Caramel Apple Cupcakes

Ingredients

• 1 (18.25 ounce) spice or carrot cake mix
• 2 cups chopped peeled tart apples
• 20 caramels*
• 3 tablespoons milk
• 1 cup finely chopped pecans, toasted
• 12 Popsicle sticks

Instructions

1. Prepare cake batter according to package directions; fold in apples.
2. Fill 12 greased or paper-lined jumbo muffin cups three-fourths full.
3. Bake at 350 degrees F for 20 minutes or until a wooden pick comes out clean.
4. Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks to cool completely.
5. In a saucepan, cook the caramels and milk over low heat until smooth. Spread over cupcakes.
6. Sprinkle with pecans.
7. Insert a wooden stick into the center of each cupcake.

Yield: 1 dozen

* This recipe was tested with Hershey caramels.

Source: Quick Cooking magazine - September/October 2001