Pumpkin Cupcakes

These Pumpkin Cupcakes are the perfect fall dessert. Topped with creamy yet fluffy cream cheese frosting, this simple cupcake recipe is a great way to celebrate all the fun and delicious flavors of fall.

Try my Pumpkin Cinnamon Rolls Recipe next. Find more Fall Desserts on the blog here.

TASTE AND TEXTURE:

• Moist and fluffy
• Perfectly balanced pumpkin flavor
• Sweetened with only brown sugar as opposed to these Pumpkin Spice Cupcakes sweetened with both granulated and brown sugar
• Topped with creamy homemade cream cheese frosting

RECIPE INGREDIENTS:

FOR THE CUPCAKES:

• canned pumpkin puree - Make sure that it's actually canned pumpkin and not pumpkin pie filling. You will need a cup of pumpkin puree for this batter.

• light brown sugar - Adds the sweetness to these cupcakes and also makes them very moist and flavorful.
• vegetable oil - You can also use coconut oil here.
• vanilla extract - Vanilla adds that warm and comforting taste we all love.
• eggs - These should be at room temperature. To quickly bring eggs to room temperature, immerse them in hot water for a few minutes, pat them dry and you are good to go.
• flour - All purpose flour gives the cupcakes their structure and texture.
• baking powder
• baking soda
• ground cinnamon - I love the cinnamon flavor this adds!
• Spices - Along with spices like nutmeg, cloves and ginger, I also like to add a pinch of black pepper that's totally optional, but you will love
• salt - Just a little bit goes a long way!

FOR THE FROSTING:

• cream cheese - Room temperature cream cheese works best.
• butter - I like to use unsalted butter.
• powdered sugar - This adds the sweetness to the frosting.
• vanilla extract - Another great addition to add warmth and depth.

HOW TO MAKE PUMPKIN SPICE CUPCAKES

Preheat the oven. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Add cupcake liners to your pan.

Add the wet ingredients. Mix together the brown sugar, oil, canned pumpkin, vanilla, and eggs. Use a whisk and mix them all together until it is smooth. .

Combine all the mixes. Add the dry ingredients- baking powder, baking soda  flour, nutmeg, cinnamon, ginger, cloves, black pepper (if using) and salt to the wet mixture and stir.

Put into the cupcake liners. Take cupcake mixture and fill the cupcake liners about ¾ full.

Bake in the oven. Put cupcake pan in the oven and bake for 18-20 minutes of time.

Remove and cool. Take cupcakes out of the oven and let them cool on a cooling rack. Once they are cool, you can add the frosting.

HOW TO MAKE HOMEMADE CREAM CHEESE FROSTING

Add the butter and cream cheese into a bowl and mix until it is smooth and creamy. Then add half the powdered sugar and mix.

Once that is nice and creamy, add in the vanilla and stir. Then go ahead and add the rest of the powdered sugar and mix as well.

Grab a piping tip and use it to frost the cupcakes. Once the cupcakes are covered, top with one or two candy pumpkins.

HOW DO YOU STORE LEFTOVERS OF THIS PUMPKIN CUPCAKE RECIPE?

To keep these cupcakes moist and fresh, you need to store them in an airtight container and keep them in the fridge. This will make them wonderful to enjoy for 2-3 days after baking.

CAN THE FROSTING BE MADE AHEAD OF TIME?

Absolutely. Once you make the frosting, just store it in the fridge in a container with a lid. Making it a day in advance is a great way to save some time.

CAN YOU FREEZE BAKED CUPCAKES?

You can freeze cupcakes but make sure that you freeze them without any frosting added on. You can always make the frosting fresh once you unthaw them when you're ready to eat them.

QUICK TIPS FOR MAKING PUMPKIN CUPCAKES

1. Make sure that the cupcakes are done baking by testing the middle of the cupcakes with a toothpick. Once the timer goes off for them to be done baking, insert a toothpick into the middle of the cupcakes. If it comes out clean, they're done and ready to be taken out of the oven.
2. Mix the frosting well because the last thing that anyone wants is to eat a chunk of cream cheese that wasn't mixed well!
3. Top your frosted cupcakes with more cinnamon by sifting it on the frosting. Tastes wonderful and looks so pretty!

MORE CUPCAKE RECIPES FOR YOU

• Funfetti Cupcakes
• Caramel Apple Cupcakes
• Banana Cupcakes
• Angel Food Cake Cupcakes

If you liked this Pumpkin  Cupcake Recipe recipe, give it a star review. Also, tell me in the comments below, how did this turn out for you! And don’t forget to share your creations with me on Instagram at #greedyeatsblog And lets be friends on Pinterest and Facebook too! 🙂

Pumpkin Cupcakes

This soft, fluffy and easy pumpkin cupcakes recipe is perfect for sharing with family and friends.

5 from 9 votes

Print Pin Rate

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: American

US Customary - Metric

Prep Time: 25 minutes

Cook Time: 20 minutes

Cooling Time: 1 hour

Total Time: 1 hour 45 minutes

Servings 12 cupcakes

1x2x3x

Calories: 277kcal

Author: Neha

Ingredients

• ▢ ¾ cup light brown sugar
• ▢ ½ cup vegetable oil
• ▢ 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
• ▢ 2 large eggs (at room temp)
• ▢ 1 ¼ cups all purpose flour
• ▢ 1 tsp baking powder
• ▢ ½ tsp baking soda
• ▢ 1 tsp ground cinnamon
• ▢ ¼ tsp ground nutmeg
• ▢ ¼ tsp ground ginger
• ▢ ¼ tsp ground cloves
• ▢ ⅛ tsp ground Black Pepper
• ▢ ¼ tsp salt
• ▢ 1 cup canned pumpkin puree

Frosting Ingredients:

• ▢ 8 ounces room temperature cream cheese
• ▢ 6 T room temperature butter
• ▢ 4 cups powdered sugar
• ▢ 1 tsp pure vanilla extract

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

To make the cupcakes:

• Preheat the oven. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Add cupcake liners to your pan.
• Add the wet ingredients. Mix together the brown sugar, oil, vanilla, canned pumpkin and eggs. Use a mixer and mix them all together until it is smooth.
• Combine all the mixes. Add dry ingredients- baking powder, baking soda, flour, nutmeg, cinnamon, ginger, cloves, black pepper and salt to wet ingredients and fold to combine.
• Put into the cupcake liners. Take the cupcake mixture and fill the cupcake liners about ¾ full.
• Bake in the oven. Put cupcake pan in the oven and bake for 18-20 minutes of time.
• Remove and cool. Take cupcakes out of the oven and let them cool on a cooling rack. Once they are cool, you can add the frosting.

To make the frosting:

• Add the butter and cream cheese into a bowl and mix until it is smooth and creamy. Then add half the powdered sugar and mix.
• Once that is nice and creamy, add in vanilla and stir. Then go ahead and add rest of the powdered sugar and mix as well.
• Grab a piping tip and use it to frost the cupcakes. Once the cupcakes are covered, top with pumpkin toppers.

Notes

How to store Pumpkin Cupcakes:

1. Frosted cupcakes stay good for up to a day at room temperature. For a longer storage, keep them in refrigerator. They will last for 3-4 days there.
2. Unfrosted cupcakes freeze well for 2 months. Thaw them in the refrigerator or on the counter before frosting.

Pumpkin Puree: I strongly recommend using canned pumpkin puree in these cupcakes than homemade one. I use Libby's brand and love it. 

Spices: You may skip cloves, nutmeg, ginger black pepper and add ¾ tsp of pumpkin pie spice to your cupcakes. Don't skip cinnamon in this case.

Oil: Instead of using vegetable oil, you may sub it with ½ cup coconut oil. ¼ cup of oil and ¼ cup of unsweetened applesauce works too.

Nutrition

Serving: 1Cupcake | Calories: 277kcal | Carbohydrates: 66g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 1g | Sodium: 112mg | Sugar: 53g

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