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You are here: Home / Recipes / Desserts / Cakes and Pies / Light and Fluffy Pumpkin Cupcakes with Whipped Cream Cheese Frosting

Light and Fluffy Pumpkin Cupcakes with Whipped Cream Cheese Frosting

September 17, 2019 By Angie Kauffman · Disclosure: This Post May Contain Affiliate Links. {I may be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on my links.}

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Light and Fluffy Pumpkin Cupcakes with Whipped Cream Cheese Frosting Post Preview: Enjoy these soft and fluffy pumpkin cupcakes filled with all the flavors of the season. Top them with this homemade whipped cream cheese frosting. There is a printable recipe at the end of this post.


We have already established that I love fall, right? I love the weather. I love the changing colors. And the flavors. Oh, man. I love all of the pumpkin and caramel and all of that. It’s so good!

Oh, except candy corn. Candy corn is the worst. But, I know some of you like it, so I might have even suggested it as a possible garnish. You know, because I’m a pal like that.

I’m not normally one to pick a cream cheese frosting over a regular buttercream frosting, but pumpkin pairs so beautifully with it. That’s why I’m sharing a recipe today for Light and Fluffy Pumpkin Cupcakes with Whipped Cream Cheese Frosting.

Recipe for Light and Fluffy Pumpkin Cupcakes with Homemade Whipped Cream Cheese Frosting

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Related Reading:

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How to Make Light and Fluffy Pumpkin Cupcakes with Whipped Cream Cheese Frosting

This isn’t a boxed mix recipe, but it’s nice and easy to make. These made-from-scratch pumpkin cupcakes are not overly sweet, which makes them a perfect partner for a sweet frosting.

These would be perfect for taking to a fall or Halloween party, as a Thanksgiving dessert, or just because it’s a beautiful fall day and you want pumpkin cupcakes.

This recipe will make 10 – 12 cupcakes, depending on how full you fill your muffin tins.

Note: There is a printable recipe at the end of this post for both the pumpkin cupcakes and the homemade whipped cream cheese frosting.

Enjoy this light and fluffy pumpkin cupcakes recipe filled with all the flavors of the season. Top them with this homemade whipped cream cheese frosting.

Ingredients List for Pumpkin Cupcakes and Cream Cheese Frosting

Light and Fluffy Pumpkin Cupcakes Ingredients

  • 1 cup flour
  • ½ teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
  • ¼ teaspoon ground ginger
  • ¼ teaspoon ground cloves
  • ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • 1 cup pure pumpkin puree
  • ¾ cup brown sugar, packed
  • 2 large eggs
  • ½ cup of vegetable oil
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Note: Pumpkin puree is not the same thing as pumpkin pie filling. You should be looking for a can labeled as “pure pumpkin” or “pumpkin puree” or another similar name.

Whipped Cream Cheese Frosting Ingredients

  • 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
  • 1 stick (1/2 cup) butter, softened
  • 2 ½ cups powdered sugar
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

What if I don’t have ground ginger, ground cloves, or ground nutmeg?

Of course, it’s nice to be able to use ground ginger, ground cloves, and ground nutmeg each individually. It gives you the ability to use a little more of a favorite or a little less of one you might not like as much.

For this recipe, if you’re missing these ingredients (or just want to do a substitution), you can use pumpkin pie spice instead. You can substitute the ginger, nutmeg, ground cloves, plus one of the teaspoons of cinnamon. You can use 1 teaspoon of pumpkin pie spice and 1 teaspoon of cinnamon as the spices for this recipe instead. 

What if you want a frosting that is sweeter or a not too sweet frosting?

If you like a sweeter frosting, you can use 3 cups of powdered sugar in this recipe instead of 2 1/2 cups. If you like a cream cheese frosting that is not too sweet, you could try to use 2 cups of powdered sugar instead.

You can play around with it to get the exact level of sweetness you prefer. However, since these pumpkin cupcakes aren’t overly sweet, you may prefer a sweeter frosting.

Homemade Whipped Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe

Can I Use Buttercream Frosting instead of Cream Cheese Frosting?

Of course!

If you really don’t like cream cheese frosting or just prefer buttercream frosting, you can always go with my favorite go-to Homemade Vanilla Buttercream Frosting.

Or, you know, you could go with a favorite buttercream recipe of your own.

Light and Airy Homemade Vanilla Frosting Recipe

Garnish Ideas for Pumpkin Cupcakes

While you can definitely just pipe frosting onto these cupcakes, these will also look lovely with garnish.

Possible garnish ideas for the pumpkin cupcakes:

  • fall-themed sprinkles
  • ground cinnamon
  • freshly ground nutmeg
  • candy corn
  • candy pumpkins


Pumpkin Cupcakes and Whipped Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe Directions

Process pictures of homemade pumpkin cupcakes

Cupcake Directions

1. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.

2. Prepare a muffin tin with paper cupcake liners; set aside.

Conversely, you can use something like a Silpat cupcake pan, if you want to skip using cupcake liners.

3. In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the dry ingredients (flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, ginger, cloves, and nutmeg).

4. In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together the pumpkin puree, brown sugar, eggs, vegetable oil, and 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract.

5. Pour the wet mixture (from the medium mixing bowl) into the dry mixture (in the large mixing bowl) and stir until combined.

6. Scoop the batter into 12 cupcake liners for regular-sized cupcakes, or 10 liners for slightly larger cupcakes, depending on the size of your muffin pan. Fill each muffin tin only to about 2/3 of the way full.

7. Bake the cupcakes at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 20 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean when inserted into the center of a cupcake.

8. Cool the cupcakes completely to room temperature.

How to Make Whipped Cream Cheese Frosting

How to Make Homemade Whipped Cream Cheese Frosting (process pictures)

1. While the cupcakes are cooling, use an electric hand mixer or stand mixer to beat the butter and cream cheese for the frosting. Beat on medium-high speed for at least 1 minute, until well combined and fluffy.

2. Add the powdered sugar and vanilla extract to the cream cheese mixture.

3. Mix these with the electric mixer on low speed until the powdered sugar is incorporated, in order to keep all of the powdered sugar in the bowl. Then beat on medium-high speed until the frosting is light and fluffy.

4. Frost the cupcakes by spreading or piping the frosting onto each cupcake.

Serve immediately, or cover and refrigerate until serving.

Yields 10-12 cupcakes | Prep time: 15 minutes | Baking time: 20 minutes

How to Make Pumpkin Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting

Other Easy Pumpkin Recipes

Quick and Easy Pumpkin Cheesecake Dip Recipe

Easy Coconut Pumpkin Hot Chocolate Recipe

Maple Pumpkin Steel Cut Oats Recipe

Pumpkin Cheesecake Dip Recipe - Perfect for fall and winter gatherings, the pumpkin fluff dip in this post is quick to throw together and will have your guests asking for the recipe. Included toward the end of this post, you'll also find a printable version of this Pumpkin Cheesecake Dip Recipe. | Real Life at Home

Pumpkin Cupcakes and Whipped Cream Cheese Frosting Printable Recipe

Enjoy this light and fluffy pumpkin cupcakes recipe filled with all the flavors of the season. Top them with this homemade whipped cream cheese frosting.

Light and Fluffy Pumpkin Cupcakes with Whipped Cream Cheese Frosting

Real Life at Home
Enjoy these soft and fluffy pumpkin cupcakes filled with all the flavors of the season. Top them with this homemade whipped cream cheese frosting.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 15 mins
Cook Time 20 mins
Total Time 35 mins
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Servings 12 cupcakes

Ingredients
  

Light and Fluffy Pumpkin Cupcakes Ingredients

  • 1 cup flour
  • ½ teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
  • ¼ teaspoon ground ginger
  • ¼ teaspoon ground cloves
  • ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • 1 cup pure pumpkin puree
  • ¾ cup brown sugar packed
  • 2 large eggs
  • ½ cup vegetable oil
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • Optional garnish: fall-themed sprinkles, ground cinnamon, freshly ground nutmeg, candy corn or pumpkins

Whipped Cream Cheese Frosting Ingredients

  • 8 ounces cream cheese softened
  • ½ cup stick butter softened
  • 2 ½ cups powdered sugar
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Instructions
 

Cupcake Directions

  • Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and prepare a muffin tin with paper cupcake liners.
  • In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, ginger, cloves, and nutmeg.
  • In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together the remaining cupcake ingredients.
  • Pour the wet mixture into the dry mixture and stir until combined.
  • Scoop the batter into cupcake liners. Fill each muffin tin about 2/3 full.
  • Bake the cupcakes at 350 degrees for 20 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean when inserted into the center of a cupcake.
  • Cool the cupcakes completely to room temperature.

Cream Cheese Frosting Directions

  • Use an electric mixer to beat the butter and cream cheese. Beat on medium-high speed for at least 1 minute, until well combined and fluffy.
  • Add the powdered sugar and vanilla extract to the mixture and mix with your electric mixer on low speed until the powdered sugar is incorporated. Then beat the mixture on medium-high speed until the frosting is light and fluffy.
  • Spread or pipe the frosting onto each cupcake.
  • Serve immediately, or cover and refrigerate until serving.
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. They don’t change the price you pay. However, when you shop through them, we may receive a small compensation.

Recipe for Light and Fluffy Pumpkin Cupcakes with Whipped Cream Cheese Frosting

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Filed Under: Cakes and Pies, Fall, Frosting Tagged With: cupcakes, pumpkin recipes

About Angie Kauffman

Angie, mom to three very fun kids, is the founder of Real Life at Home.  With degrees in elementary education (B.A.) and special education (M.S.Ed.), as well as being a former homeschooler, she is passionate about supporting both parents and teachers by providing printables, crafts, and activities to help children learn and grow.

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Meet Angie

Angie, mom to three very fun kids, is the founder of Real Life at Home.  With degrees in elementary education (B.A.) and special education (M.S.Ed.), as well as being a former homeschooler, she is passionate about supporting both parents and teachers by providing printables, crafts, and activities to help children learn and grow. Read More…

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