Pumpkin Spice Cupcakes

With October here it’s time for pumpkins, Halloween and all things autumn. One of my favourite traditions I’ve given myself for this time of the year is going pumpkin picking at the farm. This year I made my first trip to the farm on the 1^st of October, too early to carve the pumpkin but certainly not too early to start cooking with them!

I picked what I thought was the perfect sized pumpkin to make my favourite… pumpkin soup. Turns out when I got home the pumpkin looked absolutely massive and I realised I may have underestimated the size of it. After making my delicious soup I still had a bowl of pumpkin left so I decided cupcakes were a must. Nothing says autumn like pumpkin spiced cupcakes!

I love how these cupcakes turned out, they’re the perfect way to start the autumn 🙂 This recipe makes about 24 cupcakes. As for the icing on top… me and my family don’t like too much icing, so if you love icing I would recommend doubling the recipe as mine only makes enough for a little on each.  

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Ingredients:

• For the cakes:
  • 250g self raising flour
  • 1/2 tbs ground cinnamon
  • 1/2 tbs ground nutmeg
  • 1/2 tbs salt
  • 1/2 tbs baking powder
  • 80g dark brown soft sugar
  • 170g caster sugar
  • 100g soft butter
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 tsp fresh grated ginger
  • 220g pureed pumpkin

• For the icing
  • 150g icing sugar
  • 50g butter
  • 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
  • 1/2 tsp vanilla
  • 2tsp milk

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Cooking instructions:

• For the cakes:

1. Make pumpkin puree by boiling the pieces of pumpkin in a pot of water until soft. Drain the water well and then blend until smooth.

2. While the puree cools, mix together the flour, cinnamon, nutmeg, salt and baking powder.

3. In a separate bowl mix together the sugars and the butter, then beat in the eggs and fresh ginger.

4. Next add the pumpkin puree to the sugar mixture and stir.

5. Gradually sift the flour mixture into the sugar mixture and mix until smooth.

6. Cook in the oven at 180˚C for 25 minutes then leave to cool.

 

• For the icing:

7. Mix together the icing sugar and cinnamon then add the butter, vanilla and milk and beat until light and fluffy.

8. Once the cakes are cool top with the icing and decorate.

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If you’re looking for something to make with the pumpkin I think these are great! Hope you enjoy 🙂