Caramel Apple Cupcakes

INGREDIENTS

1 cup

diced apple

box butter or spice cake mix; prepared acc. to directions but using only ¾ of required amount of water

if not using spice cake mix

2 tsp

vanilla bean powder

1 tsp

cinnamon

2 tbsp

brown sugar

2 cups

dulce de leche or other thick caramel sauce

1/4 cup

butter, melted

1/3 cup

brown sugar, packed (I used the dark kind, but I think light would be better)

2 tbsp

cream or milk

1 tbsp

vanilla extract or 1 tsp. vanilla powder

1/2 tsp

cinnamon

1 1/2 cups

icing sugar (must be sifted)