Pumpkin Spice Cupcakes

These cupcakes were inspired by my favorite fall treat from Starbucks - the pumpkin spice latte. And to get in the mood to bake them, I stopped for a grande cup of heaven on my way home today...hey, everyone needs a muse! And mine definitely got me in the mood to bake some pumpkin cake. If I had one of these cupcakes while drinking the latte, my head would probably explode as both are equally delicious and an excellent fall treat!

Pumpkin Spice Cupcakes w. Cinnamon Frosting

Cupcake Recipe:

2 1/4 C Flour
1 tsp Ground Cinnamon
1/2 tsp Ground Nutmeg
1/2 tsp Ground Ginger
1/2 tsp Ground Cloves
1/2 tsp Ground Allspice
1/2 tsp Salt
1 Tbsp Baking Powder
1/2 tsp Baking Soda
1/2 C Butter, softened
1 C Sugar
1/2 C Brown Sugar
2 Eggs
3/4 C Buttermilk
1 Can Pumpkin Puree

Preheat oven to 350 degrees and line a cupcake pan with liners.
Mix the flour, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, cloves, allspice, salt, baking powder and baking soda - set aside.
Beat butter and both sugars until light and fluffy. Add eggs one at a time and fully blend. Stir in the pumpkin puree.
Alternately add the buttermilk and the flour mixture until completely blended.
Pour into the cupcake tins and bake at 350 degrees for about 25 minutes. Cool in pans for about 5 minutes and then move to wire rack to cool completely before frosting.


Icing Recipe:

8oz Cream Cheese, softened
1/2 C Butter, softened
3-4 C Confectioners Sugar
1 tsp Vanilla
2 tsp Cinnamon

Beat butter and cream cheese for about 5 minutes. Add the vanilla and cinnamon. Gradually add the confectioners sugar until fully incorporated.

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Apple Cider Cupcakes

One of my favorite things about fall is hot cider and a recent request led me to a new recipe for Apple Cider Cupcakes. These were delicious - even warm out of the oven with no icing. But, I would highly suggest the icing as well! The combo of this cake and icing provides a solid 1-2 punch of autumn and makes me want to snuggle in a blanket on the couch with a good book and a mug of cider...or another cider cupcake. I was requested to make cupcakes for a baby shower so I've included a pic of the Apple Cider cupcake as well as my favorite red velvet and very vanilla cupcakes that were sent. Since the shower order was only for a dozen each I took the rest in to work and they were gone in a flash. I'm so glad my coworkers indulge their sweet teeth! :)

Apple Cider Cupcakes w. Apple Cider Frosting

Cupcake Recipe:

1 Box Spice Cake Mix
1 1/3 C Apple Cider
1/3 C Apple Sauce
2 Egg Whites
2 Eggs
1 tsp Cinnamon
1/2 tsp Nutmeg

Preheat oven to 350 degrees and line a cupcake pan with liners.
Blend all ingredients until moistened. Beat on Medium speed for about 2 minutes and pour into pan(s).
Bake for 14-17 minutes or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean. Let sit about 5 mins in pans and then move to a wire rack to cool completely.


Icing Recipe:

1/2 C Butter, softened
8oz Cream Cheese, softened
2-4 Tbsp Apple Cider
1 tsp Cinnamon
3-4 C Powdered Sugar

Cream butter and cream cheese for about 5 minutes. Add the apple cider and cinnamon. Gradually blend in the powdered sugar one cup at a time until fully incorporated.

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