Homemade Apple Cupcakes: A Treat for All Seasons

Begin your baking adventure by creaming together the softened butter and brown sugar until the mixture becomes fluffy and light. This process not only combines these ingredients thoroughly but also incorporates air into the butter, ensuring your cupcakes will have a light yet rich texture. Next, crack the eggs in, one at a time, mixing well after each addition to maintain a smooth consistency. Adding eggs gradually is crucial, as it prevents the batter from separating, ensuring a uniform and stable mixture for your cupcakes. Now, gently fold in the plain yogurt; the yogurt's acidity will react with the baking soda in the flour, giving the cupcakes a nice rise. Alternating between the flour mixture and the yogurt helps to keep the batter light. Finally, stir in the chopped green apples and raisins with a spatula. The fresh, tart green apples will provide a moist texture and a refreshing contrast to the sweet, plump raisins, creating a delightful flavor complexity in every bite.

With your batter now ready, it's time to turn your attention to the cupcake liners nestled in the baking tray. Using a spoon or a scoop, fill each liner with the batter, ensuring an even distribution for consistent baking and size. Gently press thin apple slices onto the top of each cupcake before sliding them into the preheated oven. This not only adds an extra layer of apple flavor but also makes for a beautiful, rustic presentation. Baking at 170C (or approximately 338F) for about 35 minutes until they're perfectly golden and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, your kitchen will soon be filled with the warm, comforting aroma of baked apples and cinnamon. This step is crucial in transforming the raw batter into moist, fluffy cupcakes, their tops slightly crisp from the baked apple slices, offering a lovely texture contrast to the soft crumb beneath.