Fall Baking Series: Caramel Apple Cupcakes-Don't Do It!!

It's eleven o'clock at night and I'm driving home from work. It has been raining and pouring all week in Kentucky. There are times when I felt like I've moved to the world's rainiest place, and this is one of them. Naturally, it's pitch black outside, I have a cold, a headache, and everyone is trying to run me off the road. To quote a friend, "I felt like someone licked the red off my sucker". BUT, I don't have the kids in the car and for once I don't have to listen to Elmo or Mickey playing on the TV. I turn on the radio and Kings of Leon comes on, with their song "Use Somebody". Let's just say that there is never a point in your life where you are too old to turn the radio up and sing out loud in the car. The only difference is that you are no longer driving an 87' Fiero, or a 69' Volkswagen. No, you are not driving anything remotely cool. Instead, you are driving a Chrysler Pacifica, and it doesn't know if it wants to be a station wagon or a mini van. Never mind that Chrysler Pacifica, you are going to sing that song so loud that your headache gets worse with every chorus.

I had planned on coming home and posting my recipe for Banana Bread with Cream Cheese Glaze, but today doesn't deserve such a delicious recipe. Instead, I decided to come home and post the worst recipe I've made all year long! Yes, it is rare when you will hear me say that I don't like a recipe. Not only did I not like this recipe, but 4 out of 5 children didn't like it either. That's saying a lot!! These cupcakes actually went into the garbage can, and that never happens. Don't let this little cutesy title fool you, these cupcakes are not worth your time or the mess. Even the picture looks awful!

I'm including the recipe so that if you see it anywhere you can run far away!!

Caramel Apple Cupcakes - Taste of Home Winning Recipes
1 package (18-1/4 ozs) 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

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

Yields: 12 jumbo cupcakes or 24 regular cupcakes

Notes/Results: The caramel is so sticky that it just gets everywhere. It sticks to the paper liner and won't come off, it sticks to the cupcake carrier, and it sticks to the roof of your mouth. End result is that it just isn't good. Leave this recipe alone!

However, if you do sing out loud in the car, good for you!! I'd love to hear what songs you like to sing when you're driving in the car, cooking in the kitchen, or just plain dancing around the house!