Incredibly moist Pumpkin Cupcakes with Maple and Toffee Frosting are here to invade your fall baking plans! Fall spiced pumpkin cupcakes topped with cream cheese frosting that’s been flavored with maple and bits of toffee!
Love pumpkin desserts? We’re obsessed with these Pumpkin Scones for breakfast! You can also whip up a Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew coffee to drink on the side!
Easy Pumpkin Cupcake Recipe
These cupcakes are so easy to make. And did I mention that the batter itself is oil and butter free? You would never know by the taste--they are so moist!
- Pumpkin itself adds a ton of moisture to the cupcake. The rest comes from applesauce. This replicates the moisture added by butter or oil but without any of the fat.
- Cream cheese frosting with maple flavoring added. A delicious pair to the pumpkin flavor.
- Topped with toffee bits. You’ll love this combination!
- Recipe makes 12 cupcakes. Perfect amount since you’ll find yourself with zero self control!
While your pumpkin cupcakes are baking, pour yourself a hot cup of coffee with some homemade pumpkin spice coffee creamer…and get started on the frosting!
These cupcakes are so moist, frosting isn’t necessary. Dollop with some homemade whipped cream for a delicious dessert. Serve cold and they’ll give the illusion of pumpkin pie!
Ingredient Notes
- Pumpkin Puree- make sure to choose 100% pumpkin, NOT pumpkin pie filling!
- Applesauce- these cupcakes are sweet enough, so using an unsweetened or sugar free applesauce works best. If using a sweet applesauce (or cinnamon applesauce), decrease the sugar to 1/4 cup granulated and 1/2 cup brown sugar.
- Spices- a combination of cinnamon, cloves, ginger, and nutmeg is used to season these cupcakes. You could swap those out for 3 teaspoons of pumpkin pie spice instead.
- Maple Flavoring- for the frosting. Maple flavoring and maple extract are different product. The flavoring is darker in color and more concentrated (and I prefer it too). If you can only find the extract, it will work, but note that the frosting may still retain a white color. DO NOT use maple syrup, as it is not concentrated enough to give maple flavor.
How to Make Pumpkin Cupcakes
- Let your cream cheese and butter soften on the counter for about 30 minutes before making the frosting. This will make it much easier to beat together to get a show stopping fluffy buttercream texture.
- The toffee bits are a fun addition but the cupcakes would still be delicious without them!
- When filling the cupcake liners, make sure to fill them only about 2/3 of the way full. Any fuller than that and the cupcakes will “dome” on top (like muffin tops).
- If you prefer not to use cupcake liners, you can also bake them right in the tin. Spray with cooking spray or lightly grease the tin before adding the batter.
- Looking for an almost fat-free pumpkin cupcake? You could replace the maple cream cheese frosting with a dollop of fat free cool whip. Still good, but I highly recommend giving the frosting a try, at least once.
- Not a fan of cream cheese frosting? Our vanilla frosting or sour cream frosting are both delicious options! Or, give our chocolate cream cheese frosting a try on these pumpkin cupcakes!
Recipe FAQs
Because of the cream cheese in the maple frosting, I recommend storing these pumpkin cupcakes in the refrigerator. You could store the UNfrosted pumpkin cupcakes at room temperature.
No. These pumpkin pie filling and pumpkin puree are not interchangeable in today’s pumpkin cupcake recipe.
Pumpkin cupcakes can be made 1 day in advance, and stored in an airtight container at room temperature. Frosting can also be made 1 day in advance, and stored in the refrigerator until ready to use. Frosted or unfrosted cupcakes can be frozen up to 2-3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator.
More Easy Dessert Recipes
- Love maple? This Maple Peanut Butter Fudge is such a treat for the holidays, and goes great with all your pumpkin desserts!
- Pumpkin Whoopie Pies
- Apple Crumble
- 3 Ingredient Peanut Butter Cookies
- Pizookie
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Pumpkin Cupcakes Recipe
Ingredients
For the cupcakes:
- 1 cup canned pumpkin puree not pumpkin pie filling
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- ½ cup packed light brown sugar
- ½ cup unsweetened applesauce
- 2 large eggs
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- 1½ teaspoon cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon ground cloves
- ½ teaspoon ground ginger
- ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
For the Frosting:
- ¼ cup unsalted butter softened
- 4 ounce cream cheese softened
- ¾ teaspoon maple flavoring
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- ½ cup Heath milk chocolate toffee bits
Instructions
- In mixer, beat together pumpkin, sugars, applesauce and eggs. Blend in the flour, baking powder and soda, salt, and seasonings.
- Pour batter into cupcake tins (I used liners), dividing the batter evenly (fills 12).
- Bake in a 350 degree oven for about 20 minutes. Cool completely before frosting.
- To make frosting, beat butter and cream cheese until smooth. Beat in maple and powdered sugar and mix for 2-3 minutes. Spread on cupcakes and sprinkle with toffee bits. Enjoy!
Notes
- SOFTEN. Let your cream cheese and butter soften on the counter for about 10 minutes before making the frosting. This will make it much easier to beat together to get a showstopping fluffy buttercream texture.
- The toffee bits are a fun addition but the cupcakes would still be delicious without them!
- When filling the cupcake liners, make sure to fill them only about 2/3 of the way full. Any fuller than that and the cupcakes will “dome” on top (like muffin tops).
- If you prefer not to use cupcake liners, you can also bake them right in the tin. Spray with cooking spray or lightly grease the tin before adding the batter.
- Looking for an almost fat-free pumpkin cupcake? You could replace the maple cream cheese frosting with a dollop of fat free cool whip. Still good, but I highly recommend giving the frosting a try, at least once.
- Spices- a combination of cinnamon, cloves, ginger, and nutmeg is used to season these cupcakes. You could swap those out for 3 teaspoons of pumpkin pie spice instead.
- Maple Flavoring- for the frosting. Maple flavoring and maple extract are different product. The flavoring is darker in color and more concentrated (and I prefer it too). If you can only find the extract, it will work, but note that the frosting may still retain a white color. DO NOT use maple syrup, as it is not concentrated enough to give maple flavor.
Nutrition
These pumpkin cupcakes are ideal for a fall bake sale, a Halloween party treat or even a Thanksgiving dessert if you have guests who aren’t into pie.
These tasted great! However I think some sea salt on top might give them a nice sweet and salty flavor! I made them for Thanksgiving and I definitely recommend!
when a recipe says pumpkin puree in a can is it ok to substitute for fresh pumpkin puree?
Homemade pumpkin puree can have a different consistency than the canned puree. I haven’t tested with homemade.
What size can of pumpkin purée is used?
You need one cup of pumpkin puree (so you can use the smaller 15 ounce can…but you won’t need the whole can).
💜💗💖🎄Love, yr recipes! Looks amazing, wanna do baking before x-mas and these recipes are just what I need, and simple?☀️👐🌸💫💫🧑🎄🎅
Can this be baked as a cake instead of cupcakes?
I loved every bite of these! Making again next week for Thanksgiving!!!
These cupcakes were so dang good and the maple toffee frosting made them even better!
Wow – amazing everyone went crazy for these!
Great recipe
I loved the maple flavor paired with pumpkin, so delicious! These cuppies were a huge hit!
These are so good! Incredible!
My kids couldn’t really stop eating these!! So good!