crazy here! I just love the addition of brown sugar in this frosting. Something about that flavor seems very autumnal to me. Anyone else?

Baked Pear Cupcakes with Brown Sugar Frosting | Katie Actually

After allowing the cupcakes to totally cool, I piped the frosting on and topped everything with a few candied walnuts. Ta-daa! Now all I have to do is get them out of the house. With Thanksgiving and Christmas just around the corner, I definitely don’t need any extra calories in my diet!

Baked Pear Cupcakes with Brown Sugar Frosting | Katie Actually

What are your favorite fall flavors?

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4 Comments

    • November 3, 2016 / 10:27 pm

      Thank you Kathy! What a great idea!

    • November 5, 2016 / 8:49 pm

      Thank you Amanda! I’ve eaten way more than I care to confess!