Pumpkin Spice Cupcakes

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These easy Pumpkin Spice Cupcakes have a light, fluffy texture and are loaded with pumpkin spice flavor. Top them with cream cheese frosting for the ultimate fall and Thanksgiving dessert.

🧁Pumpkin Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting

When you’re in the mood for a pumpkin dessert but don’t want to commit to a whole pumpkin cake, give these pumpkin cupcakes a try! They’re wonderfully moist (but not at all dense!) and LOADED with pumpkin spice flavor.

One of the best things about baking with pumpkin puree is that it can compensate for small mistakes. Over-mix or over-bake your dessert a bit? Pumpkin puree to the rescue! The moisture in pumpkin puree keeps desserts from drying out and also helps extend their shelf life. Just another reason to love fall baking!

Speaking of fall baking, after you try these cupcakes, keep the pumpkin party going with some of our reader’s favorite recipes, like Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Bread, Pumpkin Chocolate Mousse Cake, and Pumpkin Bread Pudding!

🧾 What You’ll Need

Ingredients

If you are a seasoned baker, you almost certainly have most of what you need on hand already. One of the few things you may need to pick up is the pumpkin puree. Here’s what to keep in mind as you gather ingredients: (Links are affiliate links and I earn a small commission from qualifying purchases.)

• Cake flour: Cake flour helps keep these cupcakes light and fluffy. If you don’t have cake flour, you can use a combination of all purpose flour and cornstarch (see details in the FAQ or recipe card below).
• Pumpkin pie spice: Pumpkin pie spice is pumpkin’s best friend. This blend of  cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg and allspice adds the perfect touch of warmth and coziness to the recipe. See the FAQ below for tips on making you own pumpkin pie spice.
• Milk: I prefer using whole milk, but you can use other varieties if you prefer.
• Canned pumpkin: Be sure to use pure pumpkin puree, rather than pumpkin pie filling. The cans are often next to each other at the store and look very similar.
• Cream cheese:Allow the cream cheese to soften at room temperature before using.

Equipment

All you need are very standard baking tools to make these cupcakes. (Links are affiliate links and I earn a small commission from qualifying purchases.)

• Cupcake pan: One of the few things you absolutely need for this is a simple cupcake pan to bake the cupcakes in.
• Stand mixer: A stand mixer can make mixing batter and icing very easy. A hand mixer can also be used.
• Piping bag and tips: You can use a plain piping bag and round tip, or get a little fancy with a larger star tip.

📋 Instructions

New to cupcake making? Here’s a step-by-step tutorial to help you through it. For complete printable instructions, see the recipe card below.

• Preheat your oven to 350 degrees.
• As it heats, line a cupcake pan with paper liners and then set it aside for later.
• In a medium bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder, pumpkin pie spice, cinnamon, and salt, then set aside for a moment.

• In a separate bowl, beat together the butter and sugar until creamy.

• Next, add in eggs and beat until light and fluffy.

• Gradually mix in the flour mixture with the milk. Continue mixing for about 30 seconds.

• Whisk in the pumpkin. Scrape the sides and bottom of the bowl to be sure everything is well-mixed.
• Scoop the batter into the prepared liners, filling about ⅔ full.
• Bake for 18 to 20 minutes, or until the cupcakes spring back when lightly touched.
• Once they’re cool, frost the cupcakes and finish them off with a sprinkling of cinnamon or nutmeg.

💡 Tips and FAQs  

Variety is the pumpkin spice of life! Here are a few variations you can try:

• Use the brown sugar glaze from this Pumpkin Pound Cake.
• Try it with the spiced frosting from Pumpkin Spice High Hat Cupcakes.
• Use a simple vanilla buttercream frosting or cinnamon buttercream.
• Add mini chocolate chips, cinnamon chips, or butterscotch chips to the pumpkin batter.
• Embellish the top with Chocolate Leaves or Chocolate Feathers.

Don’t miss the step-by-step tutorial showing how to make Pumpkin Spice Cupcakes – check out the web story here!