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Easy Homemade Pumpkin Cupcakes

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Fabulous easy to make pumpkin cupcakes that have just enough spice are a perfect fall treat. They come together quickly and will be perfect for your autumn parties.

brown sugar german buttercream swirls on top of pumpkin cupcakes

Pumpkin cupcakes are a fall must make. These babies come together quickly with no special equipment and taste amazing.

Put this simple recipe in your back pocket so you’ll be ready for your fall celebrations.

We are headed into October, so it’s time to get ready for all things pumpkin. Don’t worry,  I won’t beat you over the head with it, but a few new pumpkin recipes are required.

mixing bowl filled with wet ingredients for pumpkin cupcakes by bowl of dry ingredients ready to be mixed together.

Last year I shared a super easy chocolate pumpkin cupcake recipe that started with a cake mix. I still love those gems, but I thought we might want a homemade recipe without the chocolate.

This recipe is more for the pumpkin purists. It has simple ingredients and is spiced with just enough cinnamon, cloves and nutmeg.

Using large cookie scoop to transfer homemade pumpkin cupcake batter from mixing bowl to paper liners in muffin pan.

If you are a pumpkin spice fanatic, feel free to use that instead. I just tend to have the single spices on hand and using them allows you to customize for your tastes.

Either way, these cupcakes put the pumpkin flavor in the foreground. Plus the bonus is you don’t need any special equipment.

If you have a couple of mixing bowls and a cupcake tin you can make these. The batter is done in just a few minutes.

You don’t even have to soften the butter!

easy pumpkin cupcakes on cooling rack fresh from the oven.

They smell great while they bake, so that is another bonus. I wouldn’t blame you for baking them regularly just for the aroma alone!

If you stop here you basically have pumpkin muffins. Have a couple for breakfast without thinking twice. (You’re welcome! 😉)

Easy pumpkin cupcakes ready for frosting.

If you want to go for full on cupcake goodness, you are my peoples. We need some frosting on these puppies.

I used a German buttercream sweetened with brown sugar this time. It is like having a pile of rich brown sugar pudding on top of your cupcake.

single homemade pumpkin cupcake with a swirl of brown sugar buttercream on top.

It has those caramel notes from the brown sugar and is super creamy. It goes really well with the pumpkin cupcakes.

More great frosting ideas for pumpkin cupcakes:

Decorator’s Cream Cheese Frosting would be a great way to swirl some of that tangy goodness on these cupcakes. Cream cheese and pumpkin are a classic combination in my mind

Sweetened Condensed Milk Buttercream is one of my favorite all purpose frosting recipes. It goes on just about anything, can be customized however you like and has that extra tasty twist from the sweetened condensed milk. 

Easy Caramel Buttercream would be a quick and easy way to get some of those caramel notes on top of your cupcakes. It is a simple American style buttercream, so it comes together in just a few minutes but has that caramel goodness mixed in. 

Italian Meringue Buttercream is another classic that can go on anything.  If you are a fan of less sweet frostings and not scared of whipping up some egg whites, you can pipe this stuff onto just about any treat you make!

brown sugar frosting topped pumpkin cupcake cut in half with moist inside showing.

For another quick and easy pumpkin dessert, whip up some of my grandma’s pumpkin squares.  It’s essentially a pumpkin sheet cake with yummy cream cheese frosting!

brown sugar german buttercream swirls on top of pumpkin cupcakes

Homemade Pumpkin Cupcakes

Carlee
Fabulous easy to make pumpkin cupcakes that have just enough spice are a perfect fall treat. They come together quickly and will be perfect for your autumn parties.
4.86 from 7 ratings
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 33 minutes
Total Time 43 minutes
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Servings 12 Cupcakes
Calories 224 kcal

Ingredients
 

  • cups all purpose flour
  • ½ teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • ¼ teaspoon nutmeg
  • ¼ teaspoon ground cloves
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • 15 ounce can pumpkin puree
  • cup vegetable oil or other neutral cooking oil
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • ¼ cup light brown sugar packed
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Instructions
 

  • Preheat oven to 350°F and line a 12 well cupcake tin with paper liners.
  • In a small mixing bowl whisk together the flour, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves and salt until it is combined and lump free. Set aside.
    1¾ cups all purpose flour, ½ teaspoon baking soda, 1 teaspoon baking powder, ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon, ¼ teaspoon nutmeg, ¼ teaspoon ground cloves, ¼ teaspoon salt
  • In a large mixing bowl, mix together pumpkin, oil, eggs, sugar, brown sugar and vanilla until well mixed.
    15 ounce can pumpkin puree, ⅓ cup vegetable oil, 2 large eggs, 1 cup granulated sugar, ¼ cup light brown sugar, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • Add dry ingredients to wet ingredients and mix until just combined.
  • Scoop into lined cupcake tin. 
  • Bake for 28-33 minutes or until they bounce back when lightly touched with a finger.
  • Cool completely on a wire rack before frosting. 

Nutrition

Serving: 1ServingCalories: 224kcalCarbohydrates: 38gProtein: 3gFat: 7gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 6gCholesterol: 31mgSodium: 152mgFiber: 2gSugar: 22g
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Recipe Rating




Big Rigs 'n Lil' Cookies

Monday 7th of October 2019

What a perfect fall cupcake! I think you just changed up my baking plan for this week and we will have these instead!

Carlee

Friday 18th of October 2019

I hop you love them!

Val

Monday 23rd of September 2019

Yummy! I have to bring some treats to church next month and I think these might be it!

Carlee

Wednesday 25th of September 2019

Yay!! I hope you love them!

Amy

Monday 23rd of September 2019

I love it when it is pumpkin season. Although I have to admit that we eat pumpkin even when it is not pumpkin season. These cupcakes look great, and of course, the frosting looks amazing.

Carlee

Wednesday 25th of September 2019

I could eat pumpkin year round, but try to spare my family as much as possible! <3

Julie's Creative Lifestyle

Monday 23rd of September 2019

Your pumpkin cupcakes looks so good and perfect for fall and the holidays. Thanks for the recipe and enjoy the week.

Carlee

Wednesday 25th of September 2019

Thank you, Julie!

Andrea Nine

Monday 23rd of September 2019

They do look and sound perfect. I can’t believe I have not made any pumpkin goodies yet. Have a great day! xo

Carlee

Wednesday 25th of September 2019

You better get on it, fall is here after all! ;-)