28 April 2016

Pumpkin Spice Cupcakes - Cream Cheese Frosting

Pumpkin Spice Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting / www.delightfulrepast.com

It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a baker in possession of a good oven, must be in want of another cupcake recipe! Of course, this one seems positively autumnal, and it is spring. But I had a special unseasonal request for my pumpkin spice cupcakes.

A friend is giving an afternoon tea in a few weeks, and the guests of honor are her daughter-in-law and not yet 2-year-old granddaughter. Daughter-in-law especially likes pumpkin spice cupcakes, so I'll be making another batch of these for the tea next month. I really like them with Stabilized Whipped Cream Frosting, but they will be out of the fridge for quite some time.

And I happen to know that my Cream Cheese Frosting recipe can be at room temperature for extended periods of time. If it had more cream cheese and less powdered sugar, I wouldn't risk it. But I've used this ratio for decades, and it's always fine. That does not mean, however, that I'd take it to a picnic in July and let it sit in the sun for hours!

These can also be made with sweet potato puree (in fact, this batch was) or butternut squash puree. Nuts and/or raisins could be added, but I was making these for someone allergic to nuts and averse to raisins. I developed the cupcake recipe to make precisely 18 standard cupcakes and the frosting recipe to make precisely enough to generously frost the 18 cupcakes.

What about you? Would you make these now, or do you simply refuse to go autumnal in the spring?!

Pumpkin Spice Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting / www.delightfulrepast.com
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Pumpkin Spice Cupcakes - Cream Cheese Frosting


(Makes 18 standard cupcakes)

The Cupcakes

1 3/4 dip-and-sweep cups (8.75 ounces/248 grams) unbleached all-purpose flour*
3/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ginger
1/4 teaspoon cloves
3/4 cup + 2 tablespoons (7 fluid ounces) milk
8 tablespoons (4 ounces/113 grams) unsalted butter, softened
1 cup (7 ounces/200 grams) sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 large egg
3/4 cup (1/2 15-ounce can) pumpkin puree


* For gluten-free, use 2/3 cup sorghum flour, 2/3 cup potato starch, 1/3 cup tapioca flour and 3/4 teaspoon xanthan gum.

The Frosting

4 ounces (113 grams) cream cheese, room temperature
8 tablespoons (4 ounces/113 grams) unsalted butter, room temperature
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1/8 teaspoon salt
1.25 pounds (20 ounces/567 grams) powdered sugar, unsifted
1 to 3 tablespoons milk

1 Preheat oven to 350F/180C/Gas4. Put 2½-inch paper bake cups in standard muffin tins. In small bowl, thoroughly whisk together flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, ginger and cloves. Measure milk.

2 In bowl of stand mixer (or just use a 2.5-quart bowl and hand mixer), beat butter until creamy, about 30 seconds. Gradually add sugar; add vanilla extract. Beat on high speed until light and fluffy, about 3 to 4 minutes. Beat in egg. Then add pumpkin puree and beat on low speed just until blended.

3 Add the flour mixture in 3 parts, alternating with the milk in 2 parts, beating on low speed or stirring until smooth. 

4 Using a 1/4-cup measure, fill the bake cups with a scant 1/4 cup of batter. Divide any leftover batter among the cups. (I developed this recipe to make precisely 18 cupcakes with no waste.) Bake for about 20 to 25 minutes or until they test done with a toothpick.

5 Immediately remove from pans and cool on wire rack for an hour. They must be thoroughly cool before frosting.

6 In bowl of stand mixer, or with a hand mixer, cream together the cream cheese, butter, vanilla extract and salt. Gradually add powdered sugar (no need to sift) and mix until thoroughly combined, adding 1 tablespoon of milk along with the powdered sugar. Beat for about 3 minutes, adding only enough milk that the frosting will be piping consistency at the end of the beating time. With a pastry bag fitted with a 2D or 1M tip, pipe frosting on cupcakes.

Jean

78 comments:

Thomas "Sully" Sullivan said...

Tut-tut…as a throwback in all things “oven,” nature has compensated me with extraordinary skills in preserving/maintaining/enhancing sugar in all forms in all venues at all times. Sun-drenched July picnic, afternoon tea, summer-autumn-winter-spring – it matters not – I will guard and taste-check all sugary concoctions at regular intervals to maintain quality control. No need to thank me.

Jean | DelightfulRepast.com said...

Thanks, Sully, I'll keep that in mind! Bakery/confectionery quality control--a dirty job, as they say, but I know you're up to it.

Linda said...

They look amazing! Thank you so much for sharing. :)

Jean | DelightfulRepast.com said...

My pleasure, Linda!

Angie's Recipes said...

They look fantastic. Since I can't get pumpkin at this time of year, not even the tin one. I will have to save this for the autumn.

Jean | DelightfulRepast.com said...

Angie, thanks! Well, I want to hear from you in autumn then about how they turned out for you!

Daniela said...

I adore spiced pumpkin pies but I have never tryied a recipe of such cupcakes, actually yours is the first I read, and I'm saving the link of this post of yours for this autumn, we cannot find any pumpkin in this season, alas, I'd love to, believe me, they're a blessing to me, both in salty and sweet dishes !

Hope you're having a wonderful Spring, Sweetest One, I'm sending blessings of joy on your weekend ahead,
with my dearest love and gentle hugs

Dany

Jean | DelightfulRepast.com said...

Dany, a reader from Germany also said that even canned pumpkin is not available there at this time of year. Hope you don't forget about it by the time autumn comes! Thank you so much.

Amy at love made my home said...

Mmmm, these sound delicious. If only I had some pumpkin to hand. It is though a truth universally acknowledged that UK supermarkets do not sell such a thing and the American shop only does so in the autumn! I will wait!!

Jean | DelightfulRepast.com said...

Amy, :D - You should tell the American shop people that American shops carry tinned pumpkin all year long! But I hope you will give these a try in autumn.

J said...

You have such a lovely blog! I've enjoyed browsing the recipes. There are so many that look wonderful, yet they don't require all kinds of hard-to-find ingredients! - at least here in the states!

Bernideen said...

Dear Jean:
I just printed out your recipe and think this would be so good for a fall Afternoon Tea! I am planning ahead now that I have my own "tea room"! Thanks so much for sharing and linking!

Jean | DelightfulRepast.com said...

J, thank you so much! I like to use quality ingredients but not overly exotic ingredients. No hummingbird tongues in aspics here!

Jean | DelightfulRepast.com said...

Oh, Bernideen, how I envy all the people who are going to get have tea with you in your own personal tea room! I hope these cupcakes will be a hit at one of your autumn teas.

Margie said...

Yum! I'll eat pumpkin cupcakes regardless of the season!

Thanks for the visit, Jean. Thrift shopping is hit or miss with me. I can go treasure hunting for weeks and months before scoring a great deal on teacups or teapots.

Jean | DelightfulRepast.com said...

Thanks, Margie! My husband loves them with the stabilized whipped cream frosting. (About the shopping: I guess I'm not a very patient shopper.)

Richard Sheppard said...

Looks amazing! And yes, anytime is a good time for pumpkin. I mean, I eat pumpkin curry Thai food often enough so why not cupcakes?!

Margaret D said...

They would taste delicious.

TONY said...

"It is a truth universally acknowledged," that "Pumpkin Spice Cupcakes - Cream Cheese Frosting", will win over any, "single man in possession of a good fortune." Mind you I am not single, young or in possession of a good fortune and you have won me over Jean!!! Ha! Ha! very good.Is this a new trend? I once converted the whole opening scene between Mr and Mrs Bennet into an advert for chocolate. " It is a truth universally known that a single man in possession of a bar of Cadburys Milk Chocolate...." You get the idea. You have made my day, Jean!!!!!!!!!!

Lea Ann (Cooking on the Ranch) said...

I've always wondered about that cream cheese frosting and leaving it at room temp. I'll use your recipe from now on.

Sandi@ Rose Chintz Cottage said...

Oh my, these do look scrumptious, Jean. I love pumpkin in any season. For me, it doesn't have to be Autumn to enjoy it. Your cupcakes must taste heavenly with your whipped cream frosting on them. So many of your recipes inspire me and this one as well. Thanks so much for sharing and enjoy your weekend.

Blessings,
Sandi

Jean | DelightfulRepast.com said...

Thanks, Richard. I've never had a pumpkin curry, but I'm intrigued!

Jean | DelightfulRepast.com said...

Margaret, thanks! I like, too, that they have less sugar than many cupcakes.

Jean | DelightfulRepast.com said...

Tony, I was soooo hoping you'd see this post! I knew you'd make a great reply. You have made my day as well!

Jean | DelightfulRepast.com said...

Thank you so much, Lea Ann. I like the flavor better, too, than those recipes with 8 ounces of cream cheese, 8 ounces of butter and 3 cups of powdered sugar.

Jean | DelightfulRepast.com said...

Thanks, Sandi. You know how much I love tea, so everything I bake is something that goes great with a cup of tea! I hope you have a wonderful weekend.

Jeanie said...

I just happen to have a lot of pumpkin in my cupboard and these are sounding awfully good right now. I don't need autumn to love pumpkin! Wish I'd had them for our Cork Poppers gathering (I posted about our wine tasting a day or two ago) -- I would have volunteered for dessert and I would have been the hit of the day!

Jean | DelightfulRepast.com said...

Thanks, Jeanie! I do love a good wine gathering! The thing I like about my recipe is that it's a light, fluffy cupcake. So many pumpkin cakes are dense and heavy.

kitty@ Kitty's Kozy Kitchen said...

I'd eat one of your pumpkin cupcakes during any season,Jean, and I'll save your recipe to try in the Fall. I'd be making it with the cream cheese frosting for sure!

Jean | DelightfulRepast.com said...

Kitty, thank you so much! And you know a good cupcake when you see one -- or stitch one! :D

Kathi said...

Thank you so much for this tasty looking recipe, Jean. Thank you for stopping by my blog and leaving your kind comment. I look forward to reading more about you on your blog. Kathi

Jean | DelightfulRepast.com said...

Kathi, thank *you*! I'll be reading more about you on *your* blog, too!

Cocoa and Lavender said...

Yes, it is important that we observe pumpkin season appropriately - it begins October 1, and goes till September 30. Right?

Jean | DelightfulRepast.com said...

LOL David, I like your attitude!

Pauline Wiles said...

Jean, pumpkin is one of my favorite cake flavors and I think it's perfect, 366 days of the year. Cocoa and Lavender expressed it wonderfully. I might even skip the frosting: the cakes look like a solo star to me.

Jean | DelightfulRepast.com said...

Thanks, Pauline! I'm with you on the frosting -- I just put it on for other people!

Anne's Attic - Design said...

The cup cakes look amazing. Thank you for sharing them at SYC!

Pondside said...

I enjoy the smell of nutmeg, cloves and cinnamon at any time of year. In the cool of a summer morning it is just as much a treat as in the autumn.

Jean | DelightfulRepast.com said...

Anne, thanks! Everybody loves a cupcake, right?

Jean | DelightfulRepast.com said...

Pondside, that's true! Sometimes I just boil up spices as an air freshener of sorts, like to get rid of bacon cooking smells.

Jean | DelightfulRepast.com said...

Marilyn, thank you. Pumpkin and spice is my one weakness (along with many other "one" weaknesses)! :D

xinex said...

Yummy! So pretty too!...Christine

Jean | DelightfulRepast.com said...

Thanks, Christine!

Unknown said...

These look delish! Thanks so much for sharing at Thursday Favorite Things Blog Hop!

Jean | DelightfulRepast.com said...

Thank you, Rina!

Jean | DelightfulRepast.com said...

Marilyn, thank you! I really enjoy it when people like my recipes. You're a wonderful hostess!

Karen said...

Hi Jean,
So pleased to meet you. Your muffin and icing recipe look delightful! I must try it. My second name is Jean and my mother's name is Jean. Have a wonderful weekend. Karen

Jean | DelightfulRepast.com said...

Karen, thanks so much! And for adding to my list of Jeans (I know lots of middle-name Jeans!).

Choclette said...

Ooh, these sound delicious indeed. It's still so cold here, it feel more like winter than spring, so pumpkin or sweet potato is fine by me :)

Jean | DelightfulRepast.com said...

Thanks, Choclette! Just put on one of your lovely knitted items and put the kettle on!

Antiques And Teacups said...

Oh my goodness do those look good! Coming to a tea table soon...by me!!Ruth

Jean | DelightfulRepast.com said...

Thank you, Ruth! Proud to have my cupcakes on your tea table -- wish I could be there!

Big Rigs 'n Lil' Cookies said...

What a cupcake! And look at that glorious frosting! I love that this can handle being out for a while with no worries.

Jean | DelightfulRepast.com said...

Thank you, Kris! I'm really careful about food safety.

VeggieMummy said...

Hello there. Thank you for popping by my blog; it's lovely to meet you. I've just been enjoying looking through your posts - you certainly make some delicious things. Those cupcake sound divine. Happy baking. xx

Christine | Mid-Life Croissant said...

So intrigued by the pumpkin purée! And I have a can in my cupboard! AND I think, somehow, it would be wrong to wait for Fall when I have and love all the ingredients on hand. I'm sure you agree ;-)

Jean | DelightfulRepast.com said...

Thanks, VeggieMummy! I have fun in the kitchen!

Jean | DelightfulRepast.com said...

:D Christine, yes it would be soooo wrong to wait!

Sallie (FullTime-Life) said...

Looks good -- I don't bake any more, but I would definitely eat one of these any time of the year.

Jean | DelightfulRepast.com said...

Thanks, Sallie! You know what -- when I'm cleaning up the mess after one of my big bake-a-thons, I often consider not baking any more! :D

Swathi said...

Looks delicious, your post making me think that I can make pumpkin spice cupcake even in summer not need to wait until october. thanks for sharing with Hearth and soul blog hop. Pinning and tweeting

Jean | DelightfulRepast.com said...

Thank you, Swathi. I so appreciate it! And the pumpkin means you can have these for breakfast, too!

Have a Daily Cup of Mrs. Olson said...

Oh yummy! Anything with cream cheese frosting is delicious. They sure look pretty as well. Thanks for sharing them with SYC.
hugs,
Jann

Tandy | Lavender and Lime (http://tandysinclair.com) said...

I so need to try your version as the one I had out for tea last week did not look as good!

Jean | DelightfulRepast.com said...

Jann, thank *you*!

Jean | DelightfulRepast.com said...

Tandy, I hope you will! If you like a tender and fluffy pumpkin cake rather than a dense and heavy one, you should like this.

The Devotea said...

Nice post. Here's a couple of points to ponder.
- Allergies to nuts are not something someone can help, but "raisin-averse"? What's wrong with them,. I have heard tales of people who "don't like dried fruit in their cakes' but I always assumed this was some sort of deeply disturbed fringe dwelling cult.
- In Australia, we call it butternut PUMPKIN, not butternut squash, so we don't see it as a far out concept to substitute it.
- I see a lot of US "pumpkin Spice" recipes that have no pumpkin, just a range of spices that are used in pumpkin pie. This is a much better idea.
- I am forwarding this to the caterer of our tea event this week as a hint. If they take the hint, I'll post pictures.

Jean | DelightfulRepast.com said...

Thanks so much, Devotea! I'll definitely want to see those pictures! These cupcakes pair sooooo beautifully with tea.

Martie said...

Yum! I love cupcakes. Why are they so much better than cake? I guess it's because they are perfectly portioned, but I never can stop at one! Thanks for sharing! :)

Art and Sand said...

It's morning and now I am craving a cupcake and will all day!

Thanks for sharing with SYC.

Jean | DelightfulRepast.com said...

Martie, I've often wondered the same thing! Are we kidding ourselves that they offer some sort of portion control?!

Jean | DelightfulRepast.com said...

Thanks, Art and Sand! I like to set off cravings!

Brooks said...

I'm not sure that seasonal flavors should be relegated only to their season. What a refreshing surprise to serve these cupcakes for teatime in spring. Good of you to color outside the lines!

Jean | DelightfulRepast.com said...

Thanks, Brooks! You ARE The Cake Man!

Lincuden Cottage Life said...

Wow! I can't wait to try this amazing recipe! My two favourite things, pumpkin spice and cream cheese frosting!!!

Jean | DelightfulRepast.com said...

I'm so glad, LCL! I hope you try it very soon!

Jan said...

I just had a pumpkin "whoopie pie' from a mennonite bakery and it had me craving all things pumpkin and then I saw your link over at country fair blog party and I thought yay! I can keep this pumpkin craving going a while longer!!!! THanks for sharing with us!
Jan

Jean | DelightfulRepast.com said...

Jan, I'm so glad! I made these for the tea party on Saturday, and they got raves! Let me know how they turn out for you.