This recipe is not for the faint of heart. I mean- if you are a fair-weather pumpkin lover, or are on the fence about this popular fall flavor….this cupcake may not be the one for you. It is pretty much a pumpkin explosion- which for me- is absolutely perfect! My inspiration for these came from seeing this pumpkin frosting. I started to brainstorm other cupcake flavors that would go well with pumpkin frosting, and figured a light pumpkin frosting wouldn’t be too much for a spicy pumpkin cake. The pumpkin caramels seemed like the perfect topper- and there you have it!
The cake itself is perfection. It’s soft and fluffy, with an almost sponge-cake like texture. It’s full of lots of spices, and isn’t too sweet at all. That leaves room for a sweet pumpkin-cream cheese frosting and a caramel on top. I mixed about 1/4 cup of pumpkin pureé into the frosting, as I didn’t want it to be overpowering. On a non-pumpkin cupcake though, I’d probably add more and really give it a pumpkin-y punch. (wouldn’t a brown butter cake be perfect with pumpkin frosting?) I made these for my friend Emily’s bridal shower last weekend and they were a huge hit. I mean..you can’t go wrong with pumpkin in October right?
Triple Pumpkin Cupcakes
Ingredients
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 1/4 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground ginger
3/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
1 1/4 cups light brown sugar
4 large eggs
3/4 cup vegetable oil
One 15-ounce can pumpkin puree
1/2 cup whole milk
pumpkin cream cheese frosting:
1 8 oz package of cream cheese, softened.
4 tablespoons of butter
2-4 cups powdered sugar- sifted
1/4 cup pumpkin puree
1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon of ginger
1/8 teaspoon of nutmeg
pinch of cloves
garnish: pumpkin caramels, optional
Instructions
Preheat the oven to 350°. Line cupcake tins with paper liners.
In a medium bowl, whisk the flour with the baking powder, salt, cinnamon, ginger, baking soda, nutmeg and cloves.
In a bowl, using an electric mixer, beat the brown sugar and eggs at medium-high speed until fluffy, 3 minutes. Beat in the oil, then beat in the pumpkin puree. Alternately add the dry ingredients and the milk in 3 batches, beating well between additions.
Pour the batter into the prepared pan- filling each tin 2/3 of the way. Bake for 18-20 minutes, until a toothpick inserted in the center of a cupcake comes out clean. Let the cupcakes cool on a rack for a few minutes and then pop them out onto a wire rack to cool completely.
For the Frosting:
in a mixing bowl, cream the cream cheese and butter until smooth. Add the pumpkin pureé and mix until well mixed. Add the powdered sugar gradually until fluffy. Mix in spices. (add more powdered sugar if needed for thickness.) Spread or pipe onto cupcakes.
Garnish with Pumpkin Caramels if desired.
Nutrition Information:
Serving Size: 1 grams Amount Per Serving:Unsaturated Fat: 0g
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28 Comments
Be still my pumpkin-loving heart! These look incredible. Do you think they’d survive the mail? Love.
You are so pretty! You made me wanting to get married, even though I’m still a teen! I would love to try baking these, but I don’t think my family and friends could stand the power of pumpkin, as pumpkin is a rare guest in the household… Guess I’ll either settle for the caramel or *smirk* eat them myself~
You look stunning in your dress! And your husband looks so dapper! Very sweet photo! These cupcakes looks absolutely amazing, can’t wait to try them out! :)
Yes, I do believe pumpkin frosting on a brown butter cupcake would be superb! I love the way pumpkin tastes and the moistness it gives baked goods. Gosh I love the fall months.
You look absolutely stunning in that picture. I love the setting, but you are simply gorgeous. I bet it was a wonderful wedding :)
So glad you made my frosting! it’s hard to up the pumpkin ante without thinning the frosting out as much. I love all the spices in it though. I can only imagine how incredible it would be sitting on top of a pumpkin cupcake. there is NO such thing as too much pumpkin in my world Audra!
I’ve been looking for that silhouette at wedding dress shops in wiltshire. It looks so good and you. You and your husband looks like a great couple. Congrats!
A train yard isn’t exactly the first place that pops into my head for a wedding photo. Still, I’m impressed with how the shot came out. If I didn’t know any better, I would’ve guessed that our wedding photographer enfield was the one behind it.
Be still my pumpkin-loving heart! These look incredible. Do you think they’d survive the mail? Love.
I think the cupcakes and caramels would do Ok! The cream cheese frosting- not so much :)
YOU LOOK STUNNING!!! I can’t wait to see the rest of the shots! and these cupcakes are … just… I need them.
You are so pretty! You made me wanting to get married, even though I’m still a teen! I would love to try baking these, but I don’t think my family and friends could stand the power of pumpkin, as pumpkin is a rare guest in the household… Guess I’ll either settle for the caramel or *smirk* eat them myself~
Gorgeous photo! I love all of the pumpkin in these cupcakes! These are perfect for my pumpkin addiction! :)
You look so pretty! That’s pretty much my dream wedding gown. And these are my dream cupcakes. I can’t get enough pumpkin!
You look stunning in your dress! And your husband looks so dapper! Very sweet photo! These cupcakes looks absolutely amazing, can’t wait to try them out! :)
I have never heard of pumpkin caramels, where did you find them? I love pumpkin and caramels and would love to try these!
thanks!!
Yes, I do believe pumpkin frosting on a brown butter cupcake would be superb! I love the way pumpkin tastes and the moistness it gives baked goods. Gosh I love the fall months.
You look absolutely stunning in that picture. I love the setting, but you are simply gorgeous. I bet it was a wonderful wedding :)
Hey Liz! I posted the recipe for pumpkin caramels yesterday- it’s also linked above in this recipe :)
A pumpkin explosion sounds ideal to me! These are amazing in so many ways. Also…you look GORGEOUS!
GORGEOUS wedding preview photo :) Your dress – stunning. completely beautiful.
So glad you made my frosting! it’s hard to up the pumpkin ante without thinning the frosting out as much. I love all the spices in it though. I can only imagine how incredible it would be sitting on top of a pumpkin cupcake. there is NO such thing as too much pumpkin in my world Audra!
Thanks so much Lauren!
Aw thanks Maggie! You’re welcome to wear it for your future wedding ;)
Thank you so much! I can’t wait to see them either :)
Does anyone know where I can buy pumpkin caramels?
thanks
Lisa- I don’t think you can buy them in the store. I made them from scratch and the recipe was posted Tuesday. Here is the link: https://www.thebakerchick.com/2012/10/salted-pumpkin-caramels.html
gorgeous!!!!
You look STUNNING!!! Just like these cupcakes. SO happy I’ve found your blog!
Yum, yum, yum…that is all I can say!
These look absolutely mouth watering!
I really can’t resist the cute and sweet cupcakes, they make me full of appetite, especially the time without breakfast. Wonderful work!!
I’ve been looking for that silhouette at wedding dress shops in wiltshire. It looks so good and you. You and your husband looks like a great couple. Congrats!
A train yard isn’t exactly the first place that pops into my head for a wedding photo. Still, I’m impressed with how the shot came out. If I didn’t know any better, I would’ve guessed that our wedding photographer enfield was the one behind it.
yes yes and yes. definitely want to make these assuming I have time! HA.