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Pumpkin Cupcakes with a Maple Cream Cheese Frosting

These Easy Pumpkin Cupcakes are the perfect Fall dessert recipe. Deliciously spiced and topped with a creamy Maple Cream Cheese Frosting. This batch is perfect for a few people or double it for a family or friend get together!

4 cupcakes on a white cake stand with small stars and leaves


 

I love making cupcakes especially when its a smaller recipes. Six cupcakes is perfect for us, they last a couple of days and none go to waste. I love them frosted and the Italian not so much. These are so good you won’t even miss the frosting!

How to make them

In a medium bowl whisk together the flour, cinnamon, pumpkin spice, salt, baking powder and baking soda.

In a large bowl beat together oil, sugars, egg, vanilla, pumpkin puree and milk until well combined. Add the dry ingredients and beat to combine.

mixing the ingredients in a silver mixing bowl

Spoon the batter into the prepared cupcake liners and bake. Let cool completely before frosting.

cupcakes in muffin tin before and after baked

Can you use canned pumpkin puree?

Yes you can as long as it has nothing added, or you can make your own, simple and easy Pumpkin Puree.

What is cake flour?

It is a flour with a lower protein content usually between 7-9% and it is milled finer than all purpose flour. It makes cakes softer and lighter. You can easily make your own, for every cup of all purpose remove 2 tablespoons and replace with 2 tablespoons of cornstarch. Sift together before using.

How to tell when cupcakes are baked

Cupcakes are done when the toothpick comes out clean or with a couple of crumbs attached. Or you gently press the top of it with your finger and it springs back. Be sure to cool your cupcakes on a wire rack, this keeps them from getting a soggy bottom. Air will circulate around them making sure that that doesn’t occur.

6 cupcakes 4 frosted and 2 on top of each other without frosting

How to store them

Unfrosted completely cooled cupcakes can be kept in an airtight container at room temperature for up to two days. If they are frosted then they should be refrigerated. They will keep for up to three days. Although they are really at their best eaten within two days. After that they can become heavy and dry.

How to freeze them

It’s best to freeze them unfrosted and completely cooled. Place the cupcakes in a freezer safe container, they will keep for up to three months. To thaw them, uncover and thaw at room temperature. It will only take about an hour to two hours to thaw, then frost as desired.

frosted cupcake with 2 in the background

When was the first cupcake made?

The earliest mention of what is now called a cupcake was in 1796, when Amelia Simmons wrote a recipe for a light cake to be baked in small cups. The recipe was written in the American Cookery. 

In the early 19th century, the cup cake or cupcake got its name because they were baked in individual pottery cups or molds, this was before the time of muffin tins.

More Pumpkin Desserts

So if you are looking for a delicious Fall Cupcake Recipe I hope you give these Pumpkin Cupcakes with a Maple Cream Cheese Frosting a try and let me know what you think. Enjoy!

upclose cupcake on grey board with small gold stars
pumpkin cupcake with a leave on a grey board

Pumpkin Cupcakes with a Maple Cream Cheese Frosting

Rosemary Molloy
These Easy Pumpkin Cupcakes are the perfect Fall dessert recipe. Deliciously spiced and topped with a creamy Maple Cream Cheese Frosting.
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 35 minutes
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Servings 6 cupcakes
Calories 589 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 1 cup + 2 tablespoons cake flour (140 grams)
  • ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • ¾ teaspoon pumpkin spice
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon baking soda
  • ¼ cup vegetable oil (I use sunflower or corn oil) (50 grams)
  • ½ cup granulated sugar (100 grams)
  • ½ cup brown sugar (lightly packed) (90 grams)
  • 1 large egg (room temperature)
  • ½ teaspoon vanilla
  • ¾ cup pumpkin puree (nothing added) (room temperature) (173 grams)
  • 2 tablespoons milk (room temperature) (I used 2%)

*For room temperature, remove ingredients about 30-45 minutes from fridge before using.

FOR THE MAPLE CREAM CHEESE FROSTING

  • ¼ cup cream cheese (room temperature)(4 ounces) (56 grams)
  • ¼ cup butter (soft) (56 grams)
  • 2 cups powdered/icing sugar (240 grams)
  • 1 tablespoon maple syrup
  • 1 tablespoon cream

Instructions
 

FOR THE CUPCAKES

  • Pre-heat oven to 350F (180C). Line a 6 cup muffin tin with cupcake liners.
  • In a medium bowl whisk together the flour, cinnamon, pumpkin spice, salt, baking powder and baking soda. Set aside.
  • In a large bowl beat together the vegetable oil, sugars, egg, vanilla, pumpkin puree and milk until well combined about 2-3 minutes on medium speed. Add the dry ingredients and beat to combine, for 2-3 minutes on medium speed.
  • Spoon the batter evenly into the prepared cupcake liners and bake for about 20-22 minutes. Check with toothpick for doneness. Let cool completely before frosting. Enjoy!

FOR THE FROSTING

  • In a medium bowl beat together the cream cheese and butter until creamy, add the sugar, vanilla, maple syrup and cream until thick and combined well. While the cupcakes were cooling I refrigerated the frosting to thicken it up.

Notes

You can easily make your own cake flour, for every cup of all purpose remove 2 tablespoons and replace with 2 tablespoons of cornstarch. Sift together before using. 

Nutrition

Calories: 589kcal | Carbohydrates: 96g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 22g | Saturated Fat: 12g | Cholesterol: 45mg | Sodium: 332mg | Potassium: 215mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 77g | Vitamin A: 5313IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 83mg | Iron: 1mg
Did You Make This Recipe?Please leave a comment below or pin it to your Pinterest account!

16 Comments

  1. 5 stars
    Pumpkin cupcakes are an easy, delicious and festive treat. I topped them with maple flakes and a candy pumpkin. Thanks for sharing this fine recipe.

    1. Martha, Si pones menos azรบcar, el glaseado no serรก tan espeso, tendrรกs que agregar menos mantequilla y queso crema. Realmente no es tan dulce. ๐Ÿ™‚

  2. 5 stars
    These are amazing! Had to sample the frosting several times just to be certain it would taste good….yummo:)

    Perfect for a rainy fall evening with a mug of coffee!

5 from 6 votes (3 ratings without comment)

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