I wanted to squeeze in one more pumpkin recipe before we enter full blown Christmas decor. Because no one eats pumpkin anymore in December, right? 🙂
I made this Pumpkin Cupcake with Cream Cheese Frosting recipe as one of my very first blog posts two years ago – when this blog had a different name and a different purpose. I’ve made a few tweaks since the first time I made it and I think this is one of my favorite, simplest, baked recipes.
Picky cupcake eater
I’m fairly picky when it comes to any kind of cake-like item. I get irritated when people make cupcakes that aren’t sweet enough, which I find a lot of those boutique cupcake places do, and then place a gritty, sugar frosting on top. I hate when I bite into dry cupcakes too. See. I’m picky about my cupcakes.
All that said, I feel pretty proud of this little recipe. I love the light pumpkin flavor – not too much “spice” – and how moist the cake is. If you like Starbucks Pumpkin Loaf, then you’ll find the flavor of this cake in this cupcake similar.
I also love this frosting – and I mean LOVE in a way that makes me lick it directly from the mixer attachments.
My favorite frosting
I don’t generally love frosting either. Actually, I almost never like buttercream frosting that comes on products I buy. I find it too sweet with not enough flavor.
I almost always make this Cream Cheese Frosting, or another one of my favorites is this frosting on this cake which is a Whipped Buttercream, basically a mix of whipped cream and buttercream. Combining the two give it a better texture, flavor and allows you to leave it out, which is the big downfall of whipped cream.
A little embellishment
Oh and for the first time I decided to try adding a little caramel embellishment to the top of the cupcakes at the end. All I did was drizzle melted caramel on parchment paper and let it harden. Then pulled pieces off and added it to the finished cupcakes.
If you still have treats to make for work, a Halloween party or even a dessert to think of for Thanksgiving (because I swear you’ll want to eat these through November!) then this recipe is a crowd pleaser.
Try it this weekend and let me know what you think! Thank you for visiting, friends!
Happy eating! For more recipes, click here. For more fall recipes, click here.
Pumpkin Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting
Ingredients
Cupcake Ingredients
- 1 and 1/2 cups + 2 Tbsp. of all-purpose flour
- 1 cup pumpkin puree
- 2/3 cups granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup brown sugar, lightly packed
- 1/2 cup canola oil
- 2 large eggs
- 2 tsp. ground cinnamon
- 1 and 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
- 1 tsp. baking powder
- 1 tsp. of nutmeg
- 1/4 tsp. baking soda
Cream Cheese Frosting ingredients
- 8 oz. cream cheese at room temperature
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 2 & 3/4 cup of powdered sugar
- 1 & 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
Instructions
Pumpkin Cupcake Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and mix together flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Make sure they are all well mixed and then set aside.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together granulated sugar and brown sugar until there are no lumps.
- Add canola oil and blend or whisk. If using your electric mixer, put it on medium and make sure you are catching the sides and bottom of the bowl.
- Mix in eggs one at a time until well blended and then mix in pumpkin and vanilla. Make sure everything is well blended before moving on.
- Slowly begin adding the flour mixture from the first bowl, a little at a time. Make sure to scrape the sides of the bowl again and the bottom.
- Fill up your lined cupcake tins about 3/4 of the way up.
- Bake for about 19 - 23 minutes. My oven tends to cook fast so I went with 19.
Frosting Instructions
- Mix together butter and cream cheese until light and fluffy.
- Mix in vanilla and powdered sugar until everything is well blended and smooth. You can put this in the refrigerator if you need to, but you can also pipe this onto the cupcakes right away. I like to use it right away. If you decide to chill it you will need to wait when it comes out to use it until it softens again.
- Top the cupcakes and enjoy!
I need more pumpkin things in my life. My husband would die for these!
Oh my goodness these look like they would be absolutely amazing and hands up this is the perfect time to be making anything pumpkin spice flavoured.
I love pumpkin sweets!!!!! These pumpkin cupcakes look amazing, and your frosting is seriously impressive.
Pumpkin and cream cheese goes together like carrot cake and cream cheese. They wouldn’t last long in my house
Those pumpkin cupcakes looks delicious! I like the added touch of the drizzled caramel! I’ve seen them do this on a cooking show.
Pumpkin and cream cheese is always a winning combination. Plus you rolled it all into a cupcake? Genius!
I MUST have these in my life! I can’t say no to anything involving pumpkin or cream cheese. Om nom nom.
Wow these looks incredible!
There’s nothing better than pumpkin desserts during the fall. I love cream cheese frosting so this dessert is totally calling my name.
There’s nothing better than pumpkin desserts during the fall. I love cream cheese frosting so this treat is totally calling my name.
There’s nothing better than pumpkin dessert during the fall. I love cream cheese frosting so this treat is totally calling my name.
Yes please! I would eat so many of these. I just love my pumpkin stuff. I need to make these soon. That frosting looks incredible!
I’m a big fan of this whole post. I compared my cream cheese frosting to yours. I use less sugar only because I love the flavor of cream cheese.
I bet these are so yummy! You can’t go wrong with pumpkin and cupcakes.
Omg, these sound SO yummy. Cream cheese frosting makes anything taste amazing!!!
I would really like to try that icing. it looks really tasty!
I’d eat the whole batch. Not only do they look amazing, I bet they taste like pure heaven!
I’ve never had a pumpkin cupcake before but now I will be on the search for one!
I’m sure this cream cheese frosting pairs perfectly with the pumpkin flavor. Such a great recipe for fall!
-Jennifer
https://maunelegacy.com
I could eat pumpkin all year long. It is my favorite. I think I have most of the ingredients to make these cupcakes. They look so good.
These sound so yummy and they look so cute <3
Living in South Africa halloween and fall food isn’t really a thing seeing as we are enjoying spring. These cupcakes do however look too amazing not to try. Need to go find a pumpkin!
Yum! The perfect cupcakes for the season. You just can’t go wrong with cream cheese frosting but I sure would love to try it over a pumpkin cupcake.
Yum! Pumpkin cupcakes sound so good and it’s perfect for this season.
How delicious!! Cream cheese frosting is the best!
What a great treat! My daughter would love this, she likes anything with pumpkin. I’d settle for the cream cheese frosting lol.
October is all about the pumpkins. We make a slightly different version of pumpkin cupcakes with cream cheese frosting and they are always a hit.
I just picked up some pie pumpkins on Thursday, I’m pinning this recipe so I can make them with my girls on Sunday.
I love all things pumpkin. These cupcakes looks delicious! Like you, a lot of frostings are too sweet for me, but this one I need to have. And the caramel embellishment is so pretty!
Cream cheese frosting always makes me happy. The caramel is a nice touch too.
My favorite thing about these has to be the cream cheese frosting. I am so addicted to it and will order or make any cupcake that has it. I love it
Still just in time to drop over your blog to read this. I love the cream cheese frosting and caramel is one of my favourites too. Let’s see how will my version be like.
Still just in time to drop over your blog to read this. I love the cream cheese frosting and caramel is one of my favourites too. Let’s see how will my version be like. Thank you!
They look amazing! I love pumpkin flavor, and my kids always enjoy cupcakes for dessert or snack!
I make a version of this recipe myself and we love them. I usually make them for Thanksgiving every year
You’re heaven-sent! This is very timely since I am planning to bake pumpkin cupcakes for Halloween. This looks really simple and easy to follow. Thank you for sharing the recipe.
Y.U.M. These look so good! I am obsessed with pumpkin bread and I bet these will satisfy the same cravings.
These look so good. I’ll have to save this for later.
These were amazing and a big hit in my household! Thanks for the beautiful pictures I always need visuals to confirm I’m baking correctly 🎃.
I love pumpkin anything! These sound so delicious! Cream cheese frosting is the best!
Your style of cooking is right up my alley and speaks to my heart! Thank you for all the lovely recipes !
This is a fantastic recipe! I love all things pumpkin.
I have not had Pumpkin Cupcakes before, but with the cream cheese frosting even my kids loved it!
Oh, these look amazing and so super pretty! I have never really cooked with pumpkin, but making these would be the perfect excuse I need! Sim x
These look amazing. I’ve been so into pumpkin desserts lately and now I need to add this one to my list!
Oh my gosh I loooove pumpkin muffins. These look incredible. Thank you!
I’m hosting a Friendsgiving this week and I think I definitely need to make these!
These look delicious. I love pumpkin.
These look so fun and festive! They will make a delicious Thanksgiving treat that my kids will LOVE!!!
Yummy! Now that my oven is back working I can try my hand at making these.
These look super tasty. Thank you so much for sharing. Bookmarking this page.
These look amazing! I love cream cheese frosting!
perfect dessert for this time of year!
I am pinning this for later! These look so delicious, and I love anything pumpkin!
These look so delicious! I don’t cook enough with pumpkin and this is a great idea. I love carrot cake with cream cheese frosting, and this sounds so yummy.