Thanksgiving treats!

Its almost thanksgiving! That means Pumpkin Spice Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting.

These cupcakes should NOT be an every day thing. I went to CalorieCount.com and entered the ingredients, and for 12 cupcakes, unfrosted, it calculated to about 207 calories a pop. The frosting divided into 12 servings calculated to 110.

So these are definitely not something you should eat often. Having them for special occasions is ideal here.

Now for the recipe.

What You'll Need:

• 1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1/4 tsp ground ginger
• 1/4 tsp ground cloves
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/2 cup unsalted butter, room temp
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 2 large eggs
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 3/4 cup solid packed, canned pumpkin puree

What To Do:

• Preheat oven to 350 F
• Prepare cupcake tins
  • Either with papers - my personal choice; or with shortening and flour.
• In a large bowl, combine flour, baking soda, spices, and salt.
• In another bowl, with your electric mixer, or hand mixer, cream together butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
• Add eggs, one at a time, until each is fully incorporated, scraping sides of bowl after each addition.
•  Then beat in vanilla.
• With mixer on low, alternate adding flour mixture and pumpkin puree in three additions, beginning and ending with flour.
• Scoop your batter into your prepared cupcake tins, should get around 12.
  • I like to use an ice cream scoop to spoon the batter into the cups, it makes it easier, less messy, and helps keep the cupcakes the same size.

Bake on middle rack 18-22 minutes, or until tooth pick, inserted into the center, removes clean.
(if your pans dont fit on center rack together, make sure you switch them half way through)
Let cool completely.

Now for the frosting.

What You'll Need:

• 4 oz. cream cheese - room temperature.
• 2 tbsp butter - room temperature.
• 1 tsp vanilla.
• 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar.
• splash of milk if needed

What To Do:

• Mix cream cheese and butter with electric mixer, until combined.
• Add vanilla.
• Add the powdered sugar and milk, mixing until fully combined and fluffy.
  • You can add a few drop of food coloring to make them more decorative if youd like.
• Pipe frosting onto cupcakes with piping bag or ziplock bag with end cut to desired size; or spread with knife.
  • Add sprinkles, or decorations as desired. I like to sprinkle with a little of the ground spices used earlier. I think it adds a little extra deliciousness.

Voilà! Enjoy!

If you try these cupcakes please feel free to share with me your thoughts, or any twists you put on them. :)