Caramel Apple Gingerbread Cups

I’ve had these Caramel Apple Gingerbread Cups ready for you for weeks. In fact, I had hoped that you would be inspired to make them for your Thanksgiving gatherings because they’re just so dang fun and conversation starting. A from scratch gingerbread cookie turned cup using a mini muffin tin filled with everything you love about the flavor of Fall and caramel apples wrapped into a bite-sized treat.  And of course, topped with whipped cream and adorned with a pecan.

Because, adornment is important when holiday hostessing and these bite-sized beauties are practically begging to join your holiday tables.

But, then Stella. My sweet Cavalier King Charles Spaniel,  Stella would leave this world early on November 14th.

This recipe would be the last recipe we would work on together. And when I say we worked on recipes together, I mean that I was rarely ever in the kitchen alone without my sidekick, Stella. She was ALWAYS underfoot. Always there to encourage when a recipe would fail and we would need to start over and always there to celebrate when we knocked it out of the park.  And when the recipe was complete and it was time to head to our window spot for best the light for our photographs, well, she was always there too.

I shared this short video on my personal Facebook page of her “helping” me photograph: Stella & Murph

While it has physically hurt to watch it, it serves as my last video of Stella and her bestie, my tri-color Murphy doing what they do best…helping me make sure any crumbs are gathered and our workspace is left clean as a whistle.

I’ve been just too dang heartbroken to share the recipe without tears, but I want to share the Caramel Apple Gingerbread Cups with you before your Christmas parties begin (and since I missed out on sharing them for Thanksgiving). I NEED to share them with you.

And while I know most of you have seen the announcement on Facebook or Instagram, I also needed to share with you here the news of the loss of my sweet Stella.

The online community has been so very comforting during the past couple of weeks and I’m so thankful for so many that have made this loss a little more bearable.

You can find the recipe on the Dixie Crystals website: Caramel Apple Gingerbread Cups

Goodbye, my beautiful girl. May Heaven be filled with as many sweet treats as your kind heart desires.

We will forever adore you.