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.
My kids couldn’t really stop eating these!! So good!
These are to die for!! The maple frosting & toffee bits with the pumpkin, is a delicious combination!
I am seriously drooling over these cupcakes! I think I need to eat breakfast now! Thanks for the shout-out for my layered pumpkin cheesecake recipe!
These look yummy! What do you use for the maple flavoring? Is it extract?
It is, you find it in the baking aisle next to the vanilla!
Just wanted to let you know I featured your delicious cupcakes yesterday. Thanks again for participating in the Holiday Sweet Swap!
Yummy! These are going on my list to make. I’m afraid we’re going to start turning orange with all the pumpkin we’ve been consuming. Then again, maybe that’s not a bad idea considering how pale I am (:
Thanks for participating.
Those look wonderful!
The icing sounds SO DELICIOUS, that I just might skip the cupcake…
Oh my, I don’t think I’ve seen a more perfect cupcake for this time of the year.
Thanks for stopping by Sweet Tooth Friday!
These looks absolutely scrumptious and I can’t wait to try them! I’m over from SIS and I love your blog and recipes!
These look and sound delicious! I love the idea of toffee bits with pumpkin. I’ll bet it’s a match made in heaven. I’d like to invite you to share your recipe on Sweet Indulgences Sunday.
http://www.wellseasonedlife.com/2011/09/sweet-indulgences-sunday-22.html
YUM! You had me at “pumpkin.” I am hosting a Fall Recipe/Snack challenge on my blog this week and I would absolutely love for you to link this!
http://oneartmama.blogspot.com/2011/09/falling-for-crafts-challenge-2.html
I love pumpkin! Yeah, we can be friends. 😉 These cupcakes look absolutely delicious. I need to get on the pumpkin bandwagon but none of my stores has it in stock yet. 🙂
I could be a pumpkin-aholic!! LOVE these guys. My daughter would clean the plate and she never hesitates to point out that there are “so many vitamins” in the dish because of the added pumpkin!! Nicely done!
This is perfect for the fall season. I definitely have to make these for my girls!
LOVE the frosting! I’m a huge toffee fan 🙂
So glad to see you are pumpkin obsessed too:-) I love the addition of the toffee in the frosting!! Yummo! Can I have one for breakfast please???
Pumpkin cupcakes! One of my many favorites. I can’t wait to make a batch this season. I’m going to have to try that maple flavor! 🙂
Robin, I love cream cheese and pumpkin together! In muffin form is even better!
I made some delicious pumpkin cream cheese muffins last year…I might try them again with this toffee frosting. Yum!