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The best Pumpkin Cupcakes are made with real pumpkin puree, warm fall spices, and topped with an irresistible cinnamon cream cheese frosting. These are always a hit at fall gatherings.
Cozy season starts with these Pumpkin Cupcakes
I find any excuse to make Pumpkin Cupcakes! My kids love to help pipe on the frosting and top each one with the festive pumpkin candy. Plus, you can make the cupcakes and frosting ahead of time! I like to freeze the cupcakes in an airtight container, for up to one month or so. And, how cute are these cardboard cupcake boxes? They're perfect for bringing cupcakes to any event.
Try more of my pumpkin recipes, like Sheet Pan Pumpkin Pancakes, Pumpkin Cream Cheese Muffins, Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies, Pumpkin Tiramisu, Pumpkin Bars with Caramel Frosting, and Pumpkin Spice Eggnog!
How to make Pumpkin Cupcakes:
Mix Wet Ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the granulated sugar, brown sugar, eggs, pumpkin puree, oil, and vanilla extract until smooth and well combined.
Add Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, and ginger. Add the dry ingredients to the pumpkin mixture and stir until just combined.
Bake and frost: Divide the batter evenly among 12 lined muffin cups. Bake at 350 degrees F for 15-18 minutes, until a toothpick comes out clean. Cool completely on a wire rack, then frost the pumpkin spice cupcakes with cinnamon cream cheese frosting and top each with a candy pumpkin, if desired. If you love these, try my Spider Cupcakes and Witch Hat Cupcakes too!
Pumpkin Cupcakes with Cinnamon Cream Cheese Frosting
Ingredients
- 1 cup pumpkin puree, , canned or homemade
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup light brown sugar, , packed
- 1/2 cup oil, (vegetable or canola oil)
- 2 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
- 1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1/8 teaspoon ground ginger
Frosting:
- 1/4 cup unsalted butter, , room temperature
- 8 ounces cream cheese, , room temperature
- 2-3 cups powdered sugar, (depending on the frosting consistency you want)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 12 candy pumpkins, , optional, for garnish
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line a 12-cup standard muffin tin with paper liners; set aside.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine sugars, eggs, pumpkin purée, oil, and vanilla.1 cup pumpkin puree, ½ cup granulated sugar, ½ cup light brown sugar, ½ cup oil, 2 large eggs, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- In a separate bowl combine flour, baking soda, baking powder, spices, and salt.1 cup all-purpose flour, 1 teaspoon baking powder, ½ teaspoon baking soda, ½ teaspoon salt, 1 ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon, ½ teaspoon ground cloves, ⅛ teaspoon ground nutmeg, ⅛ teaspoon ground ginger
- Add dry ingredients to the bowl with the pumpkin mixture and stir to combine.
- Divide the batter evenly among prepared muffin tin. Bake for 15-18 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
- Remove cupcakes to a cooling rack and cool completely before frosting.
For the Cinnamon Frosting:
- Beat butter and cream cheese together until light and fluffy, 2-3 minutes. Add vanilla and cinnamon. Gradually add powdered sugar and beat until you reach the desired frosting stiffness that you want. Mix for 2 more minutes.¼ cup unsalted butter, 8 ounces cream cheese, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon, 2-3 cups powdered sugar
- Frost the cupcakes and garnish with pumpkin candy, if desired.12 candy pumpkins
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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I originally shared this recipe September 2014. Updated September 2019, October 2023 and September 2026.
Recipe adapted from Damn Delicious.
l am thirteen and l entered these in a cupcake competition and they won first place!!! I am definitely going to use this recipe again and recommend it to everyone I know!!!
Congratulations!!
These have to be the best homemade cupcakes I have ever had! I’m 63 and I should know! I definitely recommend five stars and a round of applause for the baker.
Horrible!! They’re thick and sticky!! The cup liner paper sticks to the cupcakes!! I followed the recipe! Do not understand how they could turn out the way they have!
I’m disappointed!
DELICIOUS!!! As always, thank you for sharing! I LOVE your website!!
can I just use pumpkin spice
Yes, you can.
Just made these! They rose PERFECTLY AND ALL THE SAME SIZE!! They are cooling right now but the batter tasted amazing! Can’t wait to decorate and eat! Thanks!!
Thanks Julia! Hope you enjoy them 🙂
I made these cupcakes, followed the recipe to the letter, and OMGOODNESS!! DELICIOUS!! The cream cheese frosting is the perfect touch! Although I did eat one cupcake without the frosting! My family loved these! Than you for sharing the recipe!
These cupcakes look and sound amazing! Nothing says Fall like pumpkin spice baked goods!
Thanks Kaitlyn, I’d love to hear how you like them!
this sounds amazing!!! and the cinnamon cream cheese frosting is so pretty
These look perfect! Pinning!
These look amazing! I am loving all the fall foods lately!
Thanks Jessica! Fall is the best time of year for yummy foods like this!!!
Mmm these cupcakes look dreamy! And I want to eat that frosting by the spoonful!
Thanks Aimee 🙂 The frosting is killer!