The holidays might be over, but I am still obsessed with anything pumpkin. Pumpkin lattes, pumpkin pie, pumpkin pumpkin, and pumpkin! So I thought I would share one of my favorite recipes for Pumpkin Spice CUPCAKES... with cream cheese frosting, of course!
Ingredients for cupcakes:
1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
1 cup granulated white sugar
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
3/4 cup solid packed, canned pumpkin puree
Ingredients for cream cheese frosting:
4 ounces cream cheese, room temperature
2 tablespoons unsalted butter, room temperature
1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups confectioners (powdered or icing) sugar, sifted
Garnish & decorations (optional) :
chopped nuts, cinnamon, and/or candy pumpkins
How To:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (177 degrees C). Place rack in the middle of the oven.
Line 12 muffin cups with paper liners or spray each cup with a non stick vegetable spray.
In a large bowl, sift together the flour, baking soda, ground spices, and salt.
In the bowl of your electric mixer, or with a hand mixer, cream the butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
Add the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition.
Beat in the vanilla extract. Scrape down the sides of the bowl.
With the mixer on low speed, alternately add the flour mixture and pumpkin puree, in three additions, beginning and ending with the flour mixture.
Fill the muffin cups evenly with the batter using two spoons or an ice cream scoop.
Place in the oven and bake for about 18 - 20 minutes, or until firm to the touch and a toothpick inserted in the center of one of the cupcakes comes out clean.
Place on a wire rack to cool.
Instructions for cream cheese frosting:
In the bowl of your electric mixer, or with a hand mixer, beat the cream cheese until smooth.
Add the butter and beat until incorporated and smooth.
Add the vanilla extract and confectioners sugar and beat until fluffy (2-3 minutes).
Pipe or spread the frosting on the cupcakes.
Garnish and decorate using nuts, cinnamon, or pumpkin candies (optional).
Be careful when eating, these things are highly addicting and can cause obesity, please eat at your own risk....... Enjoy! :)
