Description
Whimsical cupcakes that celebrate the essence of fall with delicious pumpkin spice flavors and creative toppings.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 box yellow cake mix
- 1 Tbsp pumpkin pie spice (or substitute with 2 tsp cinnamon + 1/2 tsp nutmeg)
- 1 (15 oz) can pumpkin puree
- 3 large eggs
- 1/2 cup vegetable oil
- 1/3 cup milk
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- 8 oz cream cheese, softened
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- 3–4 cups powdered sugar
- Orange food coloring
- Tootsie Rolls (for stems)
- Green Apple Laffy Taffy (for leaves and vines)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F and line a muffin tin with cheerful orange cupcake liners.
- In a large mixing bowl, sift the yellow cake mix. Add pumpkin puree, pumpkin pie spice, eggs, oil, milk, and vanilla extract, stirring until smooth.
- Fill the prepared cupcake liners about 3/4 full. Bake for 15–20 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.
- Let the cupcakes cool completely on a wire rack.
- For the frosting, beat the softened cream cheese and butter until smooth. Add vanilla and 3 cups powdered sugar, mixing until creamy. Adjust consistency with milk and tint with orange food coloring.
- Frost the cooled cupcakes and decorate with Tootsie Roll stems and Green Apple Laffy Taffy leaves and vines.
Notes
For a lighter cupcake, consider using sugar substitutes for the frosting and plant-based alternatives for a dairy-free version.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cupcake
- Calories: 250
- Sugar: 20g
- Sodium: 220mg
- Fat: 12g
- Saturated Fat: 6g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 30g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 3g
- Cholesterol: 40mg