Cupcakes don’t get easier than these Quick and Easy Pumpkin Cupcakes! Only 5 ingredients in the cupcakes, these cupcakes are also frosted in my very favorite frosting!
Love pumpkin recipes? You also need to try this Pumpkin Steamer or this Pumpkin Bread.
Well, September is officially upon us, so it’s time for all things fall, right? I know I’m ready! To get you started, I decided to bring these Quick and Easy Pumpkin Cupcakes from years ago back to the front of the blog. If you are ever short on time, or if you need a recipe that is fail proof, look no further. These cupcakes are filled with pumpkin flavor, and they are SO easy. Plus, they are topped with my very favorite frosting ever – this brown sugar cream cheese frosting. These cupcakes are perfect to enjoy all fall long!
For the frosting, I used a recipe I used for my first blog post on this blog. I think about that frosting a lot because it was so delicious, but have never made it since. I decided to take this opportunity to make it again, and I’m glad that I did, because it is my new favorite cream cheese frosting!
So if you are scrambling last minute for something to take to that Halloween party but you are running short on time, here’s your solution!
Ingredients
- Cake Mix: You’ll need a spice cake mix to bring in all of those fall flavors. If you can’t find spice cake mix, you could probably use a vanilla cake mix and add in some pumpkin pie spice.
- Pumpkin Puree: This is pure pumpkin puree, not pumpkin pie spice. Make sure to check your can to make sure you have the right thing.
- Eggs: I use large eggs.
- Water
- Oil: You can use a neutral cooking oil, like vegetable oil, avocado oil, or canola oil.
- Cream: This is heavy whipping cream.
- Cream Cheese: Make sure the cream cheese is at room temperature so that it blends easily.
- Brown Sugar: Brown sugar is what sets this frosting apart. I like to use light brown sugar.
- Vanilla: This adds an extra dose of flavor.
How to Make Quick and Easy Pumpkin Cupcakes
STEP 1: Make the batter by mixing together the cake mix, pumpkin puree, eggs, water, and oil.
STEP 2: Fill a cupcake tin lined with liners with the batter. Each cup should be about 2/3 full.
STEP 3: Bake the cupcakes until a tester inserted in the center comes out clean. Let the cupcakes cool completely.
STEP 4: Make the frosting by whipping the cream to soft peaks in one bowl. In another bowl, whip the cream cheese until soft and creamy. Add the brown sugar and vanilla to the cream cheese and beat well. Fold about 1/3 of the cream into the cream cheese mixture, then fold in the remaining cream. Pipe the frosting onto the cooled cupcakes.
More Pumpkin Recipes
Pumpkin Pie Cake
Pumpkin Cheesecake Cupcakes
Pumpkin Cobbler
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Quick and Easy Pumpkin Cupcakes
Ingredients
Cupcakes:
- 1 package spice cake mix dry
- 1 (15 oz) can pumpkin puree
- 3 large eggs
- 1/3 cup water
- 1/3 cup vegetable oil
Frosting:
- 1 cup heavy whipping cream
- 1 (8 oz) package cream cheese softened
- 2/3 cup packed light brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350ºF. Line 24 muffin cups with paper liners.
- Combine the cake mix, pumpkin puree, eggs, water and oil in a large bowl and mix until moistened. Beat on medium speed for 2 minutes, scraping the sides of the bowl as needed.1 package spice cake mix, 1 (15 oz) can pumpkin puree, 3 large eggs, 1/3 cup water, 1/3 cup vegetable oil
- Fill each of the cupcake liners with the batter, filling each about 2/3 full.
- Bake in the preheated oven until a tester inserted in the center of one comes out clean, 15-20 minutes. Remove the cupcakes from the pan and cool completely.
- To make the frosting, whip the cream to soft peaks. Set aside.1 cup heavy whipping cream
- In another bowl, beat the cream cheese until smooth. Add in the brown sugar and the vanilla extract, and beat again until completely combined.1 (8 oz) package cream cheese, 2/3 cup packed light brown sugar, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Fold about 1/3 of the cream into the cream cheese mixture. Once the whipped cream has been completely incorporated, add the remaining whipped cream and fold until it is combined.
- Pipe the frosting on the cooled cupcakes.*
housewifery says
ooh I make these every year. An even EASIER version of the recipe which creates moister denser cupcakes is to just mix the pumpkin with the spice cake and omit the other ingredients. It turns the cupcakes into the kind that get better over the next few days. 🙂
Lisa says
I am going to a party tomorrow night and need a dessert. I think I found it.
Rosa's Yummy Yums says
Such cute cupcakes! Happy Halloween!
cheers,
Rosa
Katy says
phenomenal! i love experimenting with pumpkin at this time in the season!
Mary says
I need to try your frosting recipe. It sounds fabulous! And I love a cake mix for a quick, easy and foolprrof dessert!
Ingrid says
Looks and sounds DELISH!
~ingrid
Tiffany says
I LOVE the photograph. Very nice!!!! I wish I could stand the thought of pumpkin. This is the time of year I wait for, to bake pumpkin goodies. But this pregnancy has so messed up my food cravings and aversions!! I guess I’ll have to re-do Fall in the Spring maybe? hahah!!
noble pig says
Well you know I love them! Very cute.
Sylvie says
Every now and then I think most of us go for the cake-mix-to-the-rescue option. They look great!
Aimée says
Way to hustle up something great! We’ve been going nuts on pumpkin around here. Get ready for a slew of recipes…
Emily says
Way cute cupcakes! Pumpkin are my favorite and your frosting recipe sounds really good! A must try!
Have a Happy Halloween!
Maria says
These are perfect for Halloween!! I will have to try your frosting recipe. Looks amazing!
Ryley says
oh… so mean!!! I have this craving for something pumkin that I just can’t get rid off.. the other night it was so bad. I had to whip up the pumpkin cobbler that you put a dry cake mix on top of. And then Aaron had the nerve to tell me I couldnt eat it for breakfast for the next 3 days!!!
And my craving still isnt cured…
kamailesfood says
Love pumpkin cupcakes! The frosting sounds delicious. I’ve never had cream cheese frosting like that. I’ll have to give it a try.
kat says
Just perfect for the season
nicole says
What cute lil’ cupcakes.