Yesterday afternoon I got what I’m now going to refer to as the Sunday baking itch. I wanted to keep it simple, but the result looked and tasted anything but.
Usually I have this weird thing where I only like to eat pumpkin-y things during the Fall/holiday season (yeah, I’m weird like that), but believe me when I say that there is always room for Pumpkin Spice Cupcakes with cream cheese icing. And really believe me when I say that this is the easiest recipe ever!
cupcake ingredients:
- 1 box of spice cake mix
- 1 can of pumpkin (NOT pumpkin pie filling)
icing ingredients:
- 1/4 cup butter
- 8 oz cream cheese
- 1 3/4 cup powdered sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
To make the cupcakes, combine the cake mix and pumpkin - and that’s it! I got this idea from one of Hungry Girl’s chocolate cupcake recipes and figured it’d be just as good (if not better) with spice cake mix. The pumpkin replaces the oil, eggs, etc. that the box directions calls for, which not only makes the cupcakes healthier, but in my opinion it makes them even more moist and flavorful.
Follow the baking directions on the box, which in my case was 18-23 minutes at 325 degrees. My batch was perfectly done at 18 minutes, so be sure not to overcook them.
To make the icing - start by combining the softened butter and cream cheese with a mixer. Then add the sugar and vanilla and beat until smooth.
I thought about using some healthier replacements in the icing, but let’s be honest: you can’t mess with cream cheese icing. And I’m so glad I didn’t.
would you like some cupcake with your icing?
Ice the cupcakes after they’ve cooled for at least 30 minutes.
I also thought about adding raisins or dark chocolate chips to the cupcakes, but there’s just something so perfect about the simplicity of cake + icing, don’t you think?
If you’re looking for an easy, semi-healthy crowd pleaser…or if you’ve been gifted with an ever-present sweet tooth…these cupcakes are for you 😉
- What’s your favorite type of cupcake?
- What healthy-baking substitutions do you use?
EASY: THIS is my favorite type of cupcake! holy heaven, i can’t get enough cream cheese frosting! the best “healthy” subs i make are applesauce or yogurt instead of oil in baked goods…but that’s only if I’M the only one eating them…otherwise I do what I can to fatten my co-workers up
Mallory says
My fave type of cupcake is called Half Baked. It’s made by a local bakery here called Susie’s Shortbreads. The make over 100 diff kinds of cupcakes and rotate them day to day. Half Baked is a chocolate cupcake w/ a cookie dough center topped w chocolate AND vanilla icing. It’s anything but healthy but is so good I’d eat ten of them withouth feeling guilty!
LOVE pumpkin spice cupcakes! Yum, girl - they look great!
You make me wish I had baking skills. Those look so amazing. My favorite cupcake is probably lemon poppyseed. Keep it light!
Mmm I love pumpkin and I love cream cheese. I had read that recipe from HungryGirl but had forgotten about it! I’m glad you reminded me but I don’t think my store has canned pumpkin right now.
sad story I guess I’ll have to stock up this fall to last me all through next year!
I ADORE spice cake!!! But, Funfetti is probably my all-around favorite 😀
Oh YUM!!!! Guess who’s going to be making these sometime soon… *ahem* You are SO right about the icing!! But this icing recipe is still a little bit lighter than most because it has less butter!
Teri (A Foodie Stays Fit) says
I also fall into the category of not wanting pumpkin stuff except in the fall…but these look amazing!! I cannot believe that’s all you have to do for the cupcake! I can’t wait to try these…and sooner than September.
They look so good!
I love subbing applesauce for oil.
Melissa says
oh wow! Yum..those look delish! I love pumpkin I just never think about using pumpkin stuff outside of fall. Thanks for sharing:)
These sound awesome. I love pumpkin bread and cupcakes, but everything in life is better with cream cheese frosting. It’s no surprise that my No. 1 favorite cupcake-red velvet-also has cream cheese frosting.
Those look amazing!!! I love carrot cake cupcakes, but red velvet are good too!
Mmmmm!
Lauren W. says
Holy f bomb..those cupcakes look delicious! Can’t wait to make them!
Those cupcakes look delish!!!!!!! I love a good chocolate peanutbutter cupcake! There is a place here where I live called Cake Love and they have amazing cupcakes!!!!! Banana Split one they have is amazing too!! I do like the plain vanilla cupcake though too with sprinkles on top!!!
Erin @ A Girl & Her Mutt says
Oh my! These look wonderful! Pumpkin is one of my fave ingredients. I love a good red velvet cupcake any day. For some reason it is hard for people to get them right though.
I agree- icing isn’t something to be messed with 😉
My favorite cupcakes would be THOSE right there, and carrot cake! Both with [non-dairy] cream cheese icing of course
Your cupcakes look DELISH, Gracie! Way to make real cream cheese frosting…yummm!
I never used to bake, but I recently started baking healthy muffins and LOVE them! This morning I made 2 batches: whole wheat banana nut muffins and blueberry bran muffins (my absolute favorite). To die for! 😀
Cream cheese frosting! My favorite! When I bake, I make no substitutions….but I don’t bake and eat sweets that often so I feel like I can get away with it.
OMG Yum yum yum, I need these in my life!!! Since I have been eating better, I have avoided baking at all costs because I don’t know much about healthy-baking substitutions, so I think I am just going to start trying out the recipes you share here. My pre-healthy days, my faves were funfetti. There. I said it. Now I have to eat a salad and stop thinking about it LOL!!
Holy moley this is a fabulously easy recipe! And I agree: thou shall not mess with a great cream cheese frosting. It’s my weakness 😉
these look AWESOME! i love love loveeee pumpkin anything! I can’t wait to make these this week!!
thankkk youuuu (:
Lily @ Lily's Health Pad says
How interesting that the pumpkin can replace eggs and oil! I had no clue.
Wow those seriously look really good. I’ve never had spice cake before, but I know I’m a huge fan of cream cheese frosting. It’s my favorite. I’m not sure what my favorite type of cupcake is though. Anything with the word cake in it seems to be fabulous to me. 😀
ooooh those look fantastic!!! thanks for tweeting to me about ’em!
tracey says
How many cupcakes does this recipe make? I need to make 20