Description
Pumpkin spice cupcakes bring warm autumn comfort straight from New England kitchens. Creamy frosting and delicate spices create a delightful seasonal treat you’ll savor with each delectable bite.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 1 cup pumpkin puree
- 2 large eggs, room temperature
- 3/4 cup milk
- 1/2 cup butter, softened
- 1 cup white sugar
- 1/3 cup brown sugar
Dry Ingredients:
- 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tablespoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
Spices and Flavoring:
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
- 1/2 teaspoon ground allspice
Frosting Ingredients:
- 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
- 1/4 cup butter, softened
- 3 cups confectioners’ sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375°F and arrange paper liners in two standard muffin trays, ensuring even spacing.
- Carefully sift all dry ingredients – flour, baking powder, pumpkin pie spice, baking soda, and salt – into a medium mixing bowl, creating a uniform mixture.
- Using an electric mixer, cream together sugars and butter until light and airy, incorporating eggs individually to maintain smooth consistency.
- Gently fold in pumpkin puree and milk, then gradually incorporate the dry ingredient mixture, stirring until just combined to prevent overmixing.
- Distribute batter evenly into prepared muffin cups, filling each approximately three-quarters full to allow proper rising during baking.
- Bake for 22-25 minutes, checking doneness by lightly pressing the cupcake center – it should spring back immediately and appear golden brown.
- Allow cupcakes to cool completely on a wire rack for optimal texture and easy frosting application.
- Whip cream cheese and butter together until silky smooth, then gradually add powdered sugar, vanilla extract, and ground cinnamon.
- Once cupcakes have reached room temperature, generously spread or pipe the cinnamon cream cheese frosting over each cupcake.
Notes
- Select high-quality pumpkin puree for rich, authentic flavor without excess moisture that could make cupcakes dense.
- Adjust spice levels by increasing or decreasing cinnamon, nutmeg, and ginger to personalize the taste profile.
- Allow ingredients like eggs and butter to reach room temperature for smoother batter and more consistent texture.
- Prevent overmixing the batter to keep cupcakes tender and avoid developing tough gluten structures.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Desserts, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 12
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 26 g
- Sodium: 180 mg
- Fat: 14 g
- Saturated Fat: 8 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 44 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 3 g
- Cholesterol: 45 mg