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.*
Dawn says
I have many of those days when I want something sweet now and want those quick & easy shortcuts.
Looks good to me…I'm game with these.
Rico says
Fantastic cupcakes…and as they are fairly small easy to eat …just pop a whole one in your mouth and let them melt..hehe.. keep cooking they are great.
http://ricocofeeshop.blogspot.com
Bellini Valli says
Who wouldn’t love and appreciate these pumpkin flavoured cupcakes. I think we are related too:D I love pumpkin with a cream cheese icing…I love everything with a cream cheese icing!!
Paula says
Um, I’m sure we are related somehow and so I’d like these when you make my birthday cupcakes! 🙂 My oldest daughter would pilfer those candy corn right off the top. These sound wonderful and actually would fit in wonderfully to a Thanksgiving menu. Love that cream cheese frosting! YUM!
Gigi says
Perfect fall cupcakes! Happy Halloween!
Joanna says
these could not look any cuter! i love candy corn (but who doesn’t?) and on top of pumpkin cupcakes? omg how perfect is that?
Sophie says
Cute and tasty cupcakes to the rescue! What a yummy birthday gift :)!
Katie says
These look very cute. Happy halloween
Juliet says
Sounds delicious! I’ve been on a pumpkin kick at my blog and this sounds like a great recipe to try. I might make the frosting with low-fat cream cheese and see how that turns out.
http://thinkinsidetheicebox.com
Grace says
“Have you ever had one of those days when you find out that you need a treat, and need it right away?”
mmm…pretty much every day, and these would do quite nicely. heck, a couple spoonfuls of the frosting alone would suffice. 🙂
Darius T. Williams says
Ahh – this does looks quick and easy…and tasty!
-DTW
http://www.everydaycookin.blogspot.com
Peabody says
I’d like to find those in my trick or treat bag.
Patsyk says
These look great! I love the candy corns for decoration!
ashley says
very cute! happy halloween!
Susan says
Beautiful…
Yummy sounding ….
Super easy!
Wow they are perfect- now I know what to do with the spice cake mix in my closet that I keep pushing aside!
Thanks…:)
Mrs. says
Would it be so wrong if I just made the frosting and ate that? I mean, some of these fancy cupcake places sell the frosting in a cup so it couldn’t be that wrong? 🙂