Whip up a batch of these easy pumpkin cupcakes in under an hour for the perfect Fall treat, Thanksgiving dessert, or fun weekend baking activity with the kids! These pumpkin cupcakes have a super moist, melt-in-your-mouth texture and are topped with an easy, 4-ingredient cream cheese frosting!
When it comes to pumpkin, there's two things I like. Pumpkin bread and soft pumpkin cookies. My mini pumpkin bread loaves are my go-to Fall bread, so when a friend turned them into cupcakes, asked myself why I hadn't done that before. So today, we're making that happen by turning the perfect pumpkin bread recipe into a sweeter treat.
These easy pumpkin (lightly spiced) cupcakes are made from scratch with canned pumpkin and are topped with a cream cheese frosting. Check out what you need below and get to mixing! Plus, I've included the link to some cute Thanksgiving printable cupcake toppers to take these cupcakes up to the beautiful notch they deserve.
What You Need to Make Easy Pumpkin Cupcakes
- All-purpose flour, sugar, baking soda, baking powder, salt, vegetable oil, and eggs
- Nutmeg and cinnamon
- 1 can pumpkin puree
- Cream cheese, powdered sugar, and eggs
How to Make Easy Pumpkin Cupcakes
Step 1: Mix Dry Ingredients
In a large bowl, mix together flour, sugar, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon, salt, and nutmeg together with a whisk.
Step 2: Mix in Wet Ingredients
Add eggs, pumpkin, vegetable oil, and water and continue mixing with a spatula or wooden spoon until ingredients are incorporated and you can no longer see the flour. To avoid overmixing, I suggest mixing by hand with a spatula. If you are using a electric mixer, be sure to use the lowest speed setting and stop mixing as soon as flour disappears.
Step 3: Scoop into Cupcake Pan & Bake
Scoop 3 tablespoons of batter in each cupcake liner and gently shake pan to even out the batter. Bake at 350 degrees for 18-24 minutes, or until toothpick comes out clean. Cool completing before frosting.
Step 4: Let Cool Then Top with Frosting
Follow the instructions in the recipe card below to make the cream cheese frosting then use a knife or piping bag to top each cupcake.
Step 5: Decorate
This wouldn't be design eat repeat without a fun way on how to decorate these pumpkin cupcakes! Top with Fall-themed sprinkles or print off these printable Fall cupcake toppers for the perfect addition to your party!
Frequently Asked Questions:
What frosting goes with pumpkin cupcakes?
I recommend using a cream cheese frosting like the recipe below. The richness is just so much better than regular vanilla frosting and will result in that traditional pumpkin cupcake taste.
Can I make these pumpkin cupcakes with fresh pumpkin?
I haven't tested it this way, but you're definitely welcome to try. You will likely need to alter the recipe a bit since fresh pumpkin is often much runnier than canned pumpkin.
How many cupcakes does this make?
If you follow the instructions and use 3 tablespoon scoops, you will get about 20-22 regular-sized cupcakes.
Easy Pumpkin Cupcakes
Ingredients
Pumpkin Cupcakes
- 1 ⅔ cup all-purpose flour
- 1 ½ cup granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon nutmeg
- 2 eggs
- 1 15 oz. canned pumpkin
- ½ cup vegetable oil
- ¼ cup water
Cream Cheese Frosting
- 1 (8oz) package cream cheese, softened
- ½ cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- ⅛ teaspoon salt
Before you begin! If you make this, will you do me a huge favor and leave a review and rating letting me know how you liked this recipe? This helps my small business thrive so I can continue providing free recipes and high-quality content for you.
Instructions
How to Make Pumpkin Cupcakes:
- In a large bowl, mix together all-purpose flour (1 ⅔ cups), granulated sugar (1 ½ cups), baking soda (1 teaspoon), baking powder (½ teaspoon), cinnamon (1 teaspoon), salt (½ teaspoon), and nutmeg (¼ teaspoon) together with a whisk.
- Stirring between each addition, add eggs (2 large), canned pumpkin (15 ounces), vegetable oil (½ cup), and water (¼ cup) and continue mixing with a spatula or wooden spoon until ingredients are incorporated and you can no longer see the flour. To avoid overmixing, I suggest mixing this by hand with a spatula. If you are using an electric mixer, be sure to use the lowest speed setting and stop mixing as soon as flour disappears.
- Scoop 3 tablespoons of batter in each cupcake liner and gently shake pan to even out the batter. Bake at 350℉ for 18-22 minutes, or until toothpick comes out clean. Cool completely before frosting.
How to Make Cream Cheese Frosting
- Using a stand or hand-held mixer, beat the cream cheese (8 ounces) for 1-2 minutes until smooth and creamy. Scrape down the sides with a spatula, as needed.
- Add softened unsalted butter (½ cup, i.e., 1 stick) and vanilla extract (1 ½ teaspoons) and continue mixing for 1 minute until combined. Lastly, slowly add in powdered sugar (2 cups) and a pinch of salt then beat on high speed for 30 seconds until well combined.
- Use a knife or piping bag to frost the cooled cupcakes. This recipe will lightly frost roughly 24 cupcakes (if spreading on with a knife). Because this frosting is on the creamy side, it's best spread vs. trying to pipe on intricate swirls with a piping tip.
Last Step! Please leave a review and rating letting me know how you liked this recipe! This helps my small business thrive so I can continue providing free recipes and high-quality content for you.
Bianca says
My husband LOVES these. I've baked them twice and they are super moist and tasty. Perfect amount sweetness. Love them. I am going to try to bake it as a cake. Wish me luck!
Melissa says
So glad you guys love this recipe! Thank you so much for taking the time to leave a review, Bianca!
Mrs. Corey says
BEST pumpkin cupcakes recipe I could find. Super moist and has a perfect cupcake texture. Also, sweet enough to leave off the frosting.
Melissa says
I'm so happy to hear you loved this recipe! Thank you so much for leaving a review!
Diane says
Very good, moist and delicious
Melissa says
Thank you so much for leaving a review, Diane!
Colleen Benning says
Absolutely delicious!! I didn’t have cream cheese for the icing, so I put a pecan streusel on top half way through baking. I wanted to make the recipe again and use a Bundt pan instead of cupcakes - how long do you think I should bake it?
Melissa says
Hi Colleen! SO sorry, I'm just seeing this question. I haven't baked these into a bundt but my guess would be 40-60 minutes. My pumpkin bread recipe uses a similar batter to these cupcakes and that bakes for 1 hour and 15 minutes, so it will definitely need a good amount of time since it's so moist! https://www.designeatrepeat.com/moist-pumpkin-bread/#wprm-recipe-container-32509
Mary Anne says
My husband loved these. He is picky.
So I made them for my nieces who devoured them.
Wonderful recipe
Melissa says
So glad you and your family enjoyed this recipe! Thank you much for taking the time to leave a review, Mary Anne!
Tracy says
I made these this morning for a fall bridal shower, they are great! My daughters love them!! I will be making these regularly.
Melissa says
So glad you and your family enjoyed this recipe, Tracy! Thanks for leaving a review!
Kristina Rodriguez says
I always use this recipe and love it. It’s a hit every time if you’re a pumpkin lover.
Melissa says
I’m so glad you love this recipe, Kristina! Thanks for taking the time to leave a review!