Pumpkin Spice Cupcake Heaven

Given that it is fall and pumpkins are super yummy, here is my favorite recipe for pumpkin cupcakes. Now I’m a huge fan of not reinventing the wheel. Betty Crocker makes a fabulous gluten free cake mix which I love to “fancy up” depending on the season! Why struggle with mixing different flours when you don’t have to!?!? Thanks Betty!

Pumpkin Spice Cake:

• 1 box yellow cake mix (gluten free of course!)
• 1 tbsp. pumpkin pie spice
• 1 ½ tsp. cinnamon
• 15 oz. pumpkin puree
• 3 eggs
• ½ cup vegetable oil
• 2 ½ tsp vanilla extract

If you don’t have pumpkin pie spice on hand you can mix up a batch of your own! This will make 7 tsp of pumpkin pie spice so you will have a bit left over to use later!

• 4 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1 tsp ground nutmeg
• 1 tsp ground allspice
• 2 tsp ground ginger

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees
2. Line pans with your favorite cupcake liners
3. Mix together cake mix, pumpkin pie spice, and cinnamon and set aside
4. In a large bowl, mix pumpkin, eggs, oil and vanilla extract until smooth
5. Add cake mix/spice mixture slowly
6. Fill cupcake liners to ¾ full and bake for 18-20 minutes. Keep a close eye on them though after 15 minutes to make sure they don’t burn!
7. Allow cupcakes to cool completely before frosting!

Whipped Cream Cheese Frosting

• 8 oz cream cheese, softened  (and no cheating with low fat versions here!)
• 1 cup powdered sugar
• 1½  teaspoon vanilla extract
• 16 oz heavy whipping cream

1. Beat cream cheese and powdered sugar until smooth
2. Slowly add vanilla and continue to beat mixture
3. Slowly add in heavy cream and continue to beat until stiff peaks begin to form
4. Pipe onto cupcakes and enjoy!