Apple Cupcakes with Caramel Frosting

Here's a nice fall treat recipe.  What says fall better than caramel apples?  These are very simple to throw together.  I got these from Taste of Home. 


Apple Cupcakes with Caramel Frosting:

CUPCAKES:
Ingredients:
1 box spice cake mix (or you can use carrot cake mix or plain yellow cake mix)
Ingredients on cake mix package
2 cups peeled and finely chopped tart apples


Directions: 
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Line cupcake pan with paper liners.  Prepare cake mix according to package directions.  Fold in chopped apple pieces.  Fill cupcake pans 2/3 full.  Bake according to package directions.

CARAMEL FROSTING:
Ingredients:
1 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup butter
1/4 cup milk
1 tsp vanilla extract
2-1/2 to 3 cups powdered sugar

Directions:
In a heavy saucepan, combine brown sugar, butter, and milk.  Bring to a boil over medium heat.  Cook and stir for 2 minutes.  Remove from heat and add vanilla.  Cool to lukewarm.  Gradually beat in powdered sugar until frosting is the right consistency.  Frost cupcakes.  If you want you can stick a caramel apple stick in each one and sprinkle with toasted pecans.