Easy Pumpkin Spice Cupcakes Recipe
That might change one day, but for now, this is it for me. It all started with my college days when my roommate introduced these Pumpkin Cupcakes to me and would bake them every Fall for all of our neighbors – and all of our neighbors would swoon over their deliciousness and then demand the recipe. So a couple years ago when my work was having a blind “pumpkin eating recipe contest,” I knew just what to make. These easy Pumpkin Cupcakes with cake mix won. And that was even pre-butterscotch frosting (I used a plain frosting at the time of the contest). With the weight of representing to you how knockout crave worthy these Pumpkin Spice Cupcakes are, I was really worried my frosting job would ruin it, because we eat first with our eyes – it’s a fact – and I’ve never frosted a cupcake with a decorative piping tip before in my life. Until now. I had the photoshoot all set up on our living room table as Patrick and I each took turns frosting the Pumpkin Cupcakes with the piping bag, each attempting different techniques, bemoaning how awful our skills were….but somehow, in the end, we ended up with beautiful cupcakes. Even after Patrick saw the pictures, he said, “How did you pull that off?!” Only with the help of an artistic husband. I’m pretty sure all the “best” Pumpkin Spice Cupcakes used in these shots are his. The man has skillz. And yes, he is super sweet to help me, but I think he really just wanted me to be done faster so he could sink his teeth into the soft cupcakes sooner. And I don’t blame him. Not one bit… These winning Pumpkin Spice Cupcakes with Buttercotch Frosting are pillowy soft and super moist with a hint of pumpkin, cinnamon, cloves and vanilla. I could eat the cupcakes plain all day and all night (and that would be why I sent them all with Patrick to take to work – I’d like to say I’m really that nice, but I really just have no self control when it comes to these enticing morsels). And that can be a bad thing, especially considering how easy they are to make. All you do is beat spice cake mix, vanilla pudding mix, pumpkin puree, cinnamon, eggs, oil, and water together and somehow magic happens. Fluffy, golden magic…
Pumpkin Spice Cupcakes Ingredients
I used a few shortcuts when making these easy pumpkin cupcakes, but these babies taste 100% homemade. Here’s what you’ll need to make the pumpkin spice cupcakes and butterscotch frosting:
Duncan Hines Signature Spice Cake Mix: I’ve tested this recipe with other cake mix brands, and Duncan Hines is the best I’ve tried. Pumpkin puree: Not to be confused with pumpkin pie filling. Two totally different things! Vegetable oil: You can use another neutral oil, if desired. Vanilla instant pudding mix: Needs to be instant pudding, NOT cook and serve! Eggs: Make sure your eggs are room temperature before you add them to the batter. Cinnamon: Because extra cinnamon is always a win in my book. Butter: Needs to be at room temperature, otherwise the frosting won’t whip up properly. Brown sugar: I love the caramel-y flavor that brown sugar adds to the frosting. Vanilla extract: Use pure vanilla extract for the best flavor. Heavy cream: Must be heavy cream, whole milk or another alternative won’t work as well. Salt: Helps balance out the sweetness of the frosting. Powdered sugar: Be sure to sift the powdered sugar before adding it to the frosting, otherwise you’ll end up with lumpy frosting. Milk: Just a a few splashes is all you’ll need to create the perfect creamy frosting!
How to Make Pumpkin Spice Cupcakes
How easy is that?! Now it’s time for the best Pumpkin Cupcake Frosting.
How to Make Butterscotch Frosting
This Butterscotch Frosting is every bit as deadly delicious as it sounds – but easier to make than it sounds. Simply melt butter and brown sugar in a pan, bring to a boil, and stir in milk, vanilla and cinnamon. After the butterscotch cools for 20 minutes, beat in the powdered sugar and you have fluffy, sweet, butterscothy frosting. Here are the details:
Tips for the Best Pumpkin Cupcakes
Use Pumpkin Puree. Take care you are using pumpkin puree and NOT pumpkin pie filling because they are not the same thing. Pumpkin puree is cooked and pureed pumpkin without any added sugar or spices. Pumpkin Pie filling, however, is sweetened and seasoned with Fall spices.Add ins. Feel free to add chocolate chips, coconut, walnuts, pecans or dried fruit such as raisins, dried cranberries, dried cherries, dried apricots, etc. to your Pumpkin Cupcakes although I think thy are perfect in their simplicity.Duncan Hines. *I have tried other Signature Spice Mixes and the cupcakes are not the same! I strongly recommend the Duncan Hines brand.Pudding Mix. Take care you purchase the INSTANT pudding mix and not the cook and serve. Also take care to purchase the correct size.Frosting. I love these Pumpkin Cupcakes with Butterscotch Frosting but you can also use your favorite cream cheese frosting or even store bought.
Pumpkin Spice Cupcake Variations to TRy
Chocolate chips: I always add chocolate chips to my pumpkin muffins because chocolate and pumpkin belong together. I bet chocolate chips would also be divine in this pumpkin cupcakes with cake mix recipe. Walnuts or Pecans: Nuts add a delectable crunch. Seeds: You can add seeds such as pepitas (pumpkin seeds) or sunflower seeds directly to the batter.Dried fruit: Raisins, dried cranberries, dried cherries, dried apricots – whatever your favorite dried fruit is, would be delicious!Coconut: Sweetened, toasted coconut flakes would be delish folded into the batter.
HOW TO STORE PUMPKIN Spice CUPCAKES
Leftover cupcakes should be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Bring to room temperature before serving or I like to microwave mine for 10 seconds or so for warm pillowy goodness – like SO good!
HOW TO FREEZE PUMPKIN Cupcakes
HOW TO THAW PUMPKIN cupcakes
Award winning Pumpkin Spice Cupcakes with Butterscotch Frosting Recipe. Mouthwatering delicious no matter how you frost them.
Looking for More Pumpkin Desserts?
Pumpkin Bars with Nutella Cream Cheese FrostingEasy Pumpkin DipPumpkin Praline PieDouble Layer Pumpkin CheesecakePumpkin Bread Soft and Chewy Pumpkin Cookie with Cinnamon Cream Cheese FrostingChocolate Chip Pumpkin Pound Cake with Cinnamon Cream Cheese GlazePumpkin Ice Cream PiePumpkin Cheesecake BarsPumpkin Bundt Cake
LOOKING FOR MORE FALL DESSERT RECIPES?
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