Ingredients
2 c. all-purpose flour
2 tsp. pumpkin pie spice
1 tsp. kosher salt
1 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/2 c. (1 stick) butter, softened
1 c. packed brown sugar
1/2 c. granulated sugar
4 large eggs
1 tsp. pure vanilla extract
1 (15-oz.) can pumpkin puree
1 (8-oz.) block cream cheese, softened
4 tbsp. butter, softened
3 c. powdered sugar
1/2 tsp. pumpkin pie spice
1 tsp. pure vanilla extract
Pinch kosher salt
Preparation
Step 1Preheat oven to 350° and line two muffin tins with liners. In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, pumpkin pie spice, salt, baking powder, and baking soda.Step 2In a large bowl using a hand mixer (or in the bowl of a stand mixer), beat butter and sugars together until light and fluffy. Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Add vanilla and pumpkin puree and beat until incorporated. Add dry ingredients and mix until just combined. Step 3Fill cupcake liners ¾ full and bake until a toothpick inserted in middle of a cupcake comes out clean, 23 minutes. Let cool completely. Step 4Meanwhile, make frosting: In a large bowl using a hand mixer (or in the bowl of a stand mixer), beat cream cheese and butter until smooth. Add powdered sugar and pumpkin pie spice and beat until no lumps remain, then add vanilla and a pinch of salt. Step 5Transfer to a piping bag fitted with a large round tip and swirl frosting onto cooled cupcakes.
What spices are in pumpkin spice? If your spice cabinet is full and you don’t want to buy another one, there’s a good chance you can make it yourself. Pumpkin spice is usually made with cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, cloves, and allspice. We have a simple recipe for pumpkin pie spice so you can make your own! Can I make a buttercream frosting for these? Absolutely! If you prefer buttercream over cream cheese, use our favorite buttercream frosting to decorate these. Add some cinnamon or maple extract to mix it up a little! Can I use fresh pumpkin puree? You maybe could get similar results, but we happen to love the texture and specific pumpkin-packed flavor you get from canned pumpkin for baked desserts like this Any fun mix-ins? Glad you asked! Chocolate chips, chopped toasted pecans, or coconut flakes would all be welcome additions. 😋 How do I store leftovers? Any extra cupcakes will keep covered, at room temp, for a day or two. But any longer and you are going to have toss them in the fridge where they will last up to a week. Made these? Let us know how they went in the comment section below! Editor’s Note: The introduction to this recipe was updated on July 29, 2021 to include more information about the dish.
