Description

These Pumpkin Cupcakes with Caramel Cream Cheese Frosting are the perfect fall dessert—moist, warmly spiced pumpkin cake topped with rich, buttery caramel-infused frosting. They’re elegant enough for holidays and easy enough for weekday baking, delivering autumn flavor in every bite.

Ingredients

Scale

Pumpkin Cupcakes:

190 g (1½ cups) all-purpose flour
1½ tsp ground cinnamon
¼ tsp ground ginger
⅛ tsp ground nutmeg
⅛ tsp ground cloves
1 tsp baking powder
½ tsp baking soda
¼ tsp salt
80 ml (⅓ cup) vegetable or canola oil
150 g (¾ cup) white sugar
100 g (½ cup) brown sugar
2 large eggs
2 tsp vanilla extract
180 g (¾ cup) pumpkin puree
80 ml (⅓ cup) milk (2% recommended)

Salted Caramel Sauce:

200 g (1 cup) granulated sugar
85 g (6 tbsp) unsalted butter, cubed
120 ml (½ cup) whipping cream
½ tsp sea salt or coarse salt

Caramel Cream Cheese Frosting:

170 g (¾ cup) unsalted butter, softened
113 g (4 oz) cream cheese, softened
240–300 g (2–2½ cups) powdered sugar
120 ml (½ cup) salted caramel sauce (cooled)

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Instructions

Cupcakes: Preheat oven to 175°C (350°F). Line 14–16 cupcake molds.
Whisk together flour, spices, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
In another bowl, mix oil, sugars, eggs, and vanilla. Stir in pumpkin.
Add dry ingredients and milk alternately, mixing gently until combined.
Fill liners 2/3–3/4 full. Bake 18–20 minutes. Cool on wire rack.
Salted Caramel: Melt sugar in a saucepan until amber. Add butter, whisk until melted. Slowly add cream and whisk smooth. Stir in salt. Cool.
Frosting: Beat butter until smooth. Add cream cheese and beat gently. Mix in powdered sugar and caramel sauce until fluffy.
Frost cooled cupcakes. Drizzle with extra caramel before serving, if desired.

Notes

Use pumpkin puree, not pie filling.

Let caramel cool completely before adding to frosting.

Don’t overmix cupcake batter.

Chill frosting if it’s too soft to pipe.

Store frosted cupcakes chilled; bring to room temp before serving

Prep Time: 25 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Category: Desserts
Method: Baked
Cuisine: American