Pumpkin Spice Cupcakes

These cupcakes are the greatest cupcakes I have ever made. They don't have much competition, as I do not like to bake all that much, but out of all the cupcakes I have made, these are the best. I'm not a big fan of pumpkin pie, and these cupcakes are a great way to have pumpkin pie spice (so delicious!) without having to have the pie. I also added some pumpkin pie spice to the frosting, which only added to the awesomeness.

Make these. Trust me.

Pumpkin Spice Cupcakes With Cream Cheese Frosting
by Everyday Food
makes 24

Ingredients:

Nonstick cooking spray

1 cup pure pumpkin puree (from a 15-ounce can)
1/2 cup buttermilk
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
2 cups all-purpose flour, spooned and leveled
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice
3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature
1 cup packed light brown sugar
1 cup granulated sugar
3 large eggs
Cream Cheese Frosting (see below)

Directions

1.Preheat oven to 350 degrees, with racks in upper and lower thirds. Lightly coat 24 standard muffin cups with cooking spray or line with paper liners. In a medium bowl, whisk together pumpkin puree, buttermilk, and vanilla. In another medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, and pumpkin pie spice. In a large bowl, using an electric mixer, beat butter and sugars on medium-high until light and fluffy, 3 to 5 minutes. Beat in eggs, one at a time, scraping down bowl as needed. With mixer on low, beat in flour mixture in three additions, alternating with two additions pumpkin mixture, until combined.

2.Spoon 1/4 cup batter into each muffin cup. Bake until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean, 18 to 20 minutes, rotating pans halfway though. Let cupcakes cool in pans on wire racks, 15 minutes. Remove cupcakes from pans and let cool completely on racks, 10 minutes. To serve, spread frosting onto cooled cupcakes

Cream Cheese Frosting:
 
12 ounces cream cheese, room temperature

10 tablespoons (1 1/4 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature
1 1/2 cups confectioners' sugar, sifted
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
1 to 2 tablespoons whole milk

In a large bowl, using an electric mixer, beat cream cheese and butter until smooth, about 4 minutes. With mixer on low, beat in confectioners' sugar and vanilla extract until smooth and fluffy, 5 minutes. Thin with whole milk if necessary.
*add a bit of pumpkin pie spice, you will not be disappointed