Our cupcake contributor, Lauren of Crave. Indulge. Satisfy, is helping us transition from Halloween to Thanksgiving!  And she’s bringing along the pumpkins…

With Thanksgiving right around the corner, it’s the perfect time to start thinking about a special dessert to accompany your big turkey feast!  During the fall my pantry is always stocked full of pumpkin as my go to ingredient.  I have about 12 cans on hand right now!  Pumpkin is such a great ingredient that can be used in a variety of recipes.  So this year, why not branch out from the standard pumpkin pie or pumpkin bread and mix up a batch of Pumpkin Cupcakes with Cinnamon Cream Cheese Frosting.  I guarantee all of your turkey day guests will just gobble these right up!

These pumpkin cupcakes are smacked full of fall flavors featuring cinnamon, nutmeg and ginger.  The cupcakes are paired with a cinnamon cream cheese frosting which is the perfect compliment to the cinnamon flavor in the cakes. I guarantee you won’t just be eating one of these at a time. Afterall, Thanksgiving is a time to indulge in all your favorite foods…so save room for dessert!

If you are worried about having too many things to whip up for your holiday meal, these cupcakes are super moist and can be made a day ahead of time. I do recommend waiting to make the icing until the day you plan to serve.  I love how you can see the specs of cinnamon throughout the icing, not to mention the taste is amazing!  I hope you are inspired to try these Pumpkin Cupcakes with Cinnamon Cream Cheese this year!

Pumpkin Cupcakes with Cinnamon Cream Cheese
recipe by Lauren Kapeluck
(makes 30 cupcakes)

For the cake:
3 cups all-purpose flour
1 tsp baking soda
2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp salt
2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp ginger
1/2 tsp nutmeg
2 sticks unsalted butter, room temperature
1 cup granulated sugar
1 cup brown sugar
4 eggs
1 cup milk
1 1/2 cups pumpkin puree

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees and line muffin pans with cupcake liners.
2. In large bowl combine dry ingredients: flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, ginger and nutmeg.
3. In bowl of stand mixer cream butter, granulated sugar and brown sugar until creamy.
4. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition.
5. Add dry ingredients and milk, alternating until well combined. Scrape down sides of bowl as necessary.
6. Mix in pumpkin puree.
7. Fill cupcake liners 2/3 full with batter.
8. Bake for 18 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.
9. Let cupcakes cool in pans for 5 minutes, then remove to wire racks to finish cooling.
10. Once cupcakes are completely cool frost with Cinnamon Cream Cheese icing.

For the icing:
1 1/2 sticks unsalted butter, softened
8 oz cream cheese, softened
4 cups confectioner’s sugar
1 tsp vanilla
1 tsp cinnamon

1. In bowl of stand mixer beat butter and cream cheese on medium speed until well combined.
2. Gradually add in confectioner’s sugar one cup at a time, scraping down sides of bowl as necessary.
3. Add vanilla and cinnamon and mix until combined.
4. Place icing in piping bag fitted with a large round tip and frost cupcakes.

Hope you enjoy this pumpkin inspired recipe! Wishing you and your family a wonderful holiday season!

	Lauren Kapeluck Lauren is a monthly contributor for The Cake Blog. She is a self-taught baker and lover of all things sugar. Read more about Lauren on her bio page.