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Soft and moist pumpkin spice cupcakes with a rich and sweet maple cream cheese frosting. This pumpkin cupcake recipe is easy to make and full of delicious fall flavor!

We love cupcake recipes all year-round! From apple pie cupcakes in the fall to carrot cake cupcakes in the spring and these easy vanilla cupcakes anytime!

Pumpkin cupcakes on the counter.
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Favorite Pumpkin Cupcakes

Who else is excited about fall? As soon as I send the kids back to school, I start dreaming about crisp autumn days, warm homemade hot chocolate, fuzzy sweaters, apple cider, and of course all of the delicious pumpkin recipes.

These pumpkin spice cupcakes (along with my pumpkin chocolate chip cookies)were first on my list this season. They’re easy to make (you don’t even need a mixer) and are full of delicious pumpkin flavor. They taste like a glorified pumpkin muffin with the addition of a tangy and sweet maple cream cheese frosting on top.

The pumpkin puree gives them a super moist and tender texture, while the pumpkin pie spice adds just the right amount of fall flavor. They are a great dessert to make for a Halloween party or to add to your Thanksgiving menu. Your guests will love them!

Recipe Ingredients

These pumpkin cupcakes are full of spice and everything nice! Don’t let the ingredients list scare you away. Each ingredient is a pantry staple and is simple to mix together. This pumpkin spice combination is everything you need in your life!

Pumpkin cupcake ingredients on counter.

Find the full printable recipe with specific measurements below.

  • Flour: All-purpose flour works best. It is thick and creates the base of the cupcakes.
  • Pumpkin pie spice: All the fall flavors in one bottle. It smells amazing, delicious flavor, and adds the perfect color to the pumpkin cupcakes. This is a mixture of ground allspice, ground nutmeg, ground ginger, and ground cloves combined.
  • Baking soda: This helps the cupcakes rise while baking.
  • Cinnamon: Just a pinch gives a beautiful flavor of sweet and woody flavor.
  • Pumpkin puree: Canned or store-bought pumpkin puree works great.
  • Sugar: Brown sugar and sugar are both used in this pumpkin cupcake recipe. Both sugars bring in sweetness but also give the cupcakes a soft texture.
  • Canola oil: A moist cupcake comes from the oil. You can also use vegetable oil too.
  • Eggs: Have the eggs at room temperature before mixing them together.

How to Make Pumpkin Spice Cupcake Recipe

These homemade pumpkin cupcakes are the perfect combination mixed together! Watch these cupcakes disappear in minutes. They are a family favorite and perfect for sharing with friends and family. The frosting is the best topping too!

Showing how to make pumpkin cupcakes in a 6 step collage.
  1. Combine. Whisk together the flour, pumpkin pie spice, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon in a small bowl and set aside.
  2. Whisk. In a large bowl, whisk together or use a hand mixer to mix the pumpkin puree, brown sugar, sugar, canola oil, and eggs and mix until well blended. Mix in the flour mixture until combined.
  3. Fill muffin tin. Scoop into prepared muffin tin with cupcake liners. Bake for 18-20 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Remove from the pan and let cool on a cooling rack.
  4. Mix. For the frosting, beat together the butter and cream cheese until light and fluffy. Add the powdered sugar slowly and beat until light and fluffy. Beat in the vanilla and maple extract. If necessary, add more powdered sugar until the frosting is firm enough to hold its shape but still light and fluffy.
  5. Frosting. Frost the cooled cupcakes with a 1M frosting tip or piping bag if desired.

Baking Tips

Follow these easy baking tips to make these pumpkin spice cupcakes quick and easy! It is best to use the pumpkin puree, fill the pan, and make sure they are frosted on cool cupcakes. These tips are helpful and can be used in different variations!

  • Pumpkin puree vs. pie filling. Many people often get confused about whether to use pumpkin puree or pumpkin pie filling. Although they look similar, the pie filling has extra sugar and spice added in which will make the cupcakes overly sweet. Look for the plain puree, or even learn how to make pumpkin puree from scratch.
  • Filling the pan. You don’t want to fill the muffin cups all the way with batter. Only about 1/2 to 2/3 of the way full so that they have room to rise while baking. I’ve found that using a large cookie scoop to fill each cup is the perfect amount.
  • Toothpick test. Stick a toothpick in the centers to test if they are done. Also, try not to open the oven too much while baking (so that the heat doesn’t escape and cause the cupcakes to deflate).
  • Cool before frosting. It’s important that you let the cupcakes cool completely before adding the frosting on top. If they are still warm, the frosting could melt and won’t hold its shape.
  • Top with extras. To take these cupcakes to the next level, drizzle with a homemade caramel sauce and add an extra sprinkle of cinnamon or pumpkin pie spice.

Frosting for Pumpkin Spice Cupcakes

The sweet maple cream cheese frosting is the perfect complement to the subtle spice in these pumpkin cupcakes. It’s easy to make with only 5 ingredients in just 5 minutes. Of course, you could always use a classic cream cheese frosting or cinnamon buttercream, but the maple extract adds a boost of sweet flavor that makes these cupcakes undeniable.

Make sure the consistency of your frosting is thick enough to hold its shape when piping. I like to use a 1M star tip to frost the perfect cupcakes. It’s easy to use and makes them look like they came from a local bakery! If you don’t have a tip, you could always snip the corner off a zip-top bag and pipe the frosting on that way.

PARTY DECORATIONS

These cupcakes make the perfect party treat for a fall gathering. Press a candy pumpkin or a few pieces of candy corn on top of each for a festive flare. Or transform them into the perfect Halloween dessert by using orange frosting and/or adding Halloween sprinkles.

Pumpkin cupcake on a cake stand.

Recipe FAQs

How do you moisten cupcakes?

Moist cupcakes come from oil, sugar, or butter. These ingredients will help boost the pumpkin spice cupcakes and create a moist and delicious dessert every time!

How do you pipe cupcakes nicely?

It is best to use a piping tip and piping bag to help create the best look and swirl. Use a 1M star tip to frost the perfect cupcakes. It is thick and creamy!

What is the secret to good cupcakes?

A good cupcake starts with good-quality ingredients. Even measuring out the dry ingredients using a scale. Try not to overmix the ingredients and checking your oven temp are all great ways to make sure you have good quality cupcakes.

Pumpkin spice cupcake with a bite taken.

Storing and Freezing

If you have pumpkin spice cupcakes to make ahead for a party or get-together, this recipe is for you! Store them in the refrigerator or freeze them. Both options leave the cupcakes moist and flavorful!

  • To store: Any leftover cupcakes will be kept in the fridge for up to 5 days if stored in an airtight container. You can’t keep them at room temperature due to the dairy content from the cream cheese in the frosting.
  • To freeze: You may also freeze the cupcakes for up to 3 months, however, I prefer to freeze them before adding the frosting on top.

More Delicious Fall Desserts

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Pumpkin cupcake on a cake stand.

Pumpkin Spice Cupcakes

5 from 42 votes
↑ Click stars to rate now!
Author: Jamielyn Nye
Light and tender pumpkin spice cupcakes with a rich and sweet maple cream cheese frosting. This pumpkin cupcake recipe is easy to make and full of delicious fall flavor!
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 40 minutes
Servings: 12

Video

Ingredients 

Pumpkin Cupcakes:

  • 1 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon baking soda
  • ½ teaspoon Kosher salt
  • ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1 cup pumpkin puree
  • ½ cup light brown sugar , packed
  • ½ cup granulated sugar
  • ½ cup canola oil
  • 2 eggs

Maple Cream Cheese Frosting:

  • 8 Tablespoons butter , softened
  • 8 ounces cream cheese , softened
  • 4 cups powdered sugar , more as needed
  • ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 2 teaspoons maple extract

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 350°F. Prepare 12 muffin cups by lining them with paper liners. Whisk together the flour, pumpkin pie spice, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon in a small bowl and set aside.
  • In a large bowl, whisk together the pumpkin puree, brown sugar, sugar, canola oil, and eggs and mix until well blended. Mix in the flour mixture until combined.
  • Scoop into prepared muffin tin, filling 1/2 to 2/3 of the way full. Bake for 18-20 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Remove from the pan and let cool on a cooling rack.
  • For the frosting, beat together the butter and cream cheese until light and fluffy. Add the powdered sugar slowly and beat until light and fluffy. Beat in the vanilla and maple extract. If necessary, add more powdered sugar until the frosting is firm enough to hold its shape but still light and fluffy.
  • Frost the cooled cupcakes with a 1M frosting tip or piping bag if desired.

Notes

Storage: Store in the refrigerator in an airtight container. The cupcakes will keep for about 4-5 days. You may freeze the cupcakes up to 3 months, however I prefer to freeze the cupcakes before frosting. 

Nutrition

Calories: 494kcal | Carbohydrates: 68g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 24g | Saturated Fat: 9g | Cholesterol: 68mg | Sodium: 285mg | Potassium: 135mg | Sugar: 57g | Vitamin A: 3705IU | Vitamin C: 0.8mg | Calcium: 56mg | Iron: 1.2mg

Nutrition provided is an estimate. It will vary based on specific ingredients used.

Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American

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