I can’t get enough of fall baking, and nothing screams fall baking quite like canned pumpkin! I have been dumping it into bars, smoothies, cakes, loaves and everything else I can get my hands on — because I know that before long, I will have to move on to gingerbread, peppermint and Christmas cookies.
I was planning on making pumpkin spice latte cupcakes; however, something didn’t seem right about pumpkin cupcakes without cream cheese frosting. So I ditched the whipped cream frosting and used my absolute favorite cream cheese frosting recipe. I left the espresso powder in the cupcakes — and it added a subtle, warm flavor to the finished product. The pumpkin, cinnamon, and clove create a tickling, spicy aroma that is uniquely autumnal.
I frosted them with a cute little swirl, and garnished each one with a candy corn. I plan on bringing these to my first baking club meeting on Thursday!
What’s your favorite fall flavor?
With love, Erica
pumpkin spice cupcakes
2 2/3 Cups all-purpose flour
2 Tsp baking soda
2 Tsp baking powder
1 Tbsp espresso powder
1/2 Tsp nutmeg
1 Tsp cinnamon
1/8 Tsp ground cloves
1 Tsp salt
1 Cup brown sugar
1 Cup granulated sugar
1 (15 oz) can pumpkin puree
1/2 Cup (1 Stick) butter, melted
1/2 Cup vegetable oil
4 Eggs
Preheat oven to 350 F. Line 24 cupcake tins with paper liners.
Whisk the flour, espresso powder, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves and salt together in a medium bowl. In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, combine the pumpkin, both sugars. melted butter and the oil. Beat on medium-low speed until well incorporated and smooth. Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. With the mixer on low speed, add the dry ingredients in 2 additions, beating just until incorporated.
Divide the batter evenly among the liners, filling each about 3/4-full. Bake for 18-22 minutes, or until the tops of the cupcakes spring back when lightly pressed, and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Transfer the pans to a wire rack and let the cupcakes cool for 5-10 minutes before removing them to the rack.
my favorite cream cheese frosting
- 1/2 cup of shortening
- 1/2 cup (one stick) unsalted butter @ room temp
- 1 8oz bar cream cheese @ room temp
- 1 Tbs. white vanilla extract
- 2 lbs powder sugar
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1 tsp white vinegar
Instructions
Cream together shortening, butter, and cream cheese until nice and smooth. Add vanilla and vinegar into mixture and combine. Sift together sugar and salt, and slowly add to shortening, butter & cheese mixture. Make sure that all sugar is incorporated. Enjoy!
Yay! I was wondering when you were gonna post the deeelicious-looking cupcakes I saw on Instagram!
Just out of curiousity, what brand/model icing tip do you use? The frosting looks so professional!
I use Fat Daddios 12-piece Large Pastry Tip Set from Sur La Table. Thank you so much Erika! Aren't you excited for our recipe of the month coming up! I just thought of a recipe and I am planning on baking it today!
Apples and cinnamon come to mind…..Your cupcakes are adorable!
Ohhhh that's another favorite of mine! Check out my latest post on Apple Brownies! I think you would like them!
Those are gorgeous–the frosting is so perfectly piped! Do you use an applicator?
I use Fat Daddios 12-piece Large Pastry Tip Set from Sur La Table
Ooh awesome thanks!
I've just made a batch of pumpkin muffins and was looking for a decoration tip. Your frosting and candy corn garnish is a great idea and looks really yummy.
Thank you so much! The candy corn is a great garnish, because it also covers up any imperfections in the frosting!
Beautiful looking muffins!
Thank you!
I just made these this past weekend. They tasted absolutely delicious but, the were sort of over cooked on the outside and definitely undercooked on the inside. I'm not sure where I went wrong. Any thoughts?
Hmmmm I'm sorry to hear that! Did you blend the ingredients thoroughly?
I just made your cream cheese frosting and it was wonderful! Just wondering why the white vinegar? Also, your directions don't mention adding the vinegar so I just put it in at the end. I used one whole 1kg bag of icing sugar and it was the perfect consistency for piping. Thank you!! 🙂
Thank you so much! I will fix that in the instructions. I always add a bit of white vinegar to my frostings to cut the sweetness a bit (with all of that sugar, I feel as though it needs a bit of balance). I'm glad it worked out for you 🙂